Alarmed and outraged by the tragic death of innocent children run over by cars, dozens of Jackson Heights and Corona residents and their children marched to reduce pedestrian deaths on Tuesday, November 12. The group is demanding increased New York City Police Department enforcement of traffic laws; 20-mile per hour speed limits and traffic calming infrastructure to protect all pedestrians; investigation and prosecution of driver liability; involvement of our entire community in changing laws; and increasing local action to save pedestrian lives.
After three children were killed in Jackson Heights and Corona, outraged neighbors came together to organize Three Children Too Many. Since then, three more children have been killed by cars in New York City, one of them in Jackson Heights, and just yesterday morning, two men were run over by a driver who lost control and drove onto the sidewalk.
“We couldn’t stay silent about the preventable deaths of children by reckless driving,” said Cristina Furlong, march organizer and Jackson Heights mother. “As we learn more and get more enraged, we understand that the need for enforcement of traffic laws and the criminality of unsafe driving are more important than ever. We came together to organize a community action and advocacy group in order to embrace the achievable reality of no more preventable pedestrian death. Help us start a conversation about what we can do to keep preventable pedestrian deaths, caused by reckless driving, from ever happening again.”
Paul White, executive director of Transportation Alternatives said, “Bill de Blasio can save hundreds of lives by making good on his campaign pledge to adopt Vision Zero, an initiative to bring the number of deaths and serious injuries from crashes down to zero by the year 2024. To reach that goal, the Mayor-Elect must appoint a police commissioner who will focus enforcement on the most deadly traffic
violations: speeding and failure to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.”
Sarah Wolf, MPH, RD, added, “As a public health professional working in NYC, I support efforts to improve enforcement of traffic laws to make our streets and sidewalks safer for all, especially our most vulnerable groups: children and the elderly. In addition, street treatments that slow traffic to safe speeds, such as speed bumps, street narrowing and other cues to motorists that pedestrians are present are critical.”
In a statement, U.S. Congressman Joseph Crowley stated, “The hearts of our communities have been broken far too many times by the hazardous conditions on our local roadways. The safety of our streets is compromised by reckless, speeding motorists and more needs to be done to prevent pedestrian fatalities. We must redouble our efforts to ensure necessary traffic-calming solutions are put in place to protect all pedestrians, especially our seniors and young children. The residents of Jackson Heights and Corona deserve to walk the streets of their neighborhood without the fear of being struck by a vehicle.”
Local elected officials also joined the call for increased traffic enforcement.
“Pedestrian safety has improved greatly over the past several years,” said State Senator Jose Peralta. “But the deaths of three children, here in our own community, are a painful and sobering reminder that there is much more that needs to be done. I’m proud to have co-sponsored the recently passed speed camera legislation and I will continue advocating for more school crossing guards. Speed cameras and other innovations, as well as school crossing guards and vigorous enforcement of traffic laws, all must be integral elements of a comprehensive street safety plan for our city.”
Jackson Heights Councilman Daniel Dromm said, “Any life taken because of reckless driving is one life too many. New Yorkers should be able to feel safe walking in their own neighborhoods. In my district we have worked with the Department of Transportation to implement Neighborhood Slow Zones, Safe Routes to Schools projects and other pedestrian safety improvements. However, these improvements alone will not make our streets safer. Strict enforcement of traffic laws and pedestrian safety education for New Yorkers of all ages are absolutely essential to prevent future tragedies on our streets.”
“I am so proud of my community for working together towards achieving safer streets for everyone,” said Corona Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras. “After losing several of our mothers, fathers, children and friends to fatal traffic collisions, we simply cannot tolerate to lose one more. I stand united with my community in asking for stricter enforcement of traffic laws, more slow zones and continued traffic safety education for our local youth and action facilitators to point us all towards greater safety. I look forward to our continued collaborative efforts, such as holding a safety town hall and establishing a community safety task force.”
Three Children Too Many formed out of a strong feeling of empathy for the families who lost their children due to a 100% preventable situation: reckless driving and lack of traffic law enforcement. We are neighbors in this community who feel that our actions can help shift the current ambivalence about street safety into a strong lobby in which we honor those who have died or been injured, and work in support of the Vision Zero plan established worldwide.