ST. LOUIS — Neighbors said speeding has been an ongoing problem.
"Over the last five years, it has increased tremendously," Joanie Purcell with the Whole Dreams Christian Center said.
Driver after driver, and even motorcyclists sped through stop signs at the busy intersection of Vandeventer and Ashland avenues in the Greater Ville neighborhood in north St. Louis.
"I see them all the time blowing through the signs, just accidents waiting to happen," one driver told 5 On Your Side.
On Tuesday, a 5 On Your Side news crew sat at the intersection for more than two hours and saw drivers, in both directions, repeatedly ignoring the stop signs.
"They're just going straight through. Two, three and four cars right behind each other," Purnell said.
Purnell and her husband's World Dreams Christian Center Church is on Vandeventer and a daycare center is across the street.
"We actually have to go and stand in the middle of the street to stop the traffic to make sure our parishioners can walk across the street safely," Purnell said.
"It's ridiculous. There are some things we can do about this problem," 12th Ward Alderwoman Sharon Tyus said.
Tyus said many of the speeders are teenagers, which is the reason behind her stern message for parents.
"You need to be talking to your kids about the consequences of driving fast through these stop signs and possibly killing someone. You must obey the traffic signs," Tyus said.
Three years ago, Tyus sponsored a bill that brought speed humps to residential streets in the city. Tyus said speed humps are not an option for Vandeventer Avenue because it's a secondary street and must be clear at all times, especially for emergency responders.
"Those ambulances and other emergency vehicles are always on the go and must be able to get where they're going. Speed humps on Vandeventer would slow them down," Tyus said.
Meantime, nervous neighbors said they hoped speeders hear them.
"Slow down and take your time," one driver said.
"Something has to be done," Purcell said.
Tyus said under her current Traffic Calming Plan she will now explore what options are available to help increase safety at that intersection. St. Louis police said they also plan to discuss their options.