By Yosef Bergovoy
It is with a heavy heart that I write this op-ed, as today was a dark day in Crown Heights.
I didn’t know Gedalya personally, but I heard from people who were at the scene immediately after it occurred and to people who knew him this year.
Regardless, everyone was affected by such an unimaginable and painful loss. An only child, a person who was learning and growing and bringing light into this world, is suddenly no longer with us.
It makes no difference whose fault it was or wasn’t and we cannot bring this bright life back, however there is something that can be done. I have been itching to write about this for a while, but I have never done so since I have never felt that it was my place.
However, after what happened today we can’t afford to have another young life taken from our midst.
I am referring to the reckless driving in our community, unfortunately by our own community members. I often see Lubavitchers driving with their head down, one hand on their cell phone and either texting or using their phone WHILE driving down the street.
These are men with graying beards and hats and jackets, these are women with kids in the back seat, and these are all types of people from our community. It makes no difference what type of person is doing it, what matters is that it stops.
Put your phone in your pocket or purse, keep your eyes and ears on the road, and don’t give a car accident any type of chance.
Additionally, there are some who are simply reckless drivers, speeding through red or yellow lights, taking speedy, sharp turns and barely missing other cars or pedestrians.
This all must stop, cars are potential weapons when used incorrectly and in the wrong circumstance something bad can happen. There are many children in our community as well, and we must err on the side of caution in order to avoid any negative outcomes.
Again, I did not want to write this, but this topic is bigger than I am. Please make a hachlata / resolution that you (and anyone that you can have a positive effect on) will drive safely, will put his or her phone away, or at the very least not use it at all while operating a vehicle and will drive as safe as possible.
May Gedalya’s neshama have an aliya, and in his merit and memory I hope nothing like this will ever happen in our community again.
Please comment below with your name or initials and your hachlata / resolution in regards to safe driving and potentially saving a life.
I don’t live in CH. When I come there and go for a walk with my grandson sleeping in the stroller it is almost impossible to cross on green because the cars making turns from President into Kingston drive without stopping for the pedestrians. Please if you read my comment try to anticipate and let the pedestrians cross first. And if you are the pedestrian please cross the street as fast as possible to let cars make turns. We should take care of each other: drivers and pedestrians.
I agree with 74
Texting while at a red light is 100% illegal
You are operating a vehicle and it’s in dive ; not park
The only way to legally text is if Youre parked on the side of the road
My grandfather of blessed memory , taught us to wait until the
car stops , even if it is your light a green light ! Better safe than
sorry!
Every class in every school should have a trained professional come talk to the children about pedestrian safety once every school year, most effectively at the beginning of the school year, after the reckless summer recess and before the Tishrei rush. Also,government sponsored, mandatory annual review sessions for all drivers, or get your license suspended; bi-annual sessions for any driver under 25 years of age would be even more effective. Yeah, groan away but don’t tell me you don’t have the time for it; count up the amount of minutes spent shooting the breeze and figure out which “waste of… Read more »
I agree 100% Lets do our part in driving and walking safely. And ask Hashem to do His part to keep us safe and healthy.
when pedestrians are crossing the cars should have a red light,when cars are turning etc. it should be red for pedestrians.
i understand it takes more time ,but safety comes first.
Yes. We have become a society with total disregard to our laws, traffic, fiscal etc etc. when Obamacare was signed into a law, a major frum newspaper ran articles telling their readers how they can disregard and break the law. What kind of message we’re giving to the future generations?
