Traffic Justice

In her Streetsblog Network post on Tuesday, Sarah covered the alarming recent spike in New Jersey pedestrian fatalities. According to stats cited by the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, more than 90 pedestrians have died on New Jersey roads so far this year, a nation-leading number that accounts for an astounding 30 percent of that state's total traffic deaths. Officials, meanwhile, are perplexed as to the causes of -- and therefore possible solutions to -- this serious public health threat.

To deter dangerous driving, first you need to catch the bad behavior. That's where Ray Kelly, the NYPD, and Albany legislators (who must grant New York City permission to install enforcement cameras) can make huge strides. But what happens after tickets are issued?

Every year, vehicular violence claims the lives of about 300 New Yorkers and injures thousands more. But even in cases where victims die, drivers are often allowed to get right back behind the wheel as long as they are sober, licensed, and remain at the scene.

Ray Bengen had his day in Manhattan Criminal Court this morning, but it might not be his last appearance at 100 Centre Street. Hit with a potential "criminal mischief" charge by the Manhattan DA's office after getting doored, bruised, and screamed at by an SUV driver in the Ninth Avenue bike lane (allegedly this man: Gus Gonzalez), Bengen learned today that his case is "not ready to proceed at this time." Essentially, he's in legal limbo while the DA's office decides whether or not to prosecute.

Transportation Alternatives today released a troubling report on the state of local traffic enforcement, and called on Mayor Bloomberg to establish a new office tasked with reining in dangerous drivers and reducing fatalities and injuries on city streets.

As reader Omri noted in the comments on the calendar post, this week cyclist Ray Bengen and SUV driver Gus Gonzalez have separate dates in Manhattan Criminal Court. Bengen was charged with criminal mischief, a class A misdemeanor, after getting knocked to the pavement and badly bruised while attempting to get around an SUV stopped in the Ninth Avenue bike lane. Gonzalez, allegedly the driver of said SUV, has been charged with third degree assault, also a class A misdemeanor.

Hours after an NYPD officer reportedly responding to an emergency call lost control of his cruiser, jumped a curb and hit five pedestrians late last month, another cop -- this one off-duty -- allegedly ran a red light and mowed down an Upper East Side man.

Continuing our series of interviews on the topic of traffic justice, today we hear from Joseph A. McCormack.

Police, witness and media accounts vary -- widely -- as to what exactly happened in the East Village yesterday afternoon. The NYPD version goes something like this: