Two days ago, a speeding SUV struck a six-year-old girl named Crysta Marie Spencer on her way to an after-school program on Capitol Hill. This tragic and needless hit-and-run death has grabbed the attention of city residents who are demanding greater traffic enforcement and regulation. Councilmember Wells rightly demanded that a stop sign be placed at the scene of the accident, and one has finally been erected, despite a sluggish response from the city.
While I am happy the stop sign is now in place, I am particularly disturbed that we were too late to save this girl's life. Doesn't it seem as if we too frequently make corrections after a catastrophe has happened, instead of taking preventative action? Might we have known earlier that we needed a stop sign at Sixth and New Orleans NE? Possibly, but it is impossible for our government to know everything.
Seeking out places in our community that could be a danger is really up to us. We are in our neighborhoods every day and are the best guardians of our children. I have a challenge for all residents: If you see locations that you think need a stop sign, a light, a reduced speed limit or any thing else that will enhance public safety and prevent needless injuries or deaths, like the one that happened on Wednesday, contact DDOT, your councilmember or your ANC Commissioner.
Finally, post those locations here for everyone to see. We need to prevent the next tragedy. I will be taking your feedback directly to DDOT and the Mayor.
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I live in Petworth but work in DuPont. Every day I park in a building at Corcoran and 18th and walk to work. I have had this routine for about 10 years.
I can not count the number of accidents I've seen where Corcoran intersects with 18th, as cars scoot out to cross. The reason is that cars do not stop where the "stop here on red" sign is located on 18th heading south. I know of a pedestrian who's knee was pinned against a fence at Order of the North Star building at the intersection because of one of the many, many accidents there.
I think this needs a flashing yellow light to get drivers on 18th to heed the sign. Of course, just once, I'd love to see police ticketing for this violation.
A four-way stop is desperately needed at 10th and C Streets SE. Currently, only drivers on 10th are supposed to stop, but they cannot see around the parked cars to ascertain whether the coast is clear or not. Also, some drivers on C Street don't realize they have the right of way, so an elaborate dance ensues. The corner of 10th and Independence needs a light. Accidents there are a regular occurance.
There are so many problem areas, I don't know where to start. #1: Missiouri Ave NW between Georgia Ave and the PG county line is a tragedy just waiting to happen. People travel this road at a very high rate of speed, often running red lights, making unsafe lane changes, and doing other stupid things. Kids use this road to get to and from school and often walk dangerously close to speeding cars to get to/from school. #2: This city need to do more to get people out of cars and encourage walking, biking, and taking public transportation. However, just walking through this city puts any pedestrian at risk and police do nothing to enforce safe cycling. I was hit while cycling last year. Even thought I had the license plate, the MPD did nothing. What kind of tone does this set for drivers? #3: All bike lanes must be policed. If someone is driving a car in a bike lane, this is against the law and it must be dealt with, not ignored. #4: 5th Street NW, from Kansas Ave up through to Missouri Ave is a constant problem. Lots of kids, lots of people running stop signs. It's just a matter of time. #5: There needs to be better enforcement of operating a vehicle with expired tags or with altered temp tags. These are often the drivers who drive REALLY recklessly, because they know that no speed camera or red light camera will catch them. While just walking from my house to the bus stop, I can count at least 6 cars that have expired tags from DC or another state or have obviously altered temp tags. If this is enforced strictly, we will get cars off the street and possibly decrease the drug activity, since these are the cars often driven by the dealers in our neighborhood. #6: Develop a comprehsive reporting system for aggressive driving. I have often observed people driving really aggressively and wished I could report their license plate. Other jurisdictions do this and we should too.
Kentucky and C SE needs a four-way stop. C has a stop sign, Kentucky does not, and it is impossible to see the cross traffic speeding by on Kentucky from C without inching well into the lane of traffic. About a year ago, they put up a "cross traffic does not stop" sign below the stop sign on C, which is laughable, as it does nothing to solve the problem or make the intersection any safer.