I was walking on a street that has a stop sign for drivers and as i was crossing between the white lines a car comes to a screeching stop bc they decided to drive to the end of the street instead of at the stop sign… they didnt see me until they were almost going to hit me Chas Vishalom… We both got pretty shaken… Please Drivers do Not think your smarter then the street sign, it was put there for a reason, it was a blind spot and you didnt see me, i should add that its near a… Read more »
In the last few weeks the NYPD is instituting an Education campaign about proper crossing of the streets because the statistics point out that the Utica Ave /Eastern Parkway intersection is the MOST dangerous in the city. While the inspector of one our local precincts discussed this he also mentioned the Kingston Eastern Pkway intersection. Clearly crossing in the middle of the street is not a good idea, but unfortunately it is all too common among our community. So get ready Crown Heights, next time you cross at the wrong place at the wrong time, you may just get a… Read more »
Stop being self-occupied! Don’t tell me you need to be on the phone in the car!! You think you can b/c you don’t care enough. Period. And don’t go back to your old ways in a month.
BUT, I will try to be more careful to slow down by a yellow light instead of “rushing” for it b/4 it turns red….
Ppl like to flirt with danger it seems
Also
It’s anxiety related.
Take a deep breath slowly 3x in thru the nose and out
of the mouth – it’s v effective! Try it!
and
& the lite turns green, that second the cars in back begin to honk! If everyone would just relax….. I might consider living in CH……….
THIS WAS BEFORE TEXT WAS AROUND,SEREL MANESS
but we must also watch where we’re crossing, nowadays, no one looks.
i am a bus moniter please i beg parents dont run after the bus if you missed the bus especialy on the drivers side. if you took off your child dont run for the bus once the door is closed it doesnt matter what you left even a schoolbag , also because of the snow and ice try to help your kids get to the bus i have seen too many kids falling. thank you
took the hachlata to learn inyonei geula moshiach once a day
I also did not think I would comment on the reckless drivers in this community. After all, I am an “older person”, with “old ideas and values”. Unfortunately, Sunday’s tragedy has prompted me to speak out! I also could have been involved in an accident last Thursday. A young woman, yes with children in her car, made a right turn on Kingston Ave to Montgomery St. Take into consideration the piles of snow on the right side of the street–she stopped suddenly to have a conversation with another young mother pushing a stroller. I skidded to avoid hitting her and… Read more »
hOW STUPID CAN THE PUBLIC BE? DOESN’T EVERYONE KNOW THE AXIOM ‘THE PEDESTRIAN HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY?” ONLY BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE BEGUN TO USE THEIR VEHICLES AS WEAPONS IS THIS RULE FORGOTTON. THIS MAN WAS IN THE CROSSWALK FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE! HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE NOTICED!! IT IS OBVIOUS BY THE POSITION OF THE TRUCK THAT HE WAS NOT TURNING FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AS A VEHICLE OF THAT SIZE IS SUPPOSED TO DO. HE WAS SHIFTING THE BURDEN TO SEE ON THE PEDESTRIAN AND TAKING IT OFF HIMSELF!! THIS WAS MURDER IN ALL PROBABILITY BUT… Read more »
Well: Mishnah: Rabbi Chanina taught: “Pray for the welfare of the government, for without fear of governmental authorities people would swallow each other alive” (3:2).
Men are like fish – the bigger ones swallow the smaller ones. And were it not for the fear of the government, men would swallow one another alive. (Bartenura)
Weak government is helping continue this mess. Bill de Blasio might be lowering speed limits. Check it out.
My friend told me that her grandmother was killed while crossing the street by someone who was on their phone!
Oy! Please all be safe!
I don’t live in CH but I see too many similar incidents. Let’s just say – G-d helps the stupid and runs the world above teva.
but at the same time I see too many pedestrians (I don’t have a car, therefore I am also a pedestrian) crossing the street on a red light or jaywalking.
Let me tell you something: If you are going to be two minutes late, it will not matter in two days or ten years. And if you don’t cross the street responsibly, you may never get where you’re going – not in two days and not in ten years. Ch”v.
And as the saying goes – better late [and safely] than never…
his parents do the same – hes just doing was he was taught by example (from HIS parents or rest of the – so called – adults!!!!!
stand there for 30 minutes any day…
CH lives (sadly so and very apparently so…) above teva otherwise we would have this kinds of incidents daily CV
MBA
being pre occupied with your smart phone while walking is also not so good (for your gashmious)
Sorry for getting technical but is speaker phone ok while driving? It is pretty similar to talking to the other passenger in the car.
