IN BALANCE .....

This blog has reported seventy-three accidents since August 20, 2007, all at the same location. (Obviously, since I cannot watch the spot 24/7, the number of actual accidents since then is higher than that.) I have also made a number of suggestions to alleviate the situation. Most radically, if money cannot be found to rebuild this dangerous access point to the BQE, I have suggested, and now suggest again, that the entrance here should be closed.

My FOIL request to the Police Department, seeking specific comparative information about the number of accidents here and the number of possible fatalities, has been ignored. It does not appear that I will be able to obtain such information without litigation. (My FOIL request can be accessed through the link given on this blog.)

But I have been encouraged in this work by a number of people -- in the media, in public office, and in the neighborhood. I would like to single out for particular appreciation The Brooklyn Paper and its editor Gersh Kuntzman, and Community Board 6 (Brooklyn) and its District Manager Craig Hammerman. I hope that the media will maintain a watchful eye, and that public officials on all levels will maintain their interest.

I will no longer try to report on each and every accident I see. Instead, I will do what I can from time to time, hoping that others will pick up the slack.

Accident # 73; Second of Day

Second accident of day. Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008, 9:45 p.m.

Accident # 72

The last day of November. Sunday, November 30, about 11:30 a.m.

Accident #71

Wednesday, November 26, 2008, approx. 1:45 p.m. This was a three-car imbroglio.

Accident # 70

Sunday afternoon, November 23, 2008, about 2 p.m.

Accident #69

Monday morning, November 3, 2008, about 10 a.m.

All Saints' Day Massacre

also known as Accident #68. Saturday evening, November 1, 2008, about 9 p.m.

Could have been prevented: Accident #67

Friday, October 24, about 11 a.m. Accident #66, like all the rest, could have been prevented with a bit of caring by our dear pols.

Accident #66

Early Monday morning -- October 20, 2008, about 8 a.m. Another accident that should have been prevented.

Accident #65: Once again, preventable but not prevented

Saturday Night Live: Sat., Oct. 18, 11:30 p.m. Once again, preventable but not prevented.

Accident 64: ambulances, patrol car, damages

Monday, Oct. 13, 3:20 p.m. Yet another accident. Preventable but not prevented. When will they attend to this crash-point access ramp ?

Accident #63

Sunday, October 12, 2008, 2:40 p.m. A beautiful fall day, but here is one more accident. Is anyone watching ? Is anyone listening ?

Accident #62

Saturday, October 4, 4 p.m. This is the 61st time that I have observed this kind of accident since last fall. Does anyone care ?

Accident #61

Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008, 11:45 p.m.

Accident #60

Here is the 60th accident. Tuesday, Sept. 23, about 6:45 p.m. It's really tedious trying to comment. Basically, it's a matter of negligence and neglect by governments on all levels.

Accident #59

As witnessed by Rita Cohn:

Accident at same spot, today, Monday Sept. 15, 2008, 8:40 a.m. Tow truck pulls in to red sedan and grey sedan behind it.

Accident #58

Here we are, Sunday, September 7, 2008. High noon. Guess what, another accident at the same familiar place.

What are the authorities doing about this relentless series of accidents ? Well, I am too polite to say this in English, but the Spanish term is nada.

It is now more than a year ago since I filed a Freedom of Information Law request to the NYC Police Department for accident figures at this spot. So far I've heard nada. I phone them every so often, and, in effect, I always get this answer: Do you think you're the only one who wants attention from us ?

Accident #57, Thurs.,Aug.28, 2:30 p.m.

Baby Caught in Accident # 56

A babe in arms is caught in this accident shortly after midnight, Sunday, Aug. 3, ab. 12:30 a.m. The politicians don't seem to care. The BQE is a state function. But this probably wasn't the baby of any of the Albany politicians, so why should they care.

Accident #55

Tues., July 22, 2008, about 11:40 p.m

Accident #54, Thursday,July 17, 2008, about 10:30 a.m.

Accident # 53

Thursday, July 10, 2008. About 10 p.m.

Accident # 52, Wednesday, July 9, 2008, 7:45 p.m.

This time it's a tractor-trailer collision. Obviously, as in all accidents, there is cost to the vehicle owners and their insurance companies. But there is also a huge cost to the public: insurance rates, police time, hospitalizations ... Do our legislators care ? Does the governor ?

Monday, June 2, 2008, 11:20 p.m. ACCIDENT # 51

# 50, BLACK FRIDAY, Second Accident of Day

Friday, May 23, 2008, 9:15 p.m.

# 49, Fri., 5/23/08, 2:45 p.m.

Accident #48

Thursday, May 15, 2008, about 3 p.m. This one seems to have been a collision between an Access-A-Ride bus and a black limousine. At the usual spot.

Accident #47: Saturday, April 26,12:30 p.m.

This one appears to be a collision between a police vehicle and a civilian automobile

Accident #46, Thurs.,4/15/08, 3:55 p.m.

This one took place in my absence. It was witnessed by Rita as follows:

3:55 p.m., Thurs., 4/17: Two grey sedans, two drivers standing outside of them apparently arguing, at the usual accident spot.

4:25 p.m.: cars and drivers still there, drivers standing outside of their cars, using cell phones.

Accident # 45, Sunday 12:02 a.m., April 13, 2008

Middle of the night. How would you like to be part of this accident ? Tell the Governor !

Accident #44

Same spot. Accident #43, Friday, April 11, 1:15 p.m.

Accident # 43

Wednesday, 4/9/08, 10 p.m.

Second accident this evening !

And here is Accident # 41. It is the second accident, at the very same spot, this evening. And please remember that I cannot watch the spot all the time. I can only document the accidents that I happen to see. Time for this one: about 11:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 8, 2008.

Accident #41

And here, once again, the t-bone: accident #40, Tuesday, April 8, about 8:45 p.m. When will the State see fit to do something ? Traffic lights, though they may slow traffic a bit, would seem to be the most feasible solution.

Third accident of day

Accident #39; third in day. Monday, April 7, 2008, about 3:30 p.m. This one involved at least one school bus. Mr. Governor, I know you're new on the job, but ARE YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING ????

Accident #39

Just a couple of hours after the previous accident, here is #38. About 3:10 p.m., Monday, April 8, 2008.

Accident #38

Monday, April 7, 2008, ab. 12:30 p.m. Yet another t-bone accident, same spot. The installation of traffic signals would seem to be the most practical solution for avoiding this constant mayhem.

Another accident

Accident # 36. Friday, April 4, 2008, 10 a.m.

New Mayhem on the BQE; Accident # 36

Wednesday, March 26, 2008, 9:30 p.m. This appears to be a multi-vehicle event. Same t-bone.