New 'No Turn on Red' Signs Installed on Hempstead Turnpike

ljean1018 January 3, 2013 at 09:06 am

I have lived here in Levittown for the past 23 years. I shop numerous times a week at Stop & Shop & Target. Since the No Turn on Red Sign has been installed at that traffic light it has made leaving the shopping center a disaster. Not allowing cars to turn right on red at the exit to Target causes huge traffic snarls in the parking lot. Either another exit should be created to allow those heading East on Hempstead Turnpike to depart or I believe residents will begin shopping elsewhere.

Concerned American January 3, 2013 at 09:19 am

These signs will not make the Turnpike safer - it will add to congestion and possibly make it more dangerous. People who have been hit by cars typically run across the street between intersections. The lighting on the Turnpike I believe is a big factor at night. The state should remove these NTOR signs and work on the lighting as well as the design of the road itself.

Tom LaSusa January 3, 2013 at 10:37 am

I agree somewhat with the other comments. While the deaths have been tragic, and our sympathies still go out to the families and friends affected, the fact is that many of the incidents could have been avoided if the pedestrian hadn't disobeyed the rules. As I understand it, in several instances the individual ran across the Tpke against traffic, and far from a pedestrian walkway.
The deaths haven't served as a warning either. This past holiday season, I had to hit the brakes hard twice while driving on Hempstead Tpke when someone dodged across the road against lights and nowhere near a safe corner. I'm not saying that the "no Turn on Red" signs are a bad idea -- used properly and in the right locations. But better lighting, and perhaps harsher jaywalking fines should be included in this mix?

Jason January 3, 2013 at 11:11 am

surprised they dont mention that those kids were under the influence at the time they tried to run across the tpke

Michael Tannacore January 3, 2013 at 11:55 am

Bad parenting leads to these deaths and who gets punished? Responsible drivers. I bet if the NYS DOT officer actually had to wait at that Target stop light, they'd take that sign right down. It's so infuriating that it's going to start road rage in a parking lot!
One comment does bring up the fact about that parking lot and it's exits. There's two exits where you can only go north, and the other exit goes east and west. For a parking lot that big, they REALLY need another exit - perhaps near the east end where the KFC is. But hopefully now that holiday shopping is over, things will calm down. And turning right off of Hempstead Tpke into a one-lane residential area should not have a No Turn on Red.

Ann M. Braun January 3, 2013 at 03:32 pm

Remember when there were NO turns whatsoever allowed on a red light? No one questioned it. No one argued with it. Drivers just stopped and waited for the green. Allowing right turns on a red light increases the odds of an accident. And if just one person gets injured or killed, that's too much.

Mickey January 3, 2013 at 03:59 pm

What a total waste of money!! And what a total waste of expensive gas, sitting in a runnung, non-moving car, while looking at a red light waiting to make a right turn when there are NO cars or pedestrians in sight!! How about a NO TURN ON RED WHEN PEDESTRIANS ARE PRESENT?? Now THAT would make more sense!! I am so sick of money being wasted because some beauracrat got some bright idea to show the county... LOOK... WE DID SOMETHING WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS! Even though it makes no sense and was poorly thought out. And the issue oft the Target/Stop and Shop exit is something that REALLY needs to be addressed!! That is so poorly planned. And it is a major accident waiting to happen. I need to turn West leaving that parking lot, but many times I will turn East and make a UTurn at the next light, or go out the exit on Wantagh Ave. ny Dtop and Shop to go North across the Turnpike, and then through back streets till I can get back onto Hempstead Turnpike. AWFUL!! How many accidents/deaths will it take to make NYSDOT move their butts to correct THAT!! And, BTW, you are correct, the comments about the 2 deaths, one on Hempstead Tpk and one on Gardeners Ave. BOTH of those accidents happened when these young men chose to run across the streets, not at an intersection, but mid block!! There is NO WAY a NO TURN ON RED sign would have had any impact on those 2 tragedies. Come on people, lets make some noise about these useless signs that make traffic worse and the Turnpike MORE dangerous!! We can start with Kate Murray and Gary Hudes.

PADD January 3, 2013 at 04:13 pm

These signs were placed at areas such as the egress in front of St. Bernard's and the Levittown Car wash.....really? Those really are not a right on red, as you have to go through the light to attempt that move in the first place. Those infractions would be passing a Steady Red Light. None of the pedestrians killed were killed by a vehicle making a right on red....more like a bad decision of drinking and crossing ILLEGALLY.