Also this is not an excuse for Hashem at all, but while we
are still stuck here in Golus, let us show Hashem that we
really WANT the BEIS HAMIKDOSH, (Hashem’s Home) by being QUIET in shul (Hashem’s home in Golus) during the WHOLE daavening, Chazoros Hashatz and Kriyas Hatorah!
It is not so difficult if you consider to WHOM you are praying and for whom you are praying! MOSHIACH IMMEDIATELY!
To add to the above points, I see too many young children in cars without seat belts at all. My attitude is NEVER trust the drivers behind the wheel. When crossing the street I prefer to let the turning vehicle go before me as I don’t trust them to stop or to have the patience to wait until I have safely crossed.
The bottom line is this was Hashems doing and he is accountable for this! I could just hear the complaint the Rebbe would voice…..
I’m a bus monitor, and when our regular bus breaks down, as inevitably happens, the school rents a bus with only one door on the right. Guess what, even when our door and stop sign are open, cars are still trying to squeeze past the open door, with no regard to the law or anything, this while a child is crossing in front, coming round to board at any second! This is especially on wider streets, as President , but also others. We try to block off the road, but passing cars make this very difficult, no one slows down… Read more »
Do u know how many times i see woman here in CH talking or holding their cell phones, while at the wheel. Many Many. I see at least 5 a day when i get out on the ave.
Woman and Men: dont hold that phone. Even for 1 second. In that second you can be seen and get a ticket.
This wont help as everyone goes back to their old ways and this topic was brought up before
“An action worth more than thousand “Kercheses”: Read the HayomYom for the 23rd of ADAR. Any community needs UNITED FRONT (Bais Din) and STRONG COUNCIL (Community Council) to UNITE the KAHAL and present us in suing the City. Call CHJCC (718-771-9000 [email protected]) demand a UNITED Bais Din and Lawsuit for Gedalyea’s blood.
To add to the incentive, the police are out there looking for drivers (even just) holding a cellphone.
The ticket is expensive, and the points are even worse, whether you’re going to pay insurance, a lawyer, or take defensive driving courses, it can be avoided by simply puttig your phone away while driving.
I consider myself a very careful driver. I can’t tell you how many times I am backing up out of a parking spot on Kingston Avenue (in the middle of a block) and see people CARELESSLY crossing the street behind my car WHILE I AM BACKING UP!!! When people do this, I stop and beep as HARD AND LOUD as possible. I consider this shock therapy for idiots. Furthermore, I can’t tell you how many near-accidents I have had with these crazy delivery guys on electric bikes. They really don’t care about oncoming traffic and go right in front of… Read more »
I suggest you change the speed limit on Kingston ave to that of a school zone. It’s not a school but there are more than enough kids and pedestrians to justify it.
Also, hire additional police officers to ticket people for infractions.
This will help keep our community more safe.
Moshiach Now.
When the light turns green, PEDESTRIANS have the right of way! You MUST wait until we finish crossing before you turn. There are intersections in Crown Heights where it’s literally impossible to cross, because the cars start zooming around the turn as soon as the light turns green, with no regard to pedestrians.
Please don’t run across red lights. Especially Eastern Parkway.
Have to be careful – take an extra measure of caution, Wait the few seconds more for the light to change.
Yesterday I was driving down Kingston Ave. When I reached union this bachur…probably 13-14 yyears old ran in the street when he had a RED light and started crossing straight and then diagnally in middle of the road!!!!!!! He didnt look if there were cars JUST RAN IN MIDDLE OF THE STREET! I honked at him and he literally froze and so did I! It was so close and wouldve been my fault according to law had somethihng happened CV even htough it was boys fault..i felt like telling him to get in car so i can take him home… Read more »
I agree 100 percent w/ this article. But I have a feeling that in this case specifically because there is the bloomberg style sidewalk on the side of visionsite, the truck could not turn properly and had to back up.
