Comments on: The Weekly Carnage http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andy Trafford http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/comment-page-1/#comment-101041 Andy Trafford Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:27:05 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=27351#comment-101041 Please forward to Mr Akim Saiful Alam Please forward to Mr Akim Saiful Alam

]]> By: Glenn McAnanama http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/comment-page-1/#comment-101011 Glenn McAnanama Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:06:55 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=27351#comment-101011 I just received this from Brian Levinson in Jose Serrano's office: <blockquote>Dear all: The family of the 8-year-old boy killed in yesterday's tragic accident on Lexington Ave. does not have the money to pay for his funeral. If you or someone you know would like to help, please communicate with Officer Priscilla Bianchi in the Community Affairs Unit of the 23rd Precinct. About $1500 in total is still needed in funeral costs and transportation of his body. priscilla.bianchi@nypd.org cell: 914 469 2791 office: 212-860-6430 -Brian -- Brian Levinson Chief of Staff NYS Senator José M. Serrano (212) 828-5829</blockquote> I just received this from Brian Levinson in Jose Serrano’s office:

Dear all:
The family of the 8-year-old boy killed in yesterday’s tragic accident on Lexington Ave. does not have the money to pay for his funeral. If you or someone you know would like to help, please communicate with Officer Priscilla Bianchi in the Community Affairs Unit of the 23rd Precinct. About $1500 in total is still needed in funeral costs and transportation of his body.

priscilla.bianchi@nypd.org
cell: 914 469 2791
office: 212-860-6430

-Brian
–
Brian Levinson
Chief of Staff
NYS Senator José M. Serrano
(212) 828-5829

]]> By: Ian Turner http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/comment-page-1/#comment-100981 Ian Turner Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:19:39 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=27351#comment-100981 If taxis are all now GPS-equipped, does that mean we can do automated speed enforcement across the fleet? Surely the standard privacy arguments do not apply here. If taxis are all now GPS-equipped, does that mean we can do automated speed enforcement across the fleet? Surely the standard privacy arguments do not apply here.

]]> By: fpteditors http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/comment-page-1/#comment-100941 fpteditors Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:17:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=27351#comment-100941 If you want to hear from a victim of an automobile collision, the blog below belongs to one. http://catmeowpublictransit.blogspot.com/ If you want to hear from a victim of an automobile collision, the blog below belongs to one.

http://catmeowpublictransit.blogspot.com/

]]> By: fpteditors http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/comment-page-1/#comment-100921 fpteditors Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:05:39 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=27351#comment-100921 fyi... looking for an informative, civil discussion on land-use, autos, and transit? The post "no more cars/not more cars" originally hi-lited by Streetsblog has generated a 3-day discussion in the comments. http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=3192 fyi…

looking for an informative, civil discussion on land-use, autos, and transit? The post “no more cars/not more cars” originally hi-lited by Streetsblog has generated a 3-day discussion in the comments.
http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=3192

]]> By: aliostuni http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/comment-page-1/#comment-100851 aliostuni Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:26:27 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=27351#comment-100851 This is exactly why we as a city cannot rely on individual street users to respect the rights of other users. Traffic calming measures must be instituted; wide avenues must be narrowed with the inclusion of protected bike lanes and plantings so that people of all physical abilities can cross safely. Placing blame on individuals, or even policing and prosecuting them, will not achieve what we need: no more traffic-related fatalities in the city. Nothing short of total redesign of our streets will resolve what is a crisis on the order of magnitude of the crime-related fatalities of the crack era. This is exactly why we as a city cannot rely on individual street users to respect the rights of other users. Traffic calming measures must be instituted; wide avenues must be narrowed with the inclusion of protected bike lanes and plantings so that people of all physical abilities can cross safely. Placing blame on individuals, or even policing and prosecuting them, will not achieve what we need: no more traffic-related fatalities in the city. Nothing short of total redesign of our streets will resolve what is a crisis on the order of magnitude of the crime-related fatalities of the crack era.

]]> By: paco http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/comment-page-1/#comment-100841 paco Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:16:45 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=27351#comment-100841 @ Larry, I fully agree that whipping around corners is deadly and drivers simply can't stop fast enough. That's where I think neckdowns/ daylighting can help immensely. A more restricted space often makes drivers slow down even before seeing peds crossing. How come neckdowns aren't at EVERY intersection? @ Larry, I fully agree that whipping around corners is deadly and drivers simply can’t stop fast enough. That’s where I think neckdowns/ daylighting can help immensely. A more restricted space often makes drivers slow down even before seeing peds crossing. How come neckdowns aren’t at EVERY intersection?

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/comment-page-1/#comment-100791 Larry Littlefield Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:53:25 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=27351#comment-100791 (Even if it's decided that the boy did "appear from nowhere," the cabbie was indeed going 40 or 50mph.) Corners are killers for kids. When I was teaching my kids to walk by themselves, what I was most afraid of is that while crossing with the walk sign they would be hit from behind by a driver whipping around the corner, just after stepping out from the curb. Particularly if you had a large vehicle parked at or near the corner, obscuring the driver's view of children shorter than it. It is entirely possible that the driver was "merely" whipping around the corner at 30 rather than 40 or 50, but at a corner that is clearly too much. How fast can you go and still stop on a dime? About 10 or 15 I'd sat. That's all somone should go when turning a corner on a city street. Heck, they make drivers on highways using EZ-Pass slow to 5 to 15 mph to protect toll takers walking between booths. (Even if it’s decided that the boy did “appear from nowhere,” the cabbie was indeed going 40 or 50mph.)

Corners are killers for kids. When I was teaching my kids to walk by themselves, what I was most afraid of is that while crossing with the walk sign they would be hit from behind by a driver whipping around the corner, just after stepping out from the curb. Particularly if you had a large vehicle parked at or near the corner, obscuring the driver’s view of children shorter than it.

It is entirely possible that the driver was “merely” whipping around the corner at 30 rather than 40 or 50, but at a corner that is clearly too much.

How fast can you go and still stop on a dime? About 10 or 15 I’d sat. That’s all somone should go when turning a corner on a city street. Heck, they make drivers on highways using EZ-Pass slow to 5 to 15 mph to protect toll takers walking between booths.

]]> By: Eric McClure http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/comment-page-1/#comment-100781 Eric McClure Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:51:53 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=27351#comment-100781 <blockquote>"Everyone is saying the car hit him, but it really looked like he ran into the car," the witness, giving his name as Joe, said.</blockquote> Yeah, Joe, clearly a suicide. Cabbie ought to sue the family for damaging his hack, or maybe the cops can charge Axel's mom as an accomplice.

“Everyone is saying the car hit him, but it really looked like he ran into the car,” the witness, giving his name as Joe, said.

Yeah, Joe, clearly a suicide. Cabbie ought to sue the family for damaging his hack, or maybe the cops can charge Axel’s mom as an accomplice.

]]> By: Eric McClure http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/comment-page-1/#comment-100771 Eric McClure Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:47:17 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=27351#comment-100771 Ian's right. In order for charges to be filed, one has to do something really heinous, like <a href="http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/13/nypd-arrests-pedestrian-after-near-death-brush-with-raging-motorist/" rel="nofollow">rest one's elbow on another person's car to keep from fainting</a>. Ian’s right. In order for charges to be filed, one has to do something really heinous, like rest one’s elbow on another person’s car to keep from fainting.

]]> By: Ian Dutton http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/comment-page-1/#comment-100731 Ian Dutton Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:19:37 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=27351#comment-100731 Oh come on, stop pretending to be surprised. Outraged? OK. But surprised? Every week here on Streetsblog we're treated to the latest saga in the epic adventure, "...And The Driver Was Not Charged." It's the punchline at the end of every pedestrian fatality story in the Times, Post, etc. Here we have the modern "dog bites man." It's "driver kills man, and child, and others, and walks away with an 'ooops.'" Kids in Chinatown? My bad! A 3-year-old and aunt vs. Hummer? Hope there wasn't a scratch - the kid could have been charged...if he had survived! Well-known helicopter pilot at his birthday party when a cab ricochets onto the sidewalk? Who says 60 mph is bad on the east side?!? Oh come on, stop pretending to be surprised. Outraged? OK. But surprised?

Every week here on Streetsblog we’re treated to the latest saga in the epic adventure, “…And The Driver Was Not Charged.” It’s the punchline at the end of every pedestrian fatality story in the Times, Post, etc.

Here we have the modern “dog bites man.” It’s “driver kills man, and child, and others, and walks away with an ‘ooops.’” Kids in Chinatown? My bad! A 3-year-old and aunt vs. Hummer? Hope there wasn’t a scratch – the kid could have been charged…if he had survived! Well-known helicopter pilot at his birthday party when a cab ricochets onto the sidewalk? Who says 60 mph is bad on the east side?!?

]]> By: PaulCJr http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/comment-page-1/#comment-100721 PaulCJr Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:15:59 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=27351#comment-100721 The police report said that they checked his phone records and it said no call had taken place at the time he hit the child. Now of course who really knows. I have to agree with you Larry. I to am more careful when I drive in the city after reading all this reports. The police report said that they checked his phone records and it said no call had taken place at the time he hit the child. Now of course who really knows. I have to agree with you Larry. I to am more careful when I drive in the city after reading all this reports.

]]> By: ddartley http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/comment-page-1/#comment-100711 ddartley Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:13:23 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=27351#comment-100711 Every case like this cabbie killing the boy needs to be examined thoroughly and by accident reconstruction experts so that they can determine whether, even if it's decided that the boy did "appear from nowhere," the cabbie was indeed going 40 or 50mph. That way, if it's clear that he was going 40 or 50, that speeding can be used to charge him with at least something. If that starts to happen more often, and gets in the news--maybe that might stop some drivers from speeding so often. I know I'm rambling but this story has made absolutely sick. Every case like this cabbie killing the boy needs to be examined thoroughly and by accident reconstruction experts so that they can determine whether, even if it’s decided that the boy did “appear from nowhere,” the cabbie was indeed going 40 or 50mph. That way, if it’s clear that he was going 40 or 50, that speeding can be used to charge him with at least something. If that starts to happen more often, and gets in the news–maybe that might stop some drivers from speeding so often.

