October 7, 2015

Most Dangerous Intersections in the Bronx: Jerome Ave and East 233rd Street

Posted in Auto Accidents, Pedestrian Accidents

This week we continue our journey through the most dangerous intersections in the Bronx when it comes to pedestrian injuries and fatalities, where last week we described the intersection of East Fordham at Webster Avenue which in 2008 was deemed the most dangerous intersection by the Department of Transportation. In this article we will discuss the intersection of Jerome Avenue and East 233rd Street.

One of the main issues that this intersection is so dangerous is because the intersection is the crossroads for over 10 lanes of busy traffic, including the entrance and exit ramps of the Major Deegan Expressway.  Most of the roads in the intersection are turn only lanes which can occasionally make drivers panic if they feel they are in the wrong lane. They attempt to overcorrect their mistake which distracts them from paying attention to pedestrians and other cars in traffic.

In 2014, one person was killed when a Toyota was going the wrong way up the exit ramp of the expressway and struck two vehicles. One of the vehicles he struck was a Department of Transportation truck.

Another issue with the intersection is that because there are so many lanes of busy traffic, drivers have to pay attention to the multiple lanes of traffic which might distract them from paying attention to the pedestrians and bikers on the road. In April of 2015, a 15-year-old cyclist was stuck in a hit-and-run in the late hours of the night. The cyclist was found with severe head trauma and was taken to the hospital. The driver of the vehicle was found and arrested.

Developments to the intersection that would improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety would be to replace the fading crosswalks and street markings to better direct traffic and aide pedestrians across the roads.

More improvements will be made in the area and surrounding roads to increase pedestrian and driver safety as part of Vision Zero, which aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities. But until all projects are complete, drivers and pedestrians should be hyper vigilant about their surroundings when dealing with this intersection.