I hope every one reads this and takes to heart. A car is a weapon in your hands use caution.
Nachman S.
I would like to amplify my concerns about the lack of seriousness by many when crossing streets. This applies to E. P. and any other esp. Kingston.
Both pedestrians and drivers should be taking this vital message to heart! Ushmartem Lnafshosaychem!
Ober ret zich nit ain kain bobe maises, mir firen nit di velt, di velt firt der oibershter. UN VOS fARSHTEIEN MIR BICHlAL. Men darf oisfolgen dem rebens hoiroois un nit farkuken zich oif di zaitet. Un der oibershter zol unz alemen helfen in altz vos mi darfen. BSUROIS TOIVOIS.
As a mother, for years I wouldn’t cross on red in order to teach my young children not to. They’re grown B”H, and cross how they and their friends unfortunately see fit. However, in memory of Gedalya I will try more carefully to wait the 3 minutes and not cross on red – because other children may be watching. YL
be csreful no cells no texting be caereful how you drop off kids
re: #27 Someone else’ physical welfare is your spiritual business!
If everyone would just show ‘kovod habriyos’ -respect for other human beings at all times instead of driving aggressively and competatively, there would be less accidents and everyone would get to where they would want to get to , maybe a few minutes late, but safely and in a better mood.
Thank you Yosef for caring and bringing this to everyone’s attention!!
bus drivers you are not careful enough dropping of the kids talking and texting on the phones while driving and making such sharp turn that the kids go flying please be more careful
May Gedalya’s neshama have an aliya. This was a tragic loss and we are all responsible so let us redouble our efforts in Teshuvah , Tefilah and good deeds. Many people here have commented on texting, recklessness etc. while driving and they are all valid points. I would like to add my own comment. Purim is coming up IY”H. Besides, the obvious of not driving AT ALL if you have drunk even a little bit, we MUST be extremely vigilant on Purim for everyone’s safety Don’t let your kids run all over the place, running in the street and between… Read more »
Ye hee Zichro Baruch! Dayan Haemet!
I really learned a lot about driving, to have full concentration on the roads, no matter how long the phone rings, just to ignore and focus on the road alone!!!
yes very important, and also have to be mention that pedestrian must wait for light before crossing specially kingston and union, and president, people is crossing the intersection, expecting that the car will stop even in green light.
As much as drivers have to be careful pedestrians have to be extremely careful when walking or crossing streets.
what drives me crazy even more is seeing people walking into streets on red lights. what in G_ds name are they thinking? what are you asking for?
especially in this snowy icy weather.
even if your light is green watch for speeding cars. they may not be able to stop in time. you may be right about your light but dead right…
I am in it too 100%!
Especially what happened outside 770 on rosh hashana…
But I still have clear the sicha I learnt about yossef & his brothers… (When they said we are getting punished because we had no mercy on our brother…) We’re the Rebbe says there that when some thing “bad” happens we got to look in our self, what thing we done wrong that should be fixed, for nothing physical happens without a spiritual reason.
please put away your phones do not text or use your phone even if you are wearing a head piece be careful not to make s harp turns and drive carefully this is a wake up call for all of us
The driver MUST yield for pedestrians.
It’s the drivers fault 100%.
We must trust Hashem.
We can’t figure this out by ourselves.
When I came to crown heights from the uk twenty years ago, it took me almost a year to cross the road alone. Please yidden, are you so chaotic, so self absorbed that you think you cannot kill another Gd forbid by your undisciplined ways. It’s so simple, if you can keep kosher, keep the road safety laws, don’t eat your food like a slob, don’t take your hot drinks in the car, don’t talk and drive, much easier to do than all the others laws we try and keep. Driving is not a game, it’s a serious thing. There’s… Read more »
Being that not every driver is always so careful
I don’t drive often at all but I do have another thing to add. When a car is stopped at a red light don’t try inching forward to run the light or to be able to run the minute the light turns green I have been crossing the road and several times almost got knocked over because a car is deciding to inch forward. Wait. What will another 30 seconds behind a red do? Better to wait that 30seconds than to CV take someone’s life.