Tom LaSusa January 3, 2013 at 05:25 pm

Ironically enough, after I posted my earlier comment I had to run out with my wife to a Doctor Appt. Heading up towards East Meadow, just past one of the new "No Turn On Red" signs, a teenager dodged across the middle of Hempstead Tpke, nowhere near the legal pedestrian path, while the lights were green and with oncoming cars. One drive had to hit his brakes pretty hard to avoid the teen. Two friends who didn't take the chance, still could be seen laughing and cheering him.
I'm a former Queens native, so I lived most of my life not being able to turn on a red. So to that extent, I agree with Ann's opinion above. That being said, it does feel as if the town legislators came up with a solution without actually addressing the real problem.

Paul January 4, 2013 at 01:03 am

Once again, in what is a typical bureaucratic response to a non-existent problem, some pencil pusher with a civil service job has deemed the following; That since a number of people took it upon themselves to cross a busy street such as Hempstead Turnpike, 1- In the middle of the street, away from a crosswalk, 2- During evening hours, 3- While the motorists had a green light, 4-While possibly under the influence of alcohol, the much needed response was to install numerous "No Turn on Red" signs. And we wonder why our government is in such disarray? Is this madness ever going to end? Was this really the logical conclusion some moron on the public dole came up with?
This government flunky must have gone to the same school as the idiots who put stop signs at every intersection in Levittown's side streets to slow traffic down but the end result is that over 50% of people who drive those streets do not even stop at the stop signs anymore. Or the same town official who received a complaint about dogs at the Acorn Lane Park and had at least 8 No Dogs Allowed signs posted throughout the area. I feel much safer now that there are no dogs at the park, just the usual drug-dealing, partying, alcohol drinking and sex that now occurs there at night.

Concerned American January 4, 2013 at 11:48 am

Last night driving past Dalton's around 8:30PM a man was walking across the Turnpike mid block-no where near a crossing-I said to my passenger "look at that guy crossing" and he could not even see the man. There is a need for better lighting, and a need for a targeted campaign to stop people from crossing mid block - these signs are a "see what we did to address the issue" baloney rather than a real fix.

Barbara Batagely January 4, 2013 at 03:29 pm

Why don't they just enact a law stating that there is NTOR unless signs are posted stating otherwise? That would save us, the taxpayers, the cost of putting up the signs in what the county deems dangerous roads. Nowadays, ALL roads should be considered dangerous.

Brent M. January 4, 2013 at 04:37 pm

While I applaud some of the locations the new signs are in.. some of the other locations are absolutely retarded!!!! For example, the new sign coming out of the Hurricane Grill / Ulta/ Mandee shopping center in Levittown?? There is no pedestrian traffic there because there is hardly any stores there!!!!

Rocco January 4, 2013 at 06:46 pm

This will not help at all. How many times did a person get hit by a car that turned on red?? I didnt hear anything on that study.. Again enforcement is key, how about some radar and just general enforcement of the rules of the road. ??? Never in my 20 years living here have I seen this on Hemp Tpk in Levittown. Just doing something to say "we did something" is not the answer. You need people who know what to do, how to do it and than get results which we will never get. Be safe- hope some day they will wake up and do something that they think out first.

paul January 4, 2013 at 10:38 pm

Perhaps the time has come to have "NO TURNS ON RED" as a law unless
otherwise posted for all of Long Island... It is that way in the 5 boroughs of the greatest city in the world....

Ron January 5, 2013 at 12:20 am

The best pedestrian safety improvement would be a MUCH heighten attention from the drivers to everyone and everything around while they drive. Drivers that see an animal in the street would slow down or stop. Yet ,the drivers I encounter while I am walking would speed up and try to cut me off while I am walking. And the language and hand gestures made by the drivers shouldn't be used nor said by anyone. Drivers, please remember you are driving a 3000 to 5000 pound weapon that can really hurt and kill anything you hit .Pedestrian vs car is a losser bet. Please treat us with respect. We would like to live for another day.

