By Chaya
In the wake of the recent tragedy in our community, it behooves COLlive, the community news source, to publish some safety reminders as we begin the summer.
This is for children and adults of all ages. No one is too young or old to be safe. Gather your children and family members and share with them the importance of street safety.
Children:
– It’s important to wait for a green light before crossing the street.
– Look both ways before crossing, even if it is a green light.
– Do not follow adults who cross at red lights.
– Do not enter a stranger’s car.
– Wear reflective clothing at night and especially when biking.
– A helmet can save a life. It’s not a joke and should be enforced.
Adults:
– Please wait for the green light and be an example for those around you. Crossing on red
lights can create peer pressure for someone waiting for the light to change, especially
children!
– Do not have your phone near you while driving, or place it on silent mode to avoid
distracting notifications.
– Check that all passengers and children have left the car before locking up.
– Seatbelts for all. Even if you’re driving for 2 minutes or taking an Uber.
Why do I see bochurim so confidently striking across the parkway?
Why don’t I see moms checking to see if cars are coming at a red light with their baby carriage in front of them?
The Torah clearly tells us Venishmartem Me’od Lenafshoteichem. It’s time to stop taking chances with our lives.
It’s a great and important article but a lot of times even the author (speaking as a whole) isnt following what is being preach. So why should others listen….
Until it doesn’t happen to the person or their family, no one will understand and learn the lesson.
I’m curious why every time an article is posted and it’s plain facts why does it always need to be commented with stuff like this? Always bringing in problems..who said the writer Doesnt practice what he preaches? Like just agree that’s it
I do practice the above, maybe you should too!
What is the purpose of your comment?
My comment was in response to the author of the articles last 2 questions.
And if anyone actually read my comment I specifically indicated AS A WHOLE people dont practice what they preach even though they write a truthful oped.
In chinuch if you want people to follow what you are preaching you have to apply it yourself first, otherwise why would others listen…
Apparently “practice what you preach” hit home for the responding comments and it triggered. It wouldnt have if practice is being done. There is a reality to that. It’s also plain facts.
Nah
Your comment had nothing to do with this article then because the author obviously practices this if writing about something so simple yet important. You think the author would just sit down and right about the simple importance of safety but then go and purposely run a red light? Like my question is why is that even what you’re thinking? Even if that’s the case let’s say , you wouldn’t know even and it’s most probably not , whats the point in mentioning that , it’s pointless.
Also just to add you mentioned sometimes the author doesn’t practice what he preaches so why should others listen? Uh well it’s for your own benefit and for other’s safety. So just because one is being reckless let’s say and is telling others to be safe, just because they are being hypocritical that means you’re going to go and be unsafe too? Where is the logic in that. Sounds like something my 5 year old would say.
Well then You cant expect your 5 year old to listen to you even if it’s for their good when you aren’t doing good for yourself. Teenager problems dont come from no where. It comes from parents like yourself. Especially when parents are doing everything in their power to impose on their growing adult kids their lifestyle when perhaps the child has a better potential then the parents. And the parents refuse to let their grown child do their own thing. How cruel! If your child is talking like me, then you have a lot to learn. Sometimes the children… Read more »
I’m trying my best not to laugh right now. I hope you aren’t a five year old because then you shouldn’t be on COL and you would be smart enough to understand the comment. I take it you should be grateful that I am going out of my way to explain this to you because I pity you. If you were to be an adult you would understand that even if another adult is doing something wrong that doesnt mean you should do it too because then you are acting like a child being like “oh but my brother is… Read more »
Thank you so much for this article, BH, even though I am not so careful but I make sure I am able to cross when it’s a green light for cars but the point of my comment that the street between Kingston and Easter parkway the crosswalk right towards kehot store I am very careful to cross there I can’t see a single car even during the day and especially during the day there is full of park cars and if a car sees no one is crossing since the car can’t see the sidewalk then it can G-D forbid… Read more »
NYS Assemblyman Cunningham, NYS Senator Myrie and NYC Councilwoman Crystal Hudson
If you have a complaint or proposal for the Dept of Transportation (DOT) you would call your NYC Council Member. You need to call the Member who is your City Council Member. To do this go to https://council.nyc.gov/districts/ and put in your address. You just need the street, us a comma after and then write Brooklyn. You can look them up and ask for the Constituent Services person and then say your issue. You can also call the Community board. For most Crown Heights residents that would be Community Board 9 https://www.nyc.gov/site/brooklyncb9/index.page. They are usually pretty good at following up.… Read more »
The government has almost zero effect in community’s… Although sometimes they try… You think if you sit down a kid in school and tell him to listen to the light it will work? It won’t. Mother’s and father’s need to be examples for their children!! Btw it doesn’t seem like your from around here… In Brooklyn everyone knows that the government is useless, that’s a understatement. That’s why G-d makes parents and wants people to follow the code of Jewish law which says “guard you’re life very much”!!