I know I’m rambling but this story has made absolutely sick.

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/comment-page-1/#comment-100701 Larry Littlefield Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:06:00 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=27351#comment-100701 Seeing this all in one place is almost enough to terrify me into never driving again. It certainly makes me more careful. How easy is it to be "inattentive" for a second or two while driving? Lean over to roll the window up or down or change the radio station? Look in the rear view mirror? Look down at the speedometer to make sure you aren't speeding? And if you don't know where you are going, look for street signs, building addresses, store signs? Reach for the coffee in the cupholder? I'm not even talking about doing something criminally negligent, like using a communications devise. Seeing this all in one place is almost enough to terrify me into never driving again. It certainly makes me more careful.

How easy is it to be “inattentive” for a second or two while driving?

Lean over to roll the window up or down or change the radio station? Look in the rear view mirror? Look down at the speedometer to make sure you aren’t speeding?

And if you don’t know where you are going, look for street signs, building addresses, store signs?

Reach for the coffee in the cupholder?

I’m not even talking about doing something criminally negligent, like using a communications devise.

]]> By: ddartley http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/comment-page-1/#comment-100691 ddartley Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:59:30 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=27351#comment-100691 I was talking about the cabbie killing the boy, sorry. I was talking about the cabbie killing the boy, sorry.

]]> By: ddartley http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/comment-page-1/#comment-100681 ddartley Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:58:36 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=27351#comment-100681 This is the story I'm going to email to all the DA candidates and I will use their individual responses to help me choose which to support. (So far it's Aborn, because he took the admirable step of writing an article about traffic justice, but regardless, even if they don't respond, they should all read this story.) This is the story I’m going to email to all the DA candidates and I will use their individual responses to help me choose which to support.

(So far it’s Aborn, because he took the admirable step of writing an article about traffic justice, but regardless, even if they don’t respond, they should all read this story.)

]]> By: David_K http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/comment-page-1/#comment-100671 David_K Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:50:35 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=27351#comment-100671 There are witnesses who say that the driver was talking on his cell phone at the time when he killed the boy. So at the very least, he was violating the law w/respect to drving and cell phones. Why no charges? Do the police need more than witnesses? Can they use cell phone records to determine whether a person was talking while driving? Shouldn't this be standard in all accidents (not just ones where little kids get killed)? There are witnesses who say that the driver was talking on his cell phone at the time when he killed the boy. So at the very least, he was violating the law w/respect to drving and cell phones. Why no charges? Do the police need more than witnesses? Can they use cell phone records to determine whether a person was talking while driving? Shouldn’t this be standard in all accidents (not just ones where little kids get killed)?

]]> By: paco http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/comment-page-1/#comment-100661 paco Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:49:37 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=27351#comment-100661 the weekly carnage is a sad post every time, but thank you streetsblog for putting it up anyway. it's very necessary and I hope it doesn't just reach your regular readers, but also the elected officials that have the power to actually do something about vehicular violence. the weekly carnage is a sad post every time, but thank you streetsblog for putting it up anyway. it’s very necessary and I hope it doesn’t just reach your regular readers, but also the elected officials that have the power to actually do something about vehicular violence.

]]> By: PaulCJr http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/comment-page-1/#comment-100651 PaulCJr Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:49:28 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=27351#comment-100651 If anyones racist biases are at play here, same on you!!!!! What this man did was horrific and his ethnicity should not be a factor. If the driver was white or any other ethnicity it would not a bit effect my believe that he should go to jail. If anyones racist biases are at play here, same on you!!!!! What this man did was horrific and his ethnicity should not be a factor. If the driver was white or any other ethnicity it would not a bit effect my believe that he should go to jail.

]]> By: PaulCJr http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/14/the-weekly-carnage-78/comment-page-1/#comment-100631 PaulCJr Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:45:45 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=27351#comment-100631 The cabbie runs down a boy, tries to flee the scene, and the NYCPD says he didn't violate any laws. I can't understand this. Even if we wasn't talking on the cell phone as the report says, how is he not at fault. The little boy and his mother had the light to cross he street. This is freaking unbelievable. If I run down somebody in the streets of NYC with a car, I can get off scot free. If I bike in NYC and impede traffic, I get roughed up by the cops and false charges applied to me. I'm beyond shocked. This is just maddening. The cabbie runs down a boy, tries to flee the scene, and the NYCPD says he didn’t violate any laws. I can’t understand this. Even if we wasn’t talking on the cell phone as the report says, how is he not at fault. The little boy and his mother had the light to cross he street. This is freaking unbelievable. If I run down somebody in the streets of NYC with a car, I can get off scot free. If I bike in NYC and impede traffic, I get roughed up by the cops and false charges applied to me. I’m beyond shocked. This is just maddening.

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