Speed bumps are needed along N Street NW between 1st Street NW and NJ Avenue NW. N Street is used as a bypass to having to New York Avenue and the drivers constantly are going over the posted speed down that two block stretch ... especially to make (or run teh light at NJ and N)
New York Avenue between 9th & North Capitol NW has like the 5 worst intersections in the city, yet DDOT keeps studying it over & over. And does nothing.
I am the former ANC Commissioner for ANC 6A01. I am writing to you regarding the accident that happened on April 16, 2007 at the intersection of 6th and Orleans Place, N.E. First, the Near Northeast Community appreciates your quick response to this horrible accident. Thank you!
The residents of the Near Northeast Community have been held hostage by drivers that drive aimlessly down our streets. These drivers have no regard for the safety of our children and senior residents. Too often, we have sat on our porches and witnessed drivers of cars; buses and drivers for business use our streets as drive through; or preparation for the Indiana 500! So many, disregard the stop sign that is located at the mouth of Mortons Place, N.E. and 7th Street, N.E. I know, because I have witnessed the drivers of vehicles that blatantly disregard the law. We have drivers that drive through 7th Street, NE. to enter Orleans Place, N.E. at such high speed that it is frightful. (Please note that we are an active community, and we write down telephone numbers found on wholesale trucks and business vehicles whose drivers are disregarding the traffic laws).
For so long, residents of our community were wary of the possibility that an accident "might occur". It became a reality yesterday, a young child, an innocent child fell victim to a careless, and senseless act. We had requested speed bumps along the streets that our children have to cross to get to J.O. Wilson Elementary School and was informed that because of budget, we could not get it.
We, the residents that live on the streets that are parallel to Orleans Place, N.E. once again is requesting that a traffic calming tool, such as a "road bump or speed bump" is installed to slow traffic or reduce through traffic. According the Department of Transportation "Speed Bumps" are very effective in keeping vehicle speed down.
I am praying that consideration is given to our request for installation of speed bumps. The safety of the children of our neighborhood should be a "high priority". They are our future and we should do whatever is necessary to ensure their safety. The quick response to have the stop signs installed is a short-term solution for a progressive problem.
Councilman Wells, please understand, I am not saying that the installation of stop signs is not needed or helpful. But, we have stop signs at corners of Morton Place and 7th Street, N.E. and they are not being adhered. Yesterday, while the police was investigating the accident on 6th and Orleans, nine cars came down 7th and Florida Avenue, N.E. and never stopped at the Stop Sign which is installed at the corners of Mortons Place and 7th Street, N.E.
Again, thank you for your quick response to this grave tragedy. If you have any questions, I can be reached on 202-652-1051(h); or via email wanizestatik@aol.com.
wch
I am writing to you regarding the accident that happened on April 16, 2007 at the intersection of 6th and Orleans Place, N.E. First, the Near Northeast Community appreciates your quick response to this horrible accident.
The residents of this community have been held hostage by drivers that drive aimless down our streets. These drivers have no regard for the safety of our children and senior residents. Too often, we have sat on our porches and witnessed drivers of cars; buses and drivers for business use our streets as drive through; or preparation for the Indiana 500! So many, disregard the stop sign that is located at the mouth of Mortons Place, N.E. and 7th Street, N.E. I know, because I have witnessed the drivers of vehicles that blatantly disregard the law.There are many children on this street as well, and it saddens my heart as i see drivers, just totally disregard the stop sign, something has to be done.Sad that an accident that everyone is trying to step up to the plate, and try to assist in some manner.We have been asking and asking and nothing has been done, maybe now since the accident, some serious thoughts will be taken.Im not sure if the sign needs to be more visual, or the tree branches needs to be cut down, but something has to be done before another accident happens. We have drivers that drive through 7th Street, NE. to enter Orleans Place, N.E. at such high speed that it is frightful. (Please note that we are an active community, and we write down telephone numbers found on wholesale trucks and business vehicles whose drivers are disregarding the traffic laws).
For so long, residents of our community were wary of the possibility that an accident "might occur". It became a reality yesterday, a young child, an innocent child fell victim to a careless, and senseless act. We had requested speed bumps along the streets that our children have to cross to get to J.O. Wilson Elementary School and was informed that because of budget, we could not get it.
