An 85-year-old woman was hit by a Brinks truck on 61st Street on Saturday, and suffered serious injuries that left her in critical condition as of Saturday night, the Daily News reported.
The woman, 85, was using a crosswalk on Broadway near West 61st Street about 4 p.m. when the truck rammed into her as it turned left, witnesses said.
“The woman was on the ground in front of the truck,” said a food truck driver who was across the street when the accident took place.
The driver stayed on the scene, police said.
Saw a Brinks truck earlier this week blow through an intersection a little north of there. Went full speed through a light that had been red for at least 15 seconds. Blaring their horn as if the pedestrians were doing something wrong.
We need a LOT more traffic enforcement.
Can at least some of the NYPD’s traffic people, who direct traffic and write parking tickets, be trained to write moving violations as well?
And note, as usual, it’s a “professional” driver or a person driving through the neighborhood who’s causing the carnage.
A lot of crosswalks now are timed to give pedestrians a few seconds head start before allowing vehicles to start to move.
Seems to work very well and should be rolled out to more intersections as well as more red light cameras. I’m pretty sure there would be plenty of opposition for automated speed ticketing devices as I imagine they use radar (micro) waves which most people don’t want to be exposed to on a regular basis.
Of course there is also the issue of people who can’t wait and start to cross the street with 2 seconds on the countdown clock and aren’t willing to or physically able to cross the street in time.
On its face it might appear to be a good idea. The problem is that the PBA would never allow it. On the other hand, I think parking enforcement is critical and wouldn’t want to see that reduced. They need to focus more on traffic enforcement with existing police manpower – that would be a good first step. More red light cameras wouldn’t hurt either, with deterrent-sufficient large fines.
The decision would be made at the state legislature. The city doesn’t have the power because enforcement of traffic summonses rests with the DMV, a state agency.
The PBA can only lobby on this.
I agree that speed and red light cameras should be ubiquitous. And fines should be doubled from the current levels, with increased fines for recidivism.
Utilizing modern technology – red light and speed cameras – eliminates the need for police chases in the city,. The idea of ticketing is to punish the drivers who break the law. Many will learn, some will not drive in the city anymore and some will protest. All outcomes that will improve the quality of life for us all. Let’s not forget that NYC is a Pedestrian city.
Yes yes please! Red light cameras and REAL fines/penalties for repeat offenders.
I think this truck is now parked on 82nd St across from police HQs! Awful to think of what happened!
at 96th and Amsterdam the so called traffic people don’t do anything about the gridlock which makes it difficult to cross when one has a walk sign. Once, when I asked for help the traffic person told me “we’re only here to protect the school children”. So no help for senior citizens! If this keeps up I won’t be able to go to Lincoln Center.
The “meter men/maids” who promptly appear in sync with alternate side parking hours would be better used to police the nightmare of moving violations that don’t even get any notice by the NYPD – and that means trucks, buses, cars and BIKES. The blatant disregard by bicyclists for the rules of the road is going to result in fatalities – just watch them ride the wrong way on all of the one ways, sail through crosswalks at red lights and not bother to use the bike lanes!!! Yesterday, I even watched someone on a CITI bike engaged in texting while sailing through a red light on Columbus Ave nearly taking out several pedestrians who were in the crosswalk whom he never even noticed.
I doubt that will happen. Parking Enforcement Agents don’t have the training, power or means to go after moving violators and the police union would vehemently oppose that kind of change. I am not in favor of loosening parking enforcement – imagine what the streets will look like (especially double parking) with reduce ticketing. The police can be more effectively deployed to go after moving violations, and the installation of more red light camers (with higher fines) would help.