I’m writing this letter with thanks to The One Above for watching over us.
I’m also writing it to tell you that if you don’t slow down and be patient while driving and drive carelessly you may be responsible for the next tragedy Lo Aleinu.
Yes you.
Man. Woman. Teenager. Whatever cultural connection you associate with.
Because just recently we had several close calls where impatient or distracted drivers almost hit children crossing.
Today, my daughter almost got hit by a car that completely ran the bus stop sign as she was crossing off the bus.
She was careful and stopped crossing because she looked and saw the car coming was not stopping.
We make big deals about how the busses need to be safe. But we need to make big deals about drivers being safe. Regular every day local drivers. Not rushing and selfishly flying to make it past the bus.
Just the other day, a kind driver stopped to let my son cross the street in front of him. The driver behind, it could have been you, lost patience waiting behind the car that stopped in front of him and instead of looking to see why it stopped he tried to zoom around the car in front of him nearly hitting my son. I was standing right there and motioned to the driver to slow down. He just got agitated and zoomed away right passed me.
And a different day, another child of mine again was attempting to cross our street. It seemed to be getting busy and he was having a hard time.
I was across the street and motioning for him to wait. He thought he had an opening and started to cross. Suddenly a car came FLYING down the block – I screamed and my son stopped and truly Hashem sent a malach to protect him.
I beg you. Please stop speeding down the street. If the limit is 25mph, even if the road looks empty, it’s not an opening to speed and not stop at stop signs. Looking at your phone for a few split seconds or sending that text message can cost the life of another person.
Let’s do our hishtadlus to prevent more tragedy. And may Hashem see our efforts.
D.W.
TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to letters@thelakewoodscoop.com
I think you just need to move to a better block. Hatzlacha.
That’s not going to change the way people drive.
You’re a 14 carat dib.
You’re a dib.
The solution is exactly as the letter writer put it – for people to have and practice more PATIENCE.
You are 100% right. It is out of control!
That being said, seems a bit much to claim 3 of your children just had incidents so how about we leave out these examples trying to make an already terrible situation not believable. Stick to the main fact. Leave your kids out of it just lets get everyone to focus on this horrific problem of frustrated drivers always in a rush.
Drivers…….
1 – NEVER EVER EVER pass a stopped school bus with its red flashing lights on EVEN if the bus driver is an idiot and wrong. Not worth the risk.
2 – Do NOT EVER slow down or come to a stop just to let someone cross or make a left turn in front of you thinking your being a mench. Your not! Your actually being a terrible person. Please realize only you the driver has any idea why you are slowing down or stopping when there is no need to (no red light or stop sign). This will no doubt cause people behind you to go around you thinking there is something wrong with your car. Otherwise, to the drivers behind you, why would they think you are just trying to be Mr. nice guy? Just so you know, the law of speeding resulting in a ticket is the same law that will get you ticketed for driving to slow because slow drivers also cause accidents. Everyone must obey the speed limits because they are there for a reason.
3 – While we are at it, let’s also be smart and start teaching our kids, and our adults that right or wrong wont make a difference when a car hits someone on a bike, scooter, skateboard, or any of these other new means of transportation. Even if wrong legally, the car will ALWAYS win. Would you rather be right and dead or safe and healthy? Vehicle drivers must keep an eye out for these bikers for sure, but bikers must make sure to not be on the wrong side, in a blind spot, weave through traffic, cross against the light or any of the other ridiculous things the bikers do.
4 – Driveways are exactly that – a drive-way! Everyone from the driver pulling in or out, to the biker, walker, runner, must be more aware. Do not EVER pull in or out of any driveway at a high speed ESPECIALLY when you are going backwards.
go ahead commenters…..add to my list
The law requires a driver to yield to pedestrians who wish to cross the street. If you don’t do that then I’d imagine you don’t care about the permit test that you took before getting your license…?
How could you call people terrible for doing what’s right and what the law states?
So I only agree with points one, three, four.
What problem do you have with point number 2?
The law does NOT say that at all. If a pedestrian is crossing in middle of a block and not in a legal crosswalk you better not slow down and let them cross. That’s how accidents happen and people get killed
You’re spot on about comment number 2. That’s what causes rear-end collisions. Unexpected stopping in the middle of fast-paced traffic to pick up & or discharge or to let someone cross. No misva here at all.
Thank you for your comment.
I don’t need to be doubted if my kids had 3 close calls that prompted me to write the letter.
If it was your children, would you leave them out of it? Or would you emphasize it that it’s not a one time incident? You don’t need to believe me but I am fortunate for all 3 malachim that protected them. But do me a favor and don’t gaslight people. All 3 occurances happened.
1. Yes 100% – cars need to stop for the bus stop sign.
2. I politely disagree. There are times and places where it’s ok to stop and let a pedestrian safely cross. If you see a car stopped in front of you, instead of swerving around them, assess the reason for the stop.
3. Yes – don’t need to die defending the right of way. Teaching to look and be careful even when you have the right of way is responsible.
4. 100%
Sorry. My #2 is 100%.
Nope sorry, jay walking is illegal, cars randomly stopping in middle of the street is dangerous. I dont have to get into a near accident because some moron is stopping to let some jay walker cross, I dont have to get into a near accident because parents tell their kids to cross in middle of the street because they think the car coming is far enough away, be a man go cross your kid yourself instead of just calling him over. If you have 3 kids getting into near accidents in such a short time, the problem may be with your kids.
Yes, good point about driveways – and especially if there is a fence or bushes right near, must go very slow – slow enough that if it were to hit someone, it would be nothing.
They generally end the fence early – or make it at a bit of an angle, but you can ever have too much safety, all caution is helpful and important. Cutting bushes lower is a great idea too.
