NEW YORK—Monday, June 16, marked the first day of a three-week NYPD crackdown on dangerous driving.
In line with Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision Zero plan for ending traffic deaths and injuries, the current crackdown will target speeding, improper turns, driving while using a cellphone, failing to yield to pedestrians, and disobeying traffic signs.
The crackdown runs citywide, during all hours of the day. It focuses on the most problematic intersections and will conclude Sunday, July 6.
Perrier Rodolph, who works at HSBC bank’s Midtown East branch, has a direct view of one of New York’s busiest intersections—Park Avenue and East 33rd Street. She said that the carelessness of pedestrians and the poor layout of the street make the crossing outside her workplace particularly dangerous. “I see people dash across the road all the time,” she said. “It’s really dangerous.”
The Park Avenue and East 33rd Street intersection is identified on the New York City Vision Zero website as a problematic crossing. “The way it’s organized; the way it’s set up—It’s not very pedestrian friendly,” Rodolph said.
Several NYPD officers were present at the intersection on Monday morning.
The Vision Zero website indicates about 4,000 people are seriously injured and more than 250 killed on New York streets each year in traffic accidents. Being struck by a vehicle is the leading cause of injury-related death for children under 14. On average, someone is seriously injured or killed every two hours on NYC streets.