We, the residents that live on the streets that are parallel to Orleans Place, N.E. once again is requesting that a traffic calming tool, such as a "road bump or speed bump" is installed to slow traffic or reduce through traffic. According the Department of Transportation "Speed Bumps" are very effective in keeping vehicle speed down.
I am praying that consideration is given to our request for installation of speed bumps. The safety of the children of our neighborhood should be a "high priority". They are our future and we should do whatever is necessary to ensure their safety. The quick response to have the stop signs installed is a short-term solution for a progressive problem.
Councilman Wells, please understand, I am not saying that the installation of stop signs is not needed or helpful. But, we have stop signs at corners of Morton Place and 7th Street, N.E. and they are not being adhered. Yesterday, while the police was investigating the accident on 6th and Orleans, nine cars came down 7th and Florida Avenue, N.E. and never stopped at the Stop Sign which is installed at the corners of Mortons Place and 7th Street, N.E.
The speed camera need to work!!!! Speed is an issue for suburban drivers because they are not use to pedestrians. In the suburbs you look out for other cars, you are not looking pedestrians. Another common mistake of suburban drivers, and you can wait on any corner in downtown D.C. and see one or two weekend drivers do this—they look forward for the cars and almost hit the pedestrian in the intersection because they are not looking forward.
There really should be an overall plan to address this unique situation that D.C. is. If you live in neighboring counties you are driving in D.C. for work or on the weekend. And they bring their highway habits on our D.C. streets that are not translatable. At a certain point of day residential streets like K, West Virginia, 11 become major motorways before to 395 or 50. There are schools and houses around those streets.
After I was almost killed, by a fast driving in Columbia Heights who went a corner at top speed (there was no light requiring him to stop and must pedestrians look only both ways not around), I realize I go slow. Thank goodness, I did. A few days ago I was driving around 3pm and three Kipp DC students dashed across the street to catch the bus. The Street they are near is off on 395 and drivers on a rush to get home typically drive faster than me. But I live here and know pedestrians can come from anywhere.
My issue is this—why is there not a comprehensive plan to deal with this phenomenon. If you go to the USVI whose resident drives on the left but have many tourist from the mainland that would find that strange, there are signs all over the place reminding people to Stay Left or Think Left in tourist areas.
Why don’t we have programs that understand the use of our visitors in relations to the residents ? It is not just having speed cameras, stop signs, speed bumps in the right places but thinking about the use of the street and the overall plan that needs to facilitate traffic and keep residents safe. It may be all those things, or just a sign, crossing guard or a police car. If you have lived in D.C. for more than a few months, you know every street that turns into a motorway at rush hour around where you live. And since we have not built a new school since the 70’s DDOT should not be surprise to know where children are and calculate what the needs are in relations to being near a major motorway. Maybe Metro should be notified so kids don’t feel the need to dart across the street.
While the stop signs at 6th and Orleans are a start, more needs to be done. I saw three cars roll through them this morning as I was approaching to cross. A better solution would be to install Walk/Don't Walk lights at the 6th and M intersection, as drivers are less likely to ignore a red light.
Guns have been recently found on an around the Scott Montgomery Elementary School playground at 5th & P Streets NW. [Then Inspector now] MPD Commander Patrick Burke and ANC2C02 Commissioner Kevin Chapple agree that new fences that can be locked can prevent the criminal element from taking over the school outside of school hours in the evenings. The school ground is not secure. And it is not a playground for neigbhorhood thugs.
We have a 3yr old $3.1M recreation center two blocks away that was built to provide supervised and constructive activities for young people. Scott Montgomery is being destroyed by gangs and is covered by their territorial tags.
The tags have been reported to the proper City officials and they have yet to be removed.
We've contacted our City Council Member. We're still waiting for some concerted police response and reasonable solution. But we have former electd officials who are preventing progress.
The intersection at 19th and Q Streets NW -- a very busy intersection in Dupont Circle just off Connecticut Ave -- is a tragedy waiting to happen. Rather than a 4-way stop, which would make sense, traffic only stops on 19th and not on Q, which is not expected by drivers; plus it's a fairly blind intersection because cars are typically parked on both streets. Last year we finally got a sign on 19th warning that cross traffic doesn't stop, but it's easy to miss; when I'm in a cab I typically still have to warn the driver to look carefully or they would just barrel through. There is no reason on earth that this is not a 4-way stop -- and it will be once someone is badly injured or killed. Let's do it now.
