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'Slow the f--- down': Louisville's newest campaign urges drivers to be safer

Posted at 5:25 PM, Nov 29, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-29 20:37:17-05

LOUISVILLE, Colo. -- The language may not be appropriate, but the message is getting across in Louisville: Slow the f--- down. 

One resident saw the problems of speeding and distracted driving, so he started a campaign that involved signs reading "STFD." Since then, they've been popping up all over town. 

"[The problems we see are] Inattentive driving, aggressive driving, people being too busy to stop for five seconds and let someone cross the street safely," Louisville mom Lena Eisen said. 

The point of the campaign is to get people talking. Some aren't thrilled with the language, but they are talking about it. 

"Frankly, if it takes someone cursing to potentially save my kid's life when he’s on his way to school I don’t give a f----," Eisen said.

"I'm not sure I would’ve taken that approach but it spurred the conversation," Commander Mike Miller of the Louisville Police Department told Denver7. 

The signs aren't illegal since they don't include any expletives. And the conversation Miller mentioned happened at Louisville's City Council Meeting Tuesday night. 

"If there's anything that the community, the city, the police department can get together and make the streets safer; and the kids crossing the street to the elementary school safer, we’re all for it," Commander Miller said. 

"It's amazing what a small social campaign can do," Eisen said. "The renewed interest and the increased attention given to it is the beginning of things being done."

And the STFD movement is already impacting policy.

While traffic issues were on the agenda at the city council meeting, those in attendance said a full house likely impacted the members. The council said they are going to look at things like increased signage, increased patrol, more radar, even crosswalks to try to deal with the issues and possibly look at a larger solution down the road if those don't work.