There are a number of streets in my district that need either a traffic light or speed bump which I would work to implement. I would favor slower speed limits in the residential areas of my district to encourage the thru traffic to use the major roads and stay off the roads in residential parts.

I believe that the speed limit laws need to be more strictly enforced to ensure the safety of drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. While the current 35 mph speed limit may be a safe option if it were strictly enforced, I believe lowering the speed limit may raise awareness of the danger of speeding and help drivers slow down and drive more safely.

Speeding is a considerable concern in the eyes of many of the residents of this district that I have met and there are a number of things that we can do to improve safety. First and foremost, we must add street speed bumps where appropriate and stop signs at intersections that do not already have them. Both of these initiatives come at a very low cost but have proven to be quite effective. I will also look into adding traffic lights on some of the busier intersections and see that existing stop signs are visible through proper pruning of trees and day lighting. Working with the NYPD to ensure traffic police are periodically placed in problem areas and increasing the penalties for those caught speeding, particularly repeat offenders, will act as an additional deterrent. Reducing congestion would consequently reduce the number of cars on the road and prevent accidents as well. Lastly, I would like to see the city subsidize defensive driving courses in order to give drivers more confidence driving in dangerous areas and also to prevent crashes. I would be willing to look into lowering the speed limit but am not ready to commit to it at this time. I am concerned about the effect it will have on traffic and congestion, but it is potentially a good idea.

Too many drivers speed in our community. In addition, there are a high number of arrests for drunk driving in our community. There should be more enforcement of moving violations, especially around speeding. The timing of traffic lights should also be reexamined (for example, lead/lag arrows do not allow enough time/vehicles to safely pass per light change, which leads to unnecessary aggressive driving) and there should be an increased use of the red light cameras. The speeding in our community does not only occur on the main roads. Rather, people speed through the side streets in our community, leading to a dangerous situation for pedestrians. Additional traffic regulation (stop signs and traffic lights) would enhance safety. Furthermore, there can be additional speed bumps placed in locations if local residents are agreeable. These and other traffic calming devices should be employed.

I strongly supported installing speeding cameras throughout the city. While cynics may claim that they are only used to generate revenue, I know statistically that they reduce speeding and make our major roads safer. I also support civilianization at local police precincts, allowing officers to be on the streets protecting citizens. One area that this would be helpful in is road safety, as we need a greater police presence on our roads.

I agree with the past findings of Transportation Alternatives and see an urgent need to review our local residential speed limits. In a district like ours where there are so many young families present we must do everything we can to protect our children from harm’s way. A strong policy of incident reduction as the main focus of our traffic safety plan will put us in the right mind set for combating dangerous road conditions. Recklessness on the part of drivers cannot continue to persist and must be met with increased police enforcement and stronger traffic laws so they can tackle this concern with the proper support.

I think we need to have more enforcement of the speed limit and to install more traffic calming measures. For example, I wrote a sign on letter to DOT with other local elected officials urging them to install speed humps on West 17th Street. After that four speed bumps were installed between 8th and 10th Avenues. The area has a high number of seniors and children as it is home to the densely populated Robert Fulton Houses. There is a senior center on the block to the North, and three playgrounds within close proximity. What makes this pedestrian-heavy street most dangerous, however, is that 17th Street is one of the few streets downtown that acts as an unobstructed “through street”. Drivers can access the West Side Highway from as far east as First Avenue without deviating, making it a veritable raceway, an example of why the speed humps were so needed. On West 24th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues, DOT installed new diagonal markings in response to complaints by residents of cars speeding while traveling eastbound on this street. This change allows for only 1 vehicular travel lane, and is another example of steps that should be taken more widely to reduce speeding.

Where appropriate, I will support installing traffic slowing structures in residential areas and reducing speed limits in residential neighborhoods. I will call for increased accountability in traffic law enforcement.

The problem in this case is not a problem with the current law but that motorists are breaking the law. Simply putting up more signs that state the speed limit is not effective. Along Woodhaven blvd are a number of radar guns that alert motorist to the speed at which they are traveling. I would like to increase the number of radar guns throughout my district to make motorists more aware of the fact that they are traveling over the speed limit. Though the only real solution to decrease the number of drivers who speed, is to increase the presence of police officers on the road.

It is important that New York City take the proper steps to ensure that reckless driving, whether through speeding or any sort of drug or alcohol impairment is punished. We also have to look at what factors make speeding possible throughout numerous areas in the city. I look forward to listening to any suggestions and reviewing legislation that would be able to protect residents of New York City from irresponsible driving. The possibility of red light cameras at certain intersections should be investigated further to see if they would have the ability to address this problem.