JUST BE WARE!!! there is no rusH FOR THOSE HUMOGOUS GARBAGE TRUCKS OR SCHOOL BUSES TO ALSO NEVER TURN THEIR TRUCK OR BUS AT CORNERS UNTIL DRIVER SEES IF ANY PEOPLE ARE COMING OR STANDING NEARBY, ESPECIALLY IN DAYLIGHT..PEOPLE HAVE TENDENCY TO STAND IN THE CURBS.SO LET’S THINK SAFE AND ONE OR 2 MINUTES LONGER WON’T MAKE A DIFFERENCE.GEDAlya will beg Hashem to bring the Moshiach for all of us! AMEN We need to believe each day Hashem is always in charge and knows what is good for us!! Hashem never sleeps and is watching over us and is with… Read more »
My hachlatah is to where a seat belt in the car. Thank you COL
That can cost you 5points on your driving record
There are so many wild and reckless drivers here who also don’t generally value the lives of others. That together with the profound lack of accountability in these parts creates an impossible situation. This (as well as the violence in this neighborhood) can only be remedied when discipline and consequences are swift and uncompromising – except in the rare cases of real accidents where no one is to blame.
Thank you Yosef! Well written, and definitely necessary.
#Idontdriveandtext
Very true! And thank you to hatzalah for your selfless work.
Thank you for the important message! Pedestrians also need to walk safely. Hashem yishmor.
I was crossing street on eastern parkway I had the light it was green for me when a car comes speeding out of nowhere makes a turn and screeched to a stop an inch away from me… 2 police officers witnessed the whole thing and came to ask me if I was ok but the driver a frum man with a long gray beard did not even get out of the car…
i agree with every word u say!!all ppl should NOT use there phones or anything else that will disturb u from driving. some tips:give it to the person next to u or just turn it OFF!dont risk ur life ur kids lifes and other ppls lifes ppllllzzzz!!!help us keep this gashmeus world SAFE!!!
thank u from all the world!!thank u for writing this article !moshiach now!
About 5 years ago I was the cause of an accident in CH because I was texting while driving. Thank G-d everyone was okay but it was a real wake up call for me and since then I do not text or look down at my phone while I drive.
Every one I know does this, its really scary!
thank you for taking time to write this. every time i am in crown heights i switch rolls from my usual driving self, to a pedestrian. As an out of towner, I am baffled! THERE IS NO EXCUSE! I am walking on green when it turns yellow and then red. I feel like If I don’t run I will literally die. Its a horrible feeling but the sad thing is I never regret not running because I am not at the sidewalk yet before the car that was stopped at its red zooms off. Its scary and there is no… Read more »
I recently passed my road test but for my safety and the safety of others im not going to “practice” until I have a few more lessons and feel confident driving in my car
I appreciate your brining this to our attention. And iyh I hope to apply this next time in the car – ck
From now on I will try my best every time I drive, just like I put my seatbelt on before I start driving, to put my phone totally stowed away before I start driving. Thank you COL.
If every person only did their part in making this community safer… May gedalya’s neshama have a big aliyah!!
Although I try hard to only use my phone to txt by red lights I do not want to take any chance. Life is to precious!!
Thank you for writing about this matter of urgency
It is so sad that intakes a tragedy to focus on something important that must be rectified
Please dear readers, this us not the blame game but a plea for caution and responsible driving
I agree with you almost 100%…. You don’t have to live in CH to do this! Yes! Put your phone away. In the trunk if you must.
L’iluey nishmas, I’m bn going to stop eating while driving. It’s also a distraction.