There are AAA apple posters at key spots in the villages where drivers are urged to use caution now that school is officially back in session.
Then there are the hot spots that have people on Patch talking.
Since Patch posted some a few days ago, a few commenters have gravitated to one intersection in Tarrytown and one in Sleepy Hollow.
While kids were hit last school year by cars on Beekman, on North Washington, on Pocantico – all luckily without notable injuries – parents seem to feel the most threatened alongside and on Bedford Road in Sleepy Hollow.
“The steep hill and the blind spot on Bedford Road [at Pine Close] are a recipe for disaster,” Rose Hill wrote, “I can't believe the village has done nothing to help out for SAFE crossing.”
In Tarrytown, to enter Washington Irving, pedestrians cross at South Broadway and Franklin Street, rather than directly in front of the school, which commenter Patricia took issue with.
“The children at WI should be crossing directly in front of the school entrance, I don't known why the school has them crossing at South Broadway and Franklin St. Oh wait I do know why, because that is the way they did it 60 years ago so that's the way it has to be done today.”
Tarrytown Police Chief Scott Brown defended the choice.
“The school does not select the crossing locations the police department does,” Brown said. The department assigns the guards at intersections in accordance with the AAA Pedestrian Safety Program. “Additionally, since manpower is at a premium and it is not feasible to post officers on every block we strive to obtain the maximum benefit by strategically placing our officers where they will have the most impact.”
The police officer at South Broadway/Franklin Street, Brown said, is responsible to cross children approaching the school from points north and east as well as maintaining the orderly flow of commuter traffic. "Officer assignments are done for a reason not because we object to change."
Patricia had some advice for kids to “cross with purpose” and for parents to “leave themselves a little extra time when dropping their kids off.”
To which another reader Ethel responded, “perhaps the commuters could leave early so they are not whizzing around WI trying to make their trains.”
And thus the tension between continues.
Chief Brown stood up for the force's commitment to pedestrian safety. “Our pedestrian safety record is one of the best in the county," he said. "I can't attest to the last sixty years but I can speak for the last thirty-one, it seems to work just fine for everyone else!”
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Is there an intersection you'd like to see a crossing guard, or at least a caution sign, at? Tell us in the comments.
