Occupy Traffic in Fort Lee

There isn’t a day I get in my car to drive in Fort Lee that I don’t think about the very real possibility that despite my attention to rules, my mindfulness and care behind the wheel of my car, I may accidentally strike down some pedestrian. It’s an awful thought, I know, but if you live in Fort Lee, you know this fear is very reality-based. It’s not just that many drivers don’t obey rules and drive too fast while talking or texting on cell phones,  chattering with passengers or getting distracted by music, it’s that pedestrians are often irresponsible too, putting themselves and everyone around them in danger.

I’ve seen it often enough. My drive to and from work, Monday through Friday, seems straightforward enough, but it’s fraught with danger, seeming like a maze of deathtraps on some days. My anxiety level peaks as I see mothers and fathers walking their kids to school, getting into the fray of traffic, when the people in cars and the people on sidewalks and crossing streets all want to get where they are going first. On some mornings, it’s a crazy dance of rush and madness.

Sadly, it’s not just those behind the wheels of their cars, but those crossing streets that have to be more mindful and must be made accountable. In the wake of three recent traffic-related deaths in Fort Lee, and on the verge of writing this last Friday, I encountered three examples of insane behavior on the part of pedestrians, and unfortunately, these instances aren’t rare.

On my way to work, a woman ran across the road, coffee cup in hand, while cars were moving. On the way home from work, another woman raced in front of my car before it had come to a stop at a red light, and without pausing, crossed another street, where the light was green, to catch a bus. Then there’s the guy with the headset, listening to his music, unaware that he’s even on the planet. For him, or her, outside noises, traffic, summoning individuals, are all inconsequential, second to the noise in his ears. He has a mission—to stay distracted--and that’s all that matters, or so he thinks. I see a version of this every day.

Mind you, I don’t patrol streets. What I mostly do with my car five days a week is go to and from work in Weehawken. But I have to drive through Fort Lee and Cliffside Park to do it, and along River Road, and the opportunities for disaster are everywhere. During the day, and even at night, pedestrians step off sidewalks into the street, at any juncture, usually not at crosswalks. Do drivers understand they have to slow down as they approach crosswalks because many pedestrians don’t care that you’re only feet away coming at them in a vehicle, only that they have the right of way. And do all people behind the wheels of their cars realize that it’s their duty as responsible drivers to stop and let someone pass at a crosswalk, even old people and ladies with strollers who take their time? Does everyone recognize that the preciousness of life precedes that of an agenda, a time clock, an appointment or a date?  Sometimes I wonder.

In an ideal world, people would also have the time to cross. If you are disabled, elderly, or pushing a stroller, beware crossing Lemoine Avenue at Bruce Reynolds Boulevard, for that light does not give pedestrians nearly enough time to cross. That busy intersection, where I have actually seen people do u-turns at the rush hour, is one of the most hazardous in the area. We need to extend some lights, and we need more assistance in Fort Lee to cross streets safely.

And we should also be grateful for the assistance we do get. I wonder at the bravery and dedication of those crossing guards with yellow vests that place themselves harm’s way on a daily basis because they care enough to make sure pedestrians get across the street in one piece. I see them get smiles and thanks from time to time, at the corner of Plateau and Anderson Boulevard, for example. These folks, often elderly and retired, are volunteers, and they are precious. They merit deep respect for the service they provide, the care they show, the actions they take on behalf of pedestrians and drivers. Where would drivers and all those parents taking their kids to school be without them?

The police in Fort Lee also care about traffic safety, and while they have a job to do for which they get paid, they also don’t get nearly enough kudos for what they do on a daily basis to safeguard the community. Officer Alex Lorenzo is one of seven cops in the Traffic Unit of the Fort Lee Police Department, and he recently detailed to me some of the unit’s daily responsibilities.

Monday through Friday, through rush hour, traffic cops man the busy intersections--at Main Street, Martha Washington Way, Fletcher Avenue and Kelby Street, and at Routes 4 and 9, and they remain vigilant, from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lorenzo, who was in the narcotics unit before joining the traffic team last June, sees and deals with traffic violators every day, and said summonses can be issued to drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians. He sees the need for increased safety and also improvements. Speed humps on roadways like Abbott Boulevard, where vehicles tend to take advantage of speed limits, would help to deter those who break the rules.

Another good location for a speed hump would be Inwood Terrace, where cars often race by even as kids skateboard to and from Whitey Lang Park. But it’s often the very people in neighborhoods wanting the police to help with more safety that will complain when laws are enforced, because stopping speeding cars is noisy, sometimes involves other violations, and draws attention to the area, said Lorenzo. 

The FLPD has tried different tacks in order to curtail traffic violations. For example, last year, at Hudson Terrace, police officers gave warnings to people in cars who failed to yield to pedestrians. The following week, summonses were issued for those same drivers who continued to fail to yield.  People on the street and behind the wheels of their cars need to respect traffic laws and change their attitudes, or pay the consequences, said Lorenzo.

“People need to be reminded, when they see the yellow light at Main and Center, or anywhere, it means slow down, not speed up,” he said.

Fort Lee traffic cops remain vigilant, spreading the word for traffic safety and prevention, and also seek support from the community as seven cops in the traffic unit can’t do it alone.

To that end, Occupy Bergen County, which seeks both to safeguard and better local communities, has offered support in the way of creating greater awareness concerning traffic issues. That help will come in the form of giving and arranging talks at local schools and centers to spread awareness, as well as handing out pamphlets and bracelets that glow in the dark to people who want to feel safer in traffic. Currently, there are three kinds of traffic brochures available to the public in various locations around the borough, including Town Hall.

“Operation Safe Walk,” “Teach Your Child Safe Pedestrian Habits,” and “Walk Safely Seniors” all carry good tips and important reminders. Keeping mindful and practicing safe habits on roadways has to become a habit. The positive traffic habits we cultivate require both attention and good manners. Letting someone go ahead of you, whether you are driving or a pedestrian, is not only nice, but helpful, and it can even save a life.