Parents, teachers, and community members have expressed valid concerns regarding the safety of the current traffic flow and parking options at New Paltz Middle School and neighboring Duzine Elementary School. On Wednesday, February 10th the Board of Education reviewed a proposed plan focused on alleviating safety risks and reducing the likelihood of future pedestrian accidents/injury.
Wednesday’s meeting was a culmination of the efforts of school officials, parents, local police, volunteers, and local officials. During the 2013-2014 school year the current layout of school roads and parking lots were assessed to define what (if any) safety risks the current infrastructure presented to those in vehicles, on foot, and on bicycles. The evaluation included multiple phases, including an audit of how well the streets, sidewalks, crosswalks, and intersections were designed to prevent pedestrian knockdowns and motor vehicle collisions.
From the 2013-2014 evaluation the Ulster County Transportation Council composed a series of recommendations developed to increase the safety of the school’s streets and sidewalks. The recommendations include adjusted vehicle enter/exit points and the widening of the New Paltz Middle School driveway.
This proactive initiative has the potential to prevent future tragedies in the New Paltz Middle school and sets a precedence for other schools. According to the Center for Disease Control (on average) pedestrians die in traffic crashes every two hours. The CDC also states children are at a heighted risk for being involved in a pedestrian knockdown which results in injury.
“In 2012, more than one in every five children between the ages of 5 and 15 who were killed in traffic crashes were pedestrians.” Center for Disease Control/Department of Transportation.
The Finkelstein & Partner’s team is proud to be part of the Ulster County Community, and support initiatives that create safer streets for our neighbors, families, and friends. If you or a loved one is in need of an injury attorney please visit out Kingston office, conveniently located in the historic section of Kingston’s Broadway Street.