At least, a stop sign should be put up at the service road.
As all of the above safety measures are so true, I want to stress on the helmets.
I’ve heard way too many horror stories about children and adult injuries due to not wearing helmets. Just today I saw a father and son on an electric bike riding on the street and the father had a helmet and the child not. How neglectful this parent was. It’s not a joke. Adults and children should be wearing helmets even when riding on the sidewalks, which is another issue in itself.
May we all behave in a safe manor.
Cars turning into crosswalks while pedestrians have the walk sign is insanely dangerous. I live on Eastern Parkway and have had 3 experiences where a driver almost plowed straight into me while turning. One stopped when I yelled and waved my arms, the other two didn’t even slow down and had I not run fast enough out of the way I would not be here to write this.
I’ve had the same experience many times. That’s why I cross Eastern Parkway in middle, when there’s no cars approaching. It’s much safer
I’ve seen bochurim crossing in the middle of Eastern Parkway as it is quicker than walking to the corner and adhering to the lights. It is NOT SAFER. I’ve seen bochurim standing in the yellow lines lane because they couldn’t make it all the way across. I cringe and just ask Hashem to keep them safe.
Unfortunately many drivers are at the least careless, aggressive and sometimes criminals who are trying to get away and nothing or no one will stop them.
EVERYONE, please do your hishtadlus when crossing AS WELL AS when driving.
May everyone be safe.
As someone who is careful the problem goes beyond that. Eastern pkway and Albany ave has been a problem for sometime. Sometimes both the traffic lights are green. Pls call our assemblyman Brian Cunningham, NYC CM Crystal Hudson and State Senator Myries office . They are our local elected officials who CAN fix this if we pressure them enough
Keep in mind, after you call, make sure you get the name of the person and get their email. The City Council person should be first as DOT is in their jurisdiction
You know what would be cool, a bike lane, that was crazy drivers wont be running our teenagers over on their bikes.
Bikers need to drive safely too.
They are very wild and dangerous. Drive thru red lights and pay no attention to pedestrians
I had a few close calls. As the light changed, cars stopped at the first lane, I started crossing when a car zoomed by in front of me from the next lane. That car ran a red light. It was blocked by the first line of cars so I couldn’t see it coming. Even when crossing on green still proceed cautiously making sure no cars are coming in the next lane. Even when it’s a 2 way – a car ran a red light, zoomed past the wrong lane like on E New York. Say some t’hillim….
Thank you for pointing this out. We all need reminders
My kids were riding scooters on Albany towards Empire when a car drove out from the garage without stopping. Thank G-d one child just passed and another was just behind the garage. They are not always careful when driving out from the driveway. It’s difficult to see the kids. We need to teach kids to look when passing driveways. And look very carefully that no cars are turning in. Many accidents have happened with cars turning in
1) Speed bump on the interior of garage
2) Interior stop sign
3) Markings on the ground of garage.
4) Mirrors on near garage entrance cars to see blind spots coming from sidewalk
There is no hope in anything changing in regards to safety
The people of a certain area make the area
And Brooklyn has way too many low class and dangerous people who don’t care about basic driving safety
How many times have I seen drivers with their head down in their phone?!
Just idiotic and brainless
It’s more prevalent with certain people but unfortunately I’ve seen Yidden doing the same.
Get the illegals and criminal repeat offenders off the streets.
Half the unsafe driving issues will be solved.
Rent will go down.
More funding available for the needs of the taxpayers.
Duh
If we are going to talk about future rules, I would respectfully add a reminder about crossing the street while texting. I have seen many adults in Manhattan who cross the street while looking down on their phone and texting – and who may not realize that a driver could be doing the same thing.