I pulled this off DC Watch. Looks like there needs to be another sign at Minnesota and M, SE.
Thanks for doing this.
Mary Siddall
Wallach Place, NW
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A Tale of Two Cities
Trish Chittams, pchittams@yahoo.com
Yesterday afternoon, Crista Marie Spencer was killed while in the crosswalk at 6th and Orleans Streets, NE, by a hit-and-run driver. Yesterday afternoon, the mayor, the Ward 6 representative, and the police chief were at the home of the grieving mother. By the 11 o'clock news, the mayor had pledged that stop signs would be placed on 6th Street, as well as speed humps to slow traffic down. By 7:00 p.m., a makeshift memorial has sprung up by the accident. A candlelight vigil is held, the family mourns, the neighborhood pauses, the city grieves. On the 5:00 a.m. news, it is reported that Tommy Wells, the Ward representative, pledges that temporary stop signs would be in place by this afternoon. The city breathes again because promises have been made and action will be taken.
On Friday, April 13, Ms. Covington was hit while in the crosswalk of Minnesota Avenue and M Street, SE. The driver stopped. On Saturday, April 21, Ms. Covington died as a result of the injuries sustained during the accident. The family mourns, the neighborhood pauses. There are no candlelight vigils, no curbside memorial. Only orange marking show that something happened there. There are no TV cameras, no mayor, no Ward representative, not even an "In Brief" mention in a newspaper. Two weeks later, there are no stop signs. Two weeks later, no temporary stop signs, no speed humps. Two weeks later, we have promises that the situation will be "reviewed," but they can't promise that action will be taken.
What is the difference in these two situations? In each case a precious life was lost; in each case the street is notorious for speeders trying to catch the light. In each case the pedestrian was in the crosswalk. I can only think that the difference is that we are on the wrong side of the river, or even the wrong side of the Ward. Where are our voices crying out for equity? Where are our representatives crying out for action? When will enough be enough?
We need 4-way stops at the following 2 intersections.
6th & E Streets SE
7th & South Carolina Ave SE
I walk past those a lot and hate having to get cars to stop so I can cross. There are crosswalks but the cars just ignore them. Espeically in the morning!!! Moreover, I have seen accidents between cars there due to confusion about who is supposed to stop.
I live in the 1800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE. We need stop signs and speed bumps because the cars, buses, police cruisers, and firetrucks fly up and down this avenue all day and night. We are having police chases too, in fact last week there was about a fifty car police chase. The police cars were from all jurisdictions and a helicopter too. They were even speeding between the new houses on land. Children or anyone could have been struck.
Sometimes when I get off of the bus, it takes me 15 minutes to get across the street to my house. I think that a stop sign should be put at Alabama Avenue and Webster Street because the street curves on the other side and it's hard to see whats coming up the hill. I also think that a stop sign should be put at Alabama Avenue and 18th Place because I see more elderly and regular people get off of the buses and can't get across the street. Sometimes I have to come outside and help them.
Thanks for listening.
Hello,
I am interested in supporting the traffic signs in my neighborhood (the site of the fatal hit and run). I live on Orleans Pl, NE. This intersection has been a problem for several reasons -- not only in terms of pedestrian safety (which has been tragically demonstrated) but also just for automobiles. One can't safely make a left turn because the parking on 7th street blocks sight of the traffic coming up the street.
Also, if anyone knows of a mechanism to donate to the Spencer family for funeral expenses, grief counseling, or whatever it is this family needs to take care of, I'd like to know about it. Otherwise I plan to send a sympathy note with a check. If anyone has information, please email me through my blog. thank you.
The unit block of 13th St. NE, as it intersects with North Carolina alongside Lincoln Park can be very dangerous when cars park in the right turn lane, presumably to attend Lincoln Park United Methodist Church. The right turn onto N.Carolina has an arrow so that pedestrians may safely cross, but when the turn lane is full of parked cars, the arrow is ignored, and cars careen through the crosswalk. The parked cars also inhibit pedestrians and drivers alike from seeing each other.
