Cherry Injury Law RSS Feed
Roosevelt Boulevard in North and Northeast Philadelphia is one of the busiest roads in the country. It is also one of the most most dangerous, espesically for pedestrians and bicyclists. Earlier this month, two seaprate pedestrian accidents left a mother and three of her children dead and an 11-year-old in critical condition.
The first accident involving the mother and her children occured on July 16 when the 27-year-old and her three sons were crossing the 12-lane highway. Officials believe the three were hit by drag racers. Soon after, an 11-year-old girl was left in critical condition after being struck on her bike on the same road.
According to city records, more than 20 pedestrians have been killed on the road in the past five years. For that reason, a Pennsylvania senator is suggesting that speed-enforcement cameras be installed on the highway. The cameras are popular in Europe, but they have drawn some criticism in Americans from people who say they are an infringement on privacy and due process rights.
The cameras use radar technology to take photos of cars that are traveling above the speed limit. The drivers can then be sent speeding tickets in the mail, even if they were never pulled over by a police officer. The senator said that even though he is wary of “Big Brother and government surveillance” sometimes “extreme measures” are necessary to keep people safe.
Speed-limit cameras have already been proposed along construction zones and state highways as part of a transportation bill that was introduced by a Pennsylvania state representative. That state rep said he would also support adding the cameras to Roosevelt Boulevard, especially since he lost a friend crossing the road there three years ago.
In the mean time, additional police officers have been patrolling the road in effort to enforce jay-walking laws and speed limits. According to a local news report, jay-walking is still a big problem on the road, even with the memorial that has been set up for the family that was killed as a reminder of the tragic accident.
Source: Philly.com, “In wake of pedestrian deaths, cameras proposed for Boulevard,” Julia Terruso, July 25, 2013; NBC Philadelphia, “Pedestrians Jaywalking at Spot of Fatal Boulevard Accident,” David Chang, Queen Muse and Daralene Jones, July 23, 2013