Staten Islander's Showing No Signs of Slowing Down
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After the tragic deaths of an elderly couple on New Dorp Lane by a hit-and-run driver, you would think that Island residents would take notice and just slow down. Clearly that's not the case as one of my family member's was involved in another New Dorp Lane car accident. Last Wednesday, as my niece was stopped at a red light on New Dorp Lane at New Dorp Plaza, her car was rear-ended. The impact was severe, pushing my niece's car into the car in front of her. Accidents happen and you are usually happy that no one was hurt, but it is the reckless and callous disregard for the law that is so appalling. As my niece tried to get to her cell phone to call 911, the driver of the car came over to her and begged my niece to not call the police! Each time my niece tried to dial, the other driver would grab the phone, refusing to allow her to call 911. The other driver offered my niece $2,000 not to call the police - her urgency was because she claimed that her license was suspended. Thankfully, a good Samaritan intervened and told the driver that the police were already called. Once the driver heard that the police were on the way, she took off, leaving the accident scene. My niece was taken away by ambulance to the emergency room. She is still in pain almost a week after the accident.
From the damage to my niece's car, it is clear that the other driver never hit the brakes or even noticed the red light. This type of distracted driving is all too common on the Island as cell phones now seem to take priority over driving. How often when driving do you notice another car take a turn a little too wide? - the reason all too often is that the person was holding a cell phone in one hand while trying to turn the wheel with the other. How often do you see the impatient driver that has to go around a stopped school bus? Ticketing these driver's does not seem to stop them. And what about driving with a suspended license? Driving without a license is a crime punishable by imprisonment. Obviously, that's not enough of a deterrent to prevent these people from driving a car.
When is enough enough? How many accidents have to happen from driving while distracted or without a license? How many people have to die before Island driver's act responsibly? If your license is suspended, don't drive! If you don't have a hands-free device for your cell phone, don't talk while driving. And don't even think about trying to text message while you are behind the wheel. The careless and reckless driver is a problem for all Staten Island residents. As I found out, its only a matter of time before you are directly affected by one. Lets do something before it's too late - drive responsibly - use a headset, stop for the school bus and don't drive distracted.
