Well I guess I explained the history too briefly. Our neighbors don't drive down the hill too fast. Unfortunately, the new gated community that was built recently has a primary exit at the top of our street. The fastest way for these SUV drivers to get to the freeway is through our neighborhood. Our street is no longer a dead-end for our neighbors. Its now the primary traffic route for an entire community. So I'm "acting" like people just started driving fast down our hill in the last few years because, yes, that is true. In 2005 they did not. In 2008 they did.
Now, there is another route, along a major roadway, with a higher speed limit and more lanes. But its not a direct route and is 0.8 miles longer. I doubt that the quality of life of this new community would be severely impacted if they were "encouraged" to take this existing route.
For what it's worth, your complaint seems legitimate to me. However, if there are only two routes to get to a freeway, that sounds like poor urban design to begin with. Street connectivity is a virtue, and suburbs are designed to avoid it at all costs. You want fewer routes to the freeway to fix your problem, but having more routes would probably be the optimal solution to balance both your street's interests and your city's. Given your description of the neighborhood, I'm guessing that's not even possible anymore.
Anyway, take a video of people barreling down the hill and send it to a city council member. Newspapers also like this sort of thing when it's egregious enough.
Now, there is another route, along a major roadway, with a higher speed limit and more lanes. But its not a direct route and is 0.8 miles longer. I doubt that the quality of life of this new community would be severely impacted if they were "encouraged" to take this existing route.