New Haven Traffic Enforcement Unit Reports Weekly Figures

This report comes courtesy of the New Haven Police Traffic Enforcement Unit. See here for previous coverage of the new unit, and its creation last year. According to city sources, the city issued approximately 10,000 MV infractions in 2007 and 15,000 in 2008. With Chief Lewis's creation of a new traffic detail and expanded enforcement hours, the city is planning to issue at least 20,000 tickets in 2009.

Update: Week of 2/9/09-2/13/09

Enforcement
Infractions 217
Misdemeanors 2
Written warnings 16
Total 235

Violations
Cell phone 41
Red light 59
Stop sign 28
Speeding 68
Seat belt 22

Locations
Elm-York 61
Kimberly Ave. 41
Dixwell-Bassett 20
Whalley-W. Park 19
Ella Grasso Boulevard 15
Whitney-E. Rock 13
State-James 12
Chapel-Yale 9
Frontage-York 9
Howard-Sea 5
Townsend-Tuttle 4

You can view more on the issue here:
http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/1246

Denham Springs joins with 200+ other U.S. cities in installing red light cameras

City to use cameras at traffic lights, The Advocate, 2/24/09

DENHAM SPRINGS, LA — The City Council voted 4-1 Monday to have a company install cameras to photograph and fine speeders and people who run red lights.

Police Chief Jeff Wesley told the council the program should result in a “dramatic decrease in collisions at traffic lights.”

Although the council still must pass an ordinance that includes a schedule of fines, Wesley said he envisions a ticket for running a red light costing a driver $160. Redflex Traffic Systems, which will provide and maintain the equipment, will receive a portion of each fine collected, Charlie Buckels of Redflex told the council. “There’s no money out of the pocket of Denham Springs,” he said, adding that the city will decide where to place the cameras.

Durbin said the cameras will allow police to do things other than sitting at lights watching for violators.

Complete Streets Coalition Storms State Capitol: SB 735 Awaits Support

Dozens of pedestrian, transit, bicycle and public health activists, including some who helped pass the New Haven Complete Streets Legislation a few months ago, stormed the State Capitol yesterday for a legislative reception. Reporting from the New Haven Independent here: http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2009/02/safe_streets_st.php

A few of the proposed pieces of legislation are listed below, some just placeholders. This is certainly not a comprehensive list of all of the proposals or pieces of legislation related to complete streets; although the first bill (SB 735) is likely to become comprehensive legislation containing some of the other pieces.

1. (Updated 3/06/09) SB 735: AN ACT IMPROVING BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS: This is in the transportation committee, and originally sponsored by Rep. Kehoe. The two committee co-chairs are both strong supporters. This bill may eventually incorporate some points in the other bills listed here. Key inclusions are 1. Complete Streets (required accommodation for all users regardless of ability/disability/mode), 2. Creation of a permanent State Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee, 3. Shifting transportation funds to programs that improve biking and walking, such as safe routes to transit, safe routes for seniors, etc. Depending on the amount of citizen pressure at the General Assembly, other proposals may make it into the SB 735 bill, e.g., institution of bicycle education as part of physical education in the state's schools, requirements that walkability be addressed during the planning phase of school construction projects, and a "Vulnerable User of the Right of Way" law. To learn more, check back for details or join the CT Livable Streets Campaign, which is a newly-created group helping to coordinate statewide advocacy this year. http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=735&which_year=2009&SUBMIT1.x=0&SUBMIT1.y=0&SUBMIT1=Normal

2. HB 5522 (Villano) AN ACT REQUIRING THE ENACTMENT OF A CONNECTICUT"LIVABLE STREETS" PROGRAM. "That the general statutes be amended to require Connecticut to implement a "Livable Streets" program utilizing "red light" cameras at locations having traffic lights in order to improve safe access to all street uses, including motor vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists, by reducing traffic speed and various traffic violations." http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB05522&which_year=2009
Also see SB 149: AN ACT CONCERNING THE INSTALLATION OF RED LIGHT CAMERAS BY MUNICIPALITIES: http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=149&which_year=2009&SUBMIT1.x=0&SUBMIT1.y=0&SUBMIT1=Normal

3. HB 5649 (Hennessy) AN ACT CONCERNING THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OFARTERIAL ROADS AND MAJOR STREETS.:"That the general statutes be amended to provide that whenever an arterial road or major street is constructed or rebuilt within the state of Connecticut, the roadway shall be designed to safely accommodate the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users regardless of age or ability; that exceptions to this requirement shall be made when appropriate." http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB05649&which_year=2009

4. HB 5640 (Hennessy) AN ACT CONCERNING THE IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLICACCESS TO TRANSIT STOPS.: "That no less than 5% of any federal economic recovery funds received by the state of Connecticut for highway purposes shall be used to improve pedestrian access to transit stops and that no less than 1% of the state highway budget shall be allocated to improve such access in each state fiscal year thereafter." http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB05640&which_year=2009

5. HB 6227 (Dillon, Walker, Harp) AN ACT CONCERNING THE SAFETY OF WHALEY AVENUE IN NEW HAVEN. "That the Department of Transportation shall monitor the safety of Whaley Avenue in New Haven and shall report its findings and recommendations, including safety measures contained in current and future Whaley Avenue construction projects, to the General Assembly, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, not later than February 1, 2010." http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/CGABillStatus/CGAbillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB6227

6. HB 6069 (Dillon) AN ACT CONCERNING TRAFFIC CALMING. "That the Department of Transportation shall incorporate traffic calming measures in design and construction in areas of urban traffic." http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/CGABillStatus/CGAbillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB6069

7. HB 6017 (Kehoe) AN ACT CONCERNING THE ADDITION OF CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS DURING THE PLANNING PHASE OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. "That chapter 173 of the general statutes be amended to require that local and regional boards of education to address walkability and bikeability issues during the planning phase of school construction projects." http://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB-6107

If you haven't yet contacted your state representative and state senator to inquire about their views on this legislation, please do so in the very near future. The group will also need to lobby Governor Rell if the legislation moves forward.

Update 7/9/09: Updates on the legislation are available in this month's NHSS Coalition Newsletter.

Slam into a pedestrian in the middle of a crosswalk and what happens, exactly?

"Drop a flower pot off a high-up windowsill and kill someone, you might face criminal charges. Slam into a pedestrian in the middle of a crosswalk and what happens, exactly?"

In most cases, nothing. This is shocking to anyone from Northern Europe, but accepted as a basic fact of life in the United States. A nice short piece about this from the Pedestrianist here: http://pedestrianist.blogspot.com/2009/02/privilege-not-right.html

The article also references an op-ed by Walk Bike CT, which argues the point in more detail, citing a few studies that are just as relevant in Connecticut as they are elsewhere.

"In most of northern Europe there is some version of a "vulnerable roadway users" law. In other words, those driver larger, heavier, vehicles have a greater degree of responsibility than those walking or biking. The understanding is that each roadway user is responsible for the safety of roadway users more vulnerable than him/herself. By contrast, under our current system, drivers seem to have an implicit carte blanche to do as they please, and unless they're drunk, they are often given no more than a slap on the wrist when they kill or injure a cyclist or pedestrian."

Streetsblog provides great ongoing coverage of pedestrian injuries and fatalities, including this one about six-year-old Clarente Turner's death last year. Readers often point out that "jumping a subway turnstile gets you in more trouble in this city than killing a person with your car."

Unfortunately, until laws change and traffic safety becomes a top priority across all levels of government, these types of preventable injuries and deaths will continue to be an very common everyday occurrence on our streets.