Ron January 5, 2013 at 12:26 am

No right on red off of Hempstead Turnpike is to protect the pedestrians that have been struck, especially by Hamlet Road I am glad that help the drivers in Levittown respect us walkers that are around

June Denny January 5, 2013 at 02:35 pm

Actually the signs won't make a difference until people stop crossing Hempstead Tpke. against the lights, which I keep seeing time and time again. Nassau County has to realize that it is the pedestrians that are causing the majority of the accidents, not the drivers. Also, what East Meadow really needs is an arrow on the eastbound lane of Front Street at East Meadow Ave. Making a left onto East Meadow Ave. from the eastbound side (the westbound side has one) is an absolute nightmare!

D. Lat January 6, 2013 at 01:02 am

Agree with Paul. Uniformity of the law improves compliance, reduces motorist's confusion and costs us less than the numerous new signs.
DL

Tom LaSusa January 6, 2013 at 12:09 pm

Ron,
It's true there are people behind the wheels of vehicles that should never have been granted driver's licenses. The streets belong to everyone, both driver and pedestrian. Obviously you are conscious of the cars and are a safety-minded pedestrian. The fact is that the signs appear to be put in place primarily in response to accidents precipitated by pedestrians ignoring the rules, running out in the middle of the Tpke, weaving through oncoming traffic, etc. In other words -- the signs won't do a single thing to change that. The placement of some of the signs is also questionable, as (like it was mentioned above) its resulting in more congestion (such as by Target or the car wash). It seems like the signs were planted more to appease and were done without truly thinking of traffic patterns, etc. Maybe the solution is to put barriers up along the road dividers like they did on Queens Blvd in Forest Hills. They force the *reasonable* pedestrians to only cross in the legal locations. And of course stiffer fines for jaywalking. If it's a teenager that gets caught crossing illegally, the kid gets thrown into the patrol car, driven home, and the parents are handed the citation. Bottom line the responsibility must be shared. A couple of signs will not change a thing. Changing the mindsets of the drivers and pedestrians is the only real solution.

Bill Alderman January 6, 2013 at 06:51 pm

While I do agree that curbing "Right Turns on Red" will decrease accidents as a whole over the long term. I just find it interesting that neither Peter Thearle nor 16-year-old Anthony D'Alessandro or the other 19 people injured or killed on Hempstead Tpke/ Fulton Ave within the last calendar year , have been hit by vehicles turning right on red . According to reports , they had been traveling on the main road before coming into contact with various victims.

det2659 January 11, 2013 at 02:07 pm

I see some locations where the sign reads NO TURN ON RED WHEN PEDESTRIANS ARE PRESENT. Why couldn't that work? See the traffic bog down at the right turn from the Colony Diner. You just may have to wait for a signal light change. And there has NEVER been a pedestrian issue at this turn.
Guess the 'saving gasoline' reasoning no longer counts.

chooch January 13, 2013 at 11:15 pm

No turn on red out of the target parking lot! Are you serious! The traffic in that parking lot was bad enough, now it's a nightmare. Nobody walks on long island everyone drives. Dumb ass move by the multiagencies involved. I bet not one of them lives in the area.

philip g January 25, 2013 at 06:12 am

More signs????How dumb does Kate M. think we are!!

Rocco January 25, 2013 at 07:39 am

OK TOWN government here is something that is smart. North Jerusalem Rd Westbound at Gardners ave. N/E corner where cars make right to go North On Gardners Ave---HERE is where you need a no turn on red. During school hours it is very difficult for the crossing guard and students to cross this intersection. There are only two lanes going west and the right lane has an arrow at the light for cars turning right. This is not a right turn only lane. If you are in that lane and arrow comes on and you want to proceed west the cars behind you start beeping. Also cars go fast making that turn with the arrow and i have seen accidents into cars waiting south on Gardners Ave light. Plus the safety issue --YES REAL SAFETY ISSUES HERE TOWN ARE YOU LISTENING - KIDS CROSSING FROM GARDNERS AVE SCHOOL TO HIGH SCHOOL. Don't you think this intersection needs it?? Your engineers live in a bubble and should come out and look at this when school lets out not at 10 am when traffic is light. Safety for kids is number 1 remember.

wakeup kate February 13, 2013 at 01:16 pm

The real problem here is the local stores selling beer and alcohol to minors The teens then play a game of chicken and run across the turnpike. I guess Kate put these signs up so that people can stop and see the NICE BRICKS that she put all over the place in front of empty stores.
On Division ave use some common sense INSTALL A WALKWAY OVER THE TOP OF THE TURNPIKE. This can also be installed on Gardners ave as well as the area by Target. 3 overpass walkways would save a lot of pedestrian accidents on the turnpike