Collision at Grand Army
There were at least half a dozen emergency vehicles filling the road near Grand Army Plaza last night around midnight, blocking traffic between the arch and the park. At the center, there were two cars in terrible condition from what looked like a head-on or perhaps side-impact collision. Despite some improvements to bicycle and pedestrian…
There were at least half a dozen emergency vehicles filling the road near Grand Army Plaza last night around midnight, blocking traffic between the arch and the park. At the center, there were two cars in terrible condition from what looked like a head-on or perhaps side-impact collision. Despite some improvements to bicycle and pedestrian paths around Grand Army Plaza, the roads there are still some of the busiest and most dangerous in Brooklyn. When passing this particularly nasty accident scene, we didn’t have the time to stop and talk to the police, but we hope that everyone involved survived unscathed.
Sing it, Tyburg. And WHY is NYC leaving this tasty traffic enforcement income on the table?
” For example, everyone seems very well trained (even the complete assholes that drive at 70 mph on a side street) to not turn right on red. Why is that? There must have been a flurry of tickets at some point to get them to maintain this behavior…. no?”
Umm, no T6. It was never legal to make a right on red in NYC, (except SI) so why would people do it thinking it was legal
Tsarina — Can’t agree with you more! This is why the NYPD has to start ENFORCING TRAFFIC LAWS.
It’s a huge revenue stream that could be tapped and it could actually make traffic function properly.
I have only been living in the city for a few years, but I’m thinking traffic enforcement MUST have happened at some point. For example, everyone seems very well trained (even the complete assholes that drive at 70 mph on a side street) to not turn right on red. Why is that? There must have been a flurry of tickets at some point to get them to maintain this behavior…. no?
They are rebuilding the traffic circle at Prospect Parkway and Coney Island Avenue at the bottom of the park… but the BIGGEST problem with that circle is that there are 4 lanes — which is appropriate — BUT folks turn right from the CENTER. That’s so effing illegal and dangerous. Two right lanes may turn onto the two lanes of Coney Is Avenue… not all four! But there’s no on ticketing… so why shouldn’t they drive wherever they want? Why don’t folks just drive right through the island in the center?!
“I have to do it myself at when coming from Eastern Parkway to get to Prospect Park West, and theres only a short stretch to do it in. If one doesn’t cut across it’ll be Chevy Chase on his London roundabout a la National Lampoon’s European Vacation.”
Posted by: dittoburg at October 8, 2009 10:54 AM
I chuckled at this one, but dittoburg you’re so right, coming from Eastern Pkway and trying to get to PPW can
be daunting!
Supposedly after 10 o’clock at night a third of drivers are alcohol-impaired.
tsarina, one has to cut across lanes to get from the entry lane to certain exit lanes in many examples. I have to do it myself at when coming from Eastern Parkway to get to Prospect Park West, and theres only a short stretch to do it in. If one doesn’t cut across it’ll be Chevy Chase on his London roundabout a la National Lampoon’s European Vacation.
what if drivers actually drove in the lanes that are painted on the street instead of cutting across and making a bee line across a traffic circle? oy! dont get me started! It doesnt seem like the circle is badly designed its because some drivers are stupid, selfish and uneducated. The only solution is to put in massive concrete barriers and slow every thing way down, Even then we will see crashes but a least they will be going slower so maybe there will be less harm.
other solution? education, huge visible traffic enforcement to ticket drivers and deter future bad driving , cameras to document and ticket reckless drivers.
I know this all sounds so heavy handed but I have accepted that fact that you cannot underestimate the stupidity of many of these drivers.
I dunno… yeah, for pedestrians (and, less so, bikes) the Grand Army Plaza is dangerous, awkward, impossible… but for cars? It’s not the smoothest of traffic situations. It doesn’t work. It’s unnecessarily complicated. But I don’t think it’s actually that dangerous.
Sure, you can’t be texting. Sure, you have to pay attention. Sure, there are some aggressive drivers — and you have a be aggressive yourself (if, say, you want to go from north on Flatbush to a right on Union)… but it’s not that “dangerous.”
The picture above — I also hope everyone is AOK — I’m sure this was something fairly extraordinary. Running a red light, driving way to fast, etc. (I know, neither of those things are atypical for Brooklyn… but the complexity of the GAP actually mitigate the “danger”)
What about the 70 mph drivers weaving in and out of lanes on any of the boulevard-sized roads? That’s far more dangerous than almost anything in GAP. That’s more common and far more pervasive in our fine city.
Just because the “intersection” is totally dysfunctional traffic-wise, it doesn’t make it “dangerous.” (Oh, and yes I discount fender benders and little rear enders from the definition of “danger.”)
I wonder if GAP will ever become what it is- a plaza. It’s a shame that peds, bikers, etc are all but cut off from the gorgeous fountain area.