(Sometimes a mirror may help, but it must be on strong. I see they tend to come off.)
Here’s one to add to the list. I saw this in Lakewood on rt 9. Do not stop in the middle of the left lane and then make a right hand turn. Also, no signal.
Seems like u live on a dangerous street. Also maybe get ur mezuzas Checked. But yes 100 percent ppl drive like manaics. But guess what their not reading Lakewoodscoop so these letters do nothing
The mezuzos of the RV?! 🙂
Not saying that these points aren’t right. They are actually obvious for the most part. But the letter should be prefaced with a “Karen Alert” so we know that we’ll get another rant by someone who sees danger everywhere she looks.
She was probably part of the same Fauci club promoting masks and vaccines for everyone no matter your age, health status or previous infections.
Yes, everyone should be careful when driving, obviously, and you also shouldn’t drive without common sense either as that’s likely to cause more accidents as your not in control. I’m just imagining you losing control of your car because – “GASP” – someone actually went around you when you were waiting to turn left!
Get a grip and leave us alone!
Too much TLS real estate is being wasted on this commenter.
Thank you for your kind words. I’ll make myself a Karen hat to display so you can know in advance next time.
I find your response degrading and rude.
I simply would like to keep my kids safe while they go about their normal daily activities and I would like to make sure the rest of HKB”H’s children remain safe too.
There is nothing in my letter that indicates extreme and brainless ideas.
Just drive safely and carefully and keep your eyes on the road so you don’t hurt another person.
Why all the nastiness? What gain do you get from that?
I agree with everything here except this line
“Just the other day, a kind driver stopped to let my son cross the street in front of him”
This driver is not kind. Stopping in the middle of the road and messing with the regular flow of traffic, is not kind and causes accidents Chas Veshalom.
The “kind” thing is to keep on going and allow the other drivers to keep on driving as well, and your son can wait until the road clears and he has the right to cross.
Otherwise, great letter.
If you wait for every car to clear the road, you might as well camp out there for the night and be all ready for the bus the next day because you will not have gone home.
Besides, when you’re the one driving and waiting to cross an intersection do you also wait for every last car to pass, or are you grateful and relieved when someone lets you go and make your left turn from the side street?
@Reply to New Yorker in Lakewood
Nope. I’m not grateful at all.
When a “kind” driver did this and stopped on the right lane of Cedarbridge to allow someone at an intersecting stop sign to turn left onto Cedarbridge, and the turner crashed into my wife who was innocently driving in the left lane I did not appreciate that kind gesture at all.
When my wife still has pain a year later I don’t appreciate it. When my car got totaled I did not appreciate it. When I have to deal with medical and car insurances for hours after I don’t appreciate it.
Does that answer you question?
His kindness could’ve caused a rear-end collision. Jay-walking is also illegal & pedestrians need to be re-educated about using cross walks to cross the street.
Just saying, most of the blocks where homes are DO NOT HAVE cross walks. My block included.
People are driving way too fast down residential blocks.
In each case, the kies were crossing at the nearest corner/intersection on a residential block. Where a few cars feel free to fly down the street. Including right past the bus stop sign…
Not stopping for a Bus with Flashing RED LIGHTS. NEEDS TO STOP. BUS STOPPED WITH FLASHING RED LIGHTS = A RED LIGHT. SAME THING MAYBE EVEN A BIGGER TICKET. also I think mandatory community service. Just DONT EVEN THINK OF DOING IT. All school buses need to have cameras so that these unsafe drivers can be reprimanded.
Was your son crossing at a crosswalk?
If not then what do you expect a driver to do if the car in front of him stops in middle of the road. Teach your child to cross safely only at crosswalks.
See my reply above. Most the residential side streets don’t have cross walks. Our block does not but yes my kids cross at the corner/intersection. Except the kid getting off the bus who was crossing with a bus stop sign.
agree if you have right of way do not stop for anyone pedestrion/turning car…. its dangerous and illiegal.
Kudos to the NJSP and LPD for deploying the use of several unmarked cars.
Everyone has to stop pretending that the laws are meant to be broken or that they’re only meant for nisht-unzerer.
Pardon my brief reply, I am texting my reply while driving, but the poster is correct. tthis shoudl be stpoeed
People need to understand that those obstructing traffic by stopping and giving right of way to pedestrians or vehicles that do not have right of way, may seem “nice and safe” to the shallow minded, but in truth they are very dangerous and cause accidents. Many accidents happen when someone stops for someone else to turn left and as freshy drivers the left turners go without realizing another car is coming in the other lane.
Time to change our mindset. We no longer live in a town where you can cross anywhere. We live in a city, and we need to start acting like it.
Patently false. Don’t jaywalk. Cross where it’s legal & safe to cross over. Pedestrians need to think about motorist’s safety as well as their own.
Also, reflectors, reflectors, reflectors – all year – sunset to sunrise!!
narcasist drivers need to be put in their place.
1.) embarras (loudly)
2.) impound vehicle
3.) revoke license
problem solved. you cant be eidel with vilda chayas.
spelling errors but msg is clear. we need to deal with issues of pikuach nefesh without latzanos
Attention outsider looking in: [New Jersey Statute 39:4-36] Whenever any vehicle is stopped to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle. [I think this obviously applies even if the first vehicle had the right of way and was not obligated to stop but they decided that it would be kind to stop.]
Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or [other than] within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway. [So if there are no vehicles coming or if a vehicle decides on their own to let the pedestrian cross, jaywalking is legal in NJ.]
https://www.nj.gov/oag/hts/pedestrian.html
I wish someone would pay me for my profound comments lol