Avenue of Death?

The solution is a complex matter, and no one single remedy will solve every problem, but there are a few things that do need to be taken into account.

First off, citizens and residents need to write letters, make telephone calls, and demand safer streets. All solutions start with addressing the problem and making our feelings known. If our leaders and politicians are not even made aware of what our concerns are, how will these problems ever be remedied?

Second, speed bumps, stiffer fines, and security cameras all help, but they do so after the fact for the most part. For our streets to receive cameras, traffic signs, traffic lights and speed bumps, mean that they were deemed unsafe to begin with, and most likely it has taken a long list of victims before people even notice that something is wrong.

Once we indentify where the problem occurs, we need to fix it, and we need to address those who commit these offenses. We need to place the burden of responsibility on those who commit these sorts of crimes, and they need to realize that when they are caught, that the full weight of the law will come down on them. We have people driving large SUV’s which they can barely control, and which we all know come with some technical and mechanical flaws of their own that can lead to these types of accidents. We have people who because they are driving on suspended licenses, and also without insurance, because it costs $75 or $100 dollars to even fill up one these gas guzzlers, and they often have to make a choice between gas and insurance, are choosing to “hit and run” rather than remain behind at the scene of the accident in order to avoid the law. Ultimately these people need to be held accountable. But there are also streets that are unsafe because of design flaws, and we can also make as many of these safer. We can also hold our elected officials accountable as well. We can demand that they listen to our concerns. We elect them to act on our behalf. They are essentially hired by us with our votes to do our work for us. And if they are not doing their jobs, we can let them know next time around on election day by voting for those candidates that will best represent our concerns and needs. But we cannot remain passive about this and other issues. We need to hold ourselves accountable as well. Speak up! Write letters! Make telephone calls! Vote! Our quality of life depends on it!

Do any of you know what it is like to drive along Brighton Beach Avenue? It’s a miracle there aren’t more accidents. I am not aware of another area in the City where people are always crossing the street regardless of the color of the traffic signal. About half are not even watching the cars. They seem to feel that they always have the right of way. If you are trying to make a turn into the numbered streets, many times you have to force your way in or blow your horn because the people will not stop crossing. Sometimes you could wait ten minutes for a gap.

The people need to be educated. There needs to be signs reminding them only to cross on the green, and warnings for cars that this is a a heavy pedestrian area and they need to be careful. Yes, pedestrians have the right of way but cars must also be allowed to make turns.

There also needs to be something done about the double-parked trucks under the el which are always present and unloading sometimes for hours at a time. The few loading zones are thoroughly insufficient, but the City doesn’t want to lose revenue by removing meters. (Maybe they should charge the truckers to park along the curb like they do in Manhattan and create more zones. or else require night time deliveries.

The double parkers and left turners force cars to constantly shift back and forth between lanes which is dangerous in itself.

One more thing. Calling it the ave of death is a little much. 5 people in a decade. Its hard to get a lot of speed on BBA with all the traffic and double parked cars but its harder to go from 30-0 mph if someone walks in front of you.