The signage allows for parking on Sundays, but it is a "no parking" zone otherwise, which seems to never be enforced, especially in the evenings when there are church functions, which is also the highest pedestrian traffic time of day to and from Lincoln Park. We need enforcement of both the parking restrictions and the red-arrow-running before we lose a child crossing legally, on their way to the park.
One proposal would be to allow parking on the park side (inside lane) of Lincoln Park outside of rush hours, or even just on Sunday. Then the church-goers would have a legal place to park, and a barrier would be created between the perimeter sidewalk of the park and the (often speeding) traffic. This is a high-pedestrian area, with many, many children going to and from the park. Enforcement has been visibly stepped up around Lincoln Park on all oher issues except this one of parking in the turn lane from 13th to N.Carolina NE.
I hope you can help!
Just an observation about the 100 Block of Chesapeake Street SW:
This isn't about an intersection; it's about the whole block.
Ever since the Malcolm X exit off 295 has been closed due to construction, evening rush hour and Saturday drivers have been especially unsafe when using the 100 block of Chesapeake Street SW as a shortcut onto South Capital.
When the light at MLK and Chesapeake is red, you can hear the "Oh, crap!" sudden brakes that get hit by drivers expecting to hit Mach 10 coming off the interstate. When the light is green, you don't want to be in the crosswalk, even *if* the little Walk guy is flashing you the signal; to walk is to risk becoming an unwilling piece of traffic fodder.
The only thing that has helped in recent history was that series of watermain breaks a few months ago. WASA left HUGE pot holes down near the end of Chesapeake, and I can't tell you how entertaining it was to watch SUVidiots turn redwhiteblue when they went "BAM!" hitting those pot holes at 50-60 miles an hour. I still giggle thinking about it now. Sad part was that while it took many speeders -- SUVidiots and all -- only once or twice to learn, the *real* fun was watching those drivers who seemed forget every other day.
Anyway, I'm told that speed bumps and speed humps are out because as a street that forms part of entry and exit ramps, Chesapeake SW is considered an emergency route. Sometimes there are cops up on the MLK/Chesapeake corner, which is a wonderful thing since there sits the school that educates many of the children who live in the surrounding area. Drivers tend to drive more carefully when one of Big Brother's fingertips looks like it's itchin' to scratch out a ticket or two.
Beyond that, though, do you think anything else can be done to alleviate this situation?
Well, thanks.
Cheers!
The intersection of 6th and E SE desperately needs some traffic calming device. 6th is a major artery across the Hill from the freeway, and people do not slow down. E Street is narrow, and there are frequent near-accidents. Even a sign (like the one at 3d and D, SE) that says "6th Street traffic does not stop" would be better than nothing.
I live at Buena Vista Terr.S.E. in a curve.This street is like living at the nascar race track.On any giving day or night the cars and trucks come around the curve at excessive speeds of 45mpr or better.We need speed humps to slow them down.Since i been living here i have seen one kid get hit.We would welcome a police sub station or any thing that can help us.
The intersection of Rhode Island and 15th Streets NW is a nightmare. As 15th crosses Mass Ave, it opens up and becomes four lanes going one way. That's all fine and dandy until you're the person in the far left lane who is going through a green light and some numbskull in the lane to the right of you decides to turn left across your lane of traffic and doesn't even bother to signal. I totalled my car as a result.
While the death of six-year old Crysta is sad and not to be dismissed, part of the problem with pedestrian deaths in this city is twofold: first, pedestrians who cross against lights and traffic and who take their sweet time getting across cross walks. Cross walks are not for dilly-dallying. Haul ass, boys and girls. It's not a playground! And second, folks who jaywalk, particularly at night when it's hard to see anyway.
As for bad intersections for pedestrians, how about Pennsylvania and 7th Streets NW? Lengthen the timing of the lights there so peds can get across. Nineteen seconds is too short.
