Village Couple Intent on Stopping Speeding Motorists

A Reid Avenue couple and Babylon Village officials are in agreement about wanting drivers to slow down and stop speeding through back and side streets south of Main Street, but just how to make that happen is under debate.

Lisa and Ryan Force moved into their home on the corner Reid Avenue just about two years ago. It quickly became apparent that the four-way traffic light at the intersection of Reid and Fire Island isn't deterring speeders and that most drivers aren't adhering to the speed limit whether traveling east-west or north-south.

“This is a major safety issue as drivers know it’s a straight shot down the street and people are just constantly running the light,” said Lisa Force, adding that she’s concerned about accidents and the safety of children. Force has two children, Giana who is three years old and a son, Christen, who is five and a half and she’s not comfortable letting them play in the front or side yards due to the speeding traffic.

“Folks are just gunning it to beat the light, it’s like a highway-like atmosphere,” she said.

The Forces believe stop signs and possibly exchanging the four-way traffic light with a blinking red light could make a difference and approached village officials about a year ago for help.

The village conducted a traffic engineering study of the intersection. The report indicates a blinking red light may be warranted but also states that traffic levels don’t constitute the need for a four-way light. The current light was put in place over 40 years ago.

“We are very concerned about the speeding all over the village,” said Mayor Ralph Scordino, who invited Ryan Force to a recent board work session to discuss the traffic report and possible remediation actions.

Scordino and village trustees are concerned that removing the traffic light or changing the light could result in accidents given that local residents are used to the light.

“We have stop signs on many village roads and people don’t stop. They run them or roll through them most times,” said Scordino, explaining that adding stop signs isn’t an automatic solution as the state department of transportation forbids stop signs for the purpose of stopping speeding.

The use of a stop sign is allowed when there is documented proof an intersection is dangerous, which means accidents have taken place at the site.

Scordino said speeding falls under the purview of local law enforcement and that Suffolk Police have been prevalent in trying to reduce speeding.

“The village is a 30-mile-per-hour zone and no one adheres to that and speeding is a problem we are very concerned about,” said the mayor.

The Forces believe that installing a stop sign for the east-west traffic could help as would stop signs along Fire Island Avenue.

“I think if drivers had to slow down for stop signs before they got the light they’d be more apt to stop at light or at least slow down,” said Ryan Force. “Now they’re just rolling through it. We have to figure out a way how breaking up the traffic flow,” he added.

Village officials said they are very willing to discuss options and potential problems, and promised to keep a dialogue going with the Forces on the issue.

“The roads haven’t changed in that area,” noted Trustee Kevin Muldowney. “But the caliber of the driver has changed. Safety is a huge issue in the village,” nothing that accidents occur regularly on streets that do boast a number of stop signs.

In the meantime the Forces are talking with neighbors in a petition effort to bring about some type of change.

“We want a higher level of safety in the area,” said Lisa Force.