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Wrong-Way Driver Nearly Hits Pedestrian
Yesterday, I was at the corner of White and W. Broadway when I saw a Jeep coming down White, and I just knew the driver was going to do the illegal maneuver to get over to N. Moore. Sometimes, cars blatantly ignore the “no right turn” signs and turn right onto W. Broadway—against traffic—so they can make a quick left onto N. Moore. But often they do something a bit sneakier. First, the driver acts as if he’s making a wide left onto W. Broadway. (I need to go see if there’s a camera they’re trying to fool. UPDATE: No camera, but maybe there should be.)
Next, he backs up through the White and N. Moore intersections, until he can turn right onto N. Moore.
The Jeep’s driver, reversing very quickly up W. Broadway, almost ran over the woman walking her dog. “Can’t you see I have the light?!” she yelled at him, and he had the chutzpah to yell something angrily back.
In the past, marked and unmarked cop cars have been the prime culprits. (It’s a shortcut to reach the precinct house from the east.) Perhaps someone at the 1st Precinct will recognize the car and/or license plate (GUV 7690) and suggest that this driver—and everyone else still doing it—obey the law before someone gets hurt. After all, the commanding officer has said that pedestrian safety is of paramount concern.
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I’ve seen traffic infractions like this all over the city–it’s not just cops on West Broadway. I regularly see drivers going the wrong direction on streets and ignoring red lights . Add to the mix the pedestrians who cross against lights and in the middle of the block willy-nilly while reading/texting on their phones. Yesterday I saw two people walking against traffic in the middle of the West Side Highway. It’s crazy out there, and I’m surprised more people are getting hurt.
One Solution could be to make that right diagonal going west on White St to N Moore legal and put a stop sign facing south on the northwest corner of N Moore and West Broadway (for the few cars that turn right off beach st). Seems more efficient to me.
Kind of similar to that right diagonal when you’re crossing canal going north from church to Greene street. And that street is a hundred times more trafficked and dangerous but they allow it there.
The other day I saw somebody attempting to avoid Holland Tunnell traffic on Hudson by taking a left on Laight, turning around and going reverse UP Greenwich (against traffic) for three blocks and then turning back towards Hudson on Watts.
SMH
Why don’t drivers who do tricks like this have their licenses revoked permanently?
To say nothing of the blatant disregard for the STOP sign at the corner of W Broadway and Beach.
Yesterday I saw one of the traffic officers watch a mercedes SUV drive around the temporary barricades onto the sidewalk at Washington and Watts. I questioned him as to why he didn’t stop or ticket the driver. He told me that they don’t write tickets. They just write down the license plate and notify authorities in NJ. He had no idea if any further action is taken.
Yesterday I was driving in from Long Island and was behind a black Audi SUV with NYP plates – Architect 229, I believe it was, and it was going very slowly in the left lane. As I went around him to pass as everyone else was doing, I saw that he was texting as he drove around 50 mph in the left lane. I don’t expect too much from law enforcement these days!
That traffic pattern has never made any sense. If you don’t make the illegal move right then and there then you have to go down to Worth Street (since you can’t make a right legally until worth street). Oh actually, Worth Street is closed for construction right now, so you actually have to go 4 blocks to Thomas, then up hudson, right on beach, right on varick and then right on N. Moore. Plus that’s quite possibly the least driven on street in Tribeca (and possibly lower manhattan). Never any cars there…too tempting.
That being said, clearly that Jeep needs to be more careful and execute his move with a bit more stealth and precision.
What about making a right on Leonard Street?
Legally you can’t make a right from the left lane (west Broadway) on Leonard Street. There is a divider and a no turn sign. You used to be able to hop over to varick on Franklin but now they’ve closed off that area (in front of Gotan) for citibikes.
One Solution could be to make that right diagonal going west on White St to N Moore legal and put a stop sign facing south on the northwest corner of N Moore and West Broadway (for the few cars that turn right off beach st). Seems more efficient to me.
Kind of similar to that right diagonal when you’re crossing canal going north from church to Greene street. And that street is a hundred times more trafficked and dangerous but they allow it there.
One Solution could be to make that right diagonal going west on White St to N Moore legal and put a stop sign facing south on the northwest corner of N Moore and West Broadway (for the few cars that turn right off beach st). Seems more efficient to me.
Kind of similar to that right diagonal when you’re crossing canal going north from church to Greene street. And that street is a hundred times more trafficked and dangerous but they allow it there.
This is an outrage. I am a woman who is extremely cautious and I am still uneasy when crossing the intersections. Not knowing that one day I could possibly get clipped from a reckless driver while crossing the street. I see this all too often. I am a native New Yorker and I witness the young, old, male, and female drivers being completely irresponsible on the road. Why am I so pissed, This pedestrian in the article walking the dog is my 24 year old daughter. When she sent me this link, I couldn’t breathe for a brief few seconds which felt like an eternity. I am grateful that this was published, I thank you Tribeca Citizen for speaking out and exposing this Jerk. I was able to say goodnight to my daughter that night, but had he struck her……need I say more.