
Behind the statistics of South Brooklyn crashes

In response to articles in the Brooklyn Eagle revealing the record-high number of car crashes taking place on the streets of Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights, local officials and transportation safety advocates are making a concerted effort to look behind the statistics to determine why the collisions are happening.
In the latest development, state Sen. Andrew Gounardes, a Democrat who represents Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst and other Southwest Brooklyn neighborhoods, announced the formation of a task force to look into factors contributing to car crashes.
The Southern Brooklyn Pedestrian Safety Task Force will meet bi-monthly and will develop proposals for solutions. The task force will “bring actionable and measurable changes to our community,” Gounardes predicted.
Denise Cangemi, a local resident who has previously worked with Gounardes on such issues as speed cameras in school zones, said the task force is necessary.
“Negligent drivers care more about getting somewhere fast than the safety of their friends, neighbors and community members. The creation of this task force will help to develop real solutions to hold people accountable,” Cangemi said.
The formation of the task force comes on the heels of new efforts by the 68th Precinct to crack down on reckless drivers. The increase in enforcement was in response to astounding numbers of car crashes in the area that were first reported by the Eagle.
On one day alone, Jan. 14, 2019, there were 17 car crashes in the Bay Ridge-Dyker Heights area, police said.
There were 3,312 car crashes in Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2018, 400 more than the average number of collisions in other Brooklyn neighborhoods during that same time period.
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Actually the rule at a 4 way stop sign is fairly easy. The first car there goes first. When they get there at the same time. It’s the car on the right.
Don’t you have to pass a test to get a drivers license? I am continually shocked that people don’t seem to know this rule.
I am always amazed how poorly most people drive even with licenses. But then almost everyone thinks they are great drivers(me too). FYI I was a driver safety specialist for NYS DMV..