We also need a four way stop, speed bumps, anything at 7th and Madison NW. A child was hit on his bike not long ago and drivers race through this intersection all the time.
I am happy to see more police actually walking the streets around here instead of sitting in their cars, as they did not long ago, but more can be done. I tried to go to the playground with my kid this past week at the corner of Georgia and Madison, but had to leave because a group of young adults was smoking pot by the swings. This same group seemed to be responsible for a couple of kids also playing there.
Perhaps we should place stop signs, speed bumps, speed camera's, and flashing red warning lights at all intersections throughout the city. Currently the speed limit in DC is 25 MPH unless otherwise posted. Clearly this is too high and should be reduced to 15 MPH or even 10 MPH. Maybe with these changes our streets will be safer.
Or perhaps we could enlist our police force to enforce our current traffic laws.
Every day I see cars running red lights and speeding. Also, I see pedestrians running into moving traffic. It seems to me that if you want a safer city everyone needs to obey the rules.
Our community seems to think that if a pedestrian is struck by an automobile that it is automatically the drivers fault. Of course, this isn't true.
The recent accident on 6th Street NE that killed a child was indeed a tragedy, but according to the media, the child ran into traffic from in between parked cars. I don't see how the installation of speed bumps and temporary stop signs would have prevented this accident. It's disgusting that the driver fled the scene and I hope that he is caught and punished.
I've lived in a few large cities in my life and, I have to say, D.C. is the only city that has traumatized me traffic-wise. Seems to me, in many cities, drivers take out their aggressions on other drivers. Here, they take them out on pedestrians. I can't tell you how many times I've crossed the street (on a green) and have had drivers speed up to make a left turn, clearing me by maybe a foot. Then they look at me like I'm an asshole for waiting for the walk sign to cross the street. I had someone honk at me the other day for crossing the street at a 4-way stop sign in front of them. The idiot hadn't even reached the intersection yet when I stepped off the sidewalk. I have people telling me that it's because this city is filled with people from all over the world and they're used to driving "differently." Uh, right. Every big city is filled with people from all over the world.
It's a wonder people don't get hit more than they do. This town needs a highway patrol
In some places we may have to be like NYC no right on red. They are not looking for forward for pedestrian. they are only looking left for cars.
The intersection of Ft Stevens Dr NW and 14th ST NW in Brightwood. Coming up from Military Rd NW, 14th ST NW is a hill with limited visibility and nothing restricts cars from pushing 40-50 mph; as they come up the rise, either crash or come close to crashing into vehicles crossing 14th ST NW from Ft Stevens Dr (both directions). Pedestrians also cross here for the bus stop.
We need help.Not sure who to contact. Intersection of Military and Reno Rd. NW. Recently Reno was reopened for two lanes of traffic after 1.5 years of 1 lane of traffic for road repair. Somehow, the lights got messed up recently. The Reno Rd lights now turn green right when the Military Rd lights turn YELLOW, not Red. This is EXTREMELY dangerous. People from Military are still driving when the Reno Rd. light turns Green. Accident waiting to happen.
I live on 42nd Street, NW, between Warren and Van Ness. I have been begging someone at the DC govern't to listen regarding the dangerous conditions on that street. There should be a stop sign at the intersection of Warren and 42nd Street. There isn't, and as a result, commuters use 42nd Street as a cutthrough around Wisconsin Avenue, barrelling down this residential street at speeds of over 40 mph. There is nothing to even slow them down between Yuma and Van Ness (at least a half mile). Making matters worse is that drivers do not stop at the single stop sign on Warren Street, and instead whip onto 42nd Street without stopping. It's unbelievable.
This section of 42nd Street is located between two elementary schools, a popular "tot lot" -- Turtle Park --, and two nursery schools! And yet the city has done nothing (oh, except redo the perfectly fine street curbs and build an incomplete sidewalk that requires my toddler and I to walk in the middle of the street to get to the Metro every day).
I would appreciate anything you can do to help -- my requests have been ignored and this truly is a tragedy waiting to happen.
Washington circle, all points. Many drivers don't know the rules regarding how to navigate a traffic circle. Also, it is unclear which lane one is supposed to use upon merging.
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