The senior citizens of the Ocean Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn are asking the city for something that could potentially help save their lives -- safer intersections. A pedestrian accident in New York City is a very real danger, especially to those residents who can't move as quickly as drivers would like. The elderly residents of this and surrounding Brooklyn neighborhoods are especially concerned that they are at risk for serious injury while trying to cross the street.
In an effort to improve their and other pedestrians' safety, the members of the East Brooklyn Congregation went through the neighborhood, marking down where the city could help to prevent pedestrian accidents. In the end, they sent the city 82 different suggestions for stop signs, traffic signals and countdown clocks. Many of the senior citizens also were concerned about potholes after one woman's friend had broken her leg by tripping on a pothole.
One 75-year-old congregant told the New York Daily News that she had almost been hit while trying to cross the street on the way to church. When she entered the crosswalk, she discovered that many of the cars were unwilling to wait for her and several cars started driving around her. As she stood still with cars passing on either side of her, she was afraid that they were going so fast and so close to her that she would be hit. In some situations, it is that nearly everyone disregards a stop sign that the intersection becomes dangerous.
The Department of Transportation is looking into the recommendations, but it is unknown when more information will be released.
Though safer crosswalks would make it easier for people to avoid pedestrian accidents in New York City, it comes down to the drivers themselves to avoid hitting people crossing the street. Ignoring stop signs or impatiently driving around a pedestrian can all too easily lead to serious injury or death.
Source: New York Daily News, "East Brooklyn senior citizens are calling on city officials to make intersections safer to cross," Mark Morales, May 29, 2012
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