Midwood Residents Say Traffic Circle Is An Accident Waiting To Happen
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Cars are running through red lights and barely missing each other according to people living near one Brooklyn intersection.
They say it's happening all too often, but their complaints may be going unheard.
"I'm documenting everyone going through the red lights, stop signs, speeding, actual car accidents," Midwood resident Simon Gifter told CBS2's Matt Kozar.
Gifter blames a dangerous and confusing traffic circle along Kings Highway near East 34th Street in Midwood.
Multiple traffic signals for different lanes and impatient drivers, including a Fed Ex truck and a city DOT vehicle, have apparently been seen running red lights.
"Maybe if they put blinking lights over here, people will drive more carefully," Kayhan Sengun said.
There is a park in the middle of the traffic circle, but residents said they are afraid to cross the street to get to it. A break in the fence still marks the spot where a car crashed into it.
CBS2 first reported on the circle last year.
City officials said they have made safety upgrades including delineators on the road to guide traffic and warning signs along Kings Highway. They added that they are reviewing the intersection for possible safety enhancements.
"This is definitely -- that's on everybody's radar screen," Councilman Jumaane Williams said.
Councilman Williams said he will continue to press the DOT to make safety changes.
"Sometimes the signs here are covered by the trees in the summertime. You may not be able to see it. Maybe we could do another signal with more clarity of where to go and where not go," he said.
The city reported that there have been no traffic deaths at the intersection in 6 years, but residents fear that could change if nothing is done.