Jay S
Almost hit a bachur darting across Eastern parkway. I see way to many bachurim daily crossing in the middle of the street without looking. As someone who drives down eastern parkway daily it’s very scary
While we are on the subject of safety let’s remember to teach our kids not to smoke. Second do not leave objects or flower pots on stairs. People especially older people can trip over them. Third is dont leave drawers of closets open as many people have tripped or fallen into them. It sounds wierd to young people but many older people have had broken hips falling because of this. Also avoid excessive drinking. You must protect your health.
Please call it a walk sign to avoid confusion.
helmets are cool
I saw on lefferts a 2 year old running down the block about a min later a car came out from the driveway backward going pretty fast there would have noway seen the child before he would of ran that kid over
Driveways are dangerous too
If you go backwards
It’s RUDE and dangerous. And yes it’s beyond selfish that people are so addicted to their phones they put lives at risk to use it while driving.
Drive the right way in the bike lane without swerving in front or around cars. You’re likely to cause an accident and you’re likely to be the one more badly hurt. AT LIGHTS dont zip across PARENTS teach your kids to cross with a scooter like they do without one. A driver can not expect and safely stop for a scooter driver that zips out of nowhere.
All mothers with strollers also need to keep their little ones next to them and not by themselves half block away.
I was walking with my baby in a stroller in Kingston last week and a car (frum female driver ) just zoomed out of the alleyway by Totally Her without stopping or looking for pedestrians, right in front of my baby! BH I was just a few measly feet away. She proceeded to zoom across Kingston into the alleyway across the street, I guess she assumed (!?) that Kingston was empty of cars. It’s a real problem. Please! It’s takes a few more seconds to just slow down and check for cars and pedestrians! Alleyways and parking lots are not… Read more »
how about drivers driving at or below speed limit notrushing to beat redlights not blocking crosswalks not trying to turn when people are crossing! look before you back up turn a corner pul out ofyour garage honk before you do and most important for our useless toothless C and politiciansActuall;y advocate for simple safety measures such as speed bumps on E.p. service roads by 770 by Oholeit T orah & on the north service road by Chovevei Torah cameras on e.p. Kingston Albany & how about assiging either traffic brownies to control Rushhourtraffic E.p. Albany or assignig actual cops forspeed… Read more »
Lead by example !! And hold your CHILDRENS hand instead of clutching your precious phone for dear life. I have seen kids alone and on scooters go into the street countless times while mommy , tatty or babysitter were busy on the phone. ( and the parents berated the poor toddler who doesn’t know better instead of themselves )
Stop waiting IN THE STREET to cross! Sometimes a quick step in is needed, to see whether or not there are oncoming cars. But then please get back on the curb for the remaining wait to cross! I am especially mystified seeing an adult with a stroller in front of them, hanging out in the street, when it is too soon to cross! Guess who gets hit first in this scenario — not to mention what ir teaches the child! All those bumped-out corner sidewalks the city put in — what a waste since people stand further into traffic. Bad… Read more »
It is included
SAD NEWS ALWAYS IN SUMMER…..Please be carful…take the time for what matters and slow down, throw away your cell phones and open your hearts…or just keep doing what you are doing and see how that works….Blessing for a safe summer and beyond to all…safety is not an accident…and such..
VERY IMPORTANT ARTICLE: JUST WANT TO ADD TWO THINGS: PLEASE DON’T PLACE THE STROLLER IN THE STREET WHILE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE! BOTH OF THE PARENTS AND THE STROLLER SHOULD BE A FOOT AWAY FROM THE CURBE. SECONDLY WE MUST MAKE REFLECTORS AT NIGHT A LAW. SO MANY ACCIDENTS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF ONLY THE PERSON WORE SOME SORT OF A REFLECTOR. IT WOULD SHINE AT NIGHT AND THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE TIME TO STOP. IT SHOULD BE SOLD AT ALL GAS STATION
Some of things mentioned are not realistic. People will cross on a red light or in middle of the street if no cars are coming and many times that is actually safer. It’s better to be honest with ourselves about what people will actually listen too and base safety standards on that. Telling people to do something there is no way they will listen too is just a way of saying I am better than you and is not a effective way of teaching. People should be tought how to be careful regardless of whether they are following traffic rules… Read more »
So I will cross on red when it’s a one way side street but come on saying that practice is safer doesn’t make sense.