Rockland County Launches Safe Streets Website

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — Officials have launched a new website called Rockland County Safe Streets to help residents with pedestrian and bicycle safety issues.

It's a big problem in the county. Rockland was identified as one of the top 20 counties for pedestrian-related crashes in the 2016 New York State Pedestrian Safety Action Plan. In the five years 2011-15, there were 744, 22 of them fatal.

The top three contributing factors were: driver inattention or distraction, failure to yield right-of-way, and pedestrian/bicyclist error or confusion. Both pedestrians and drivers were found to be in violation of NYS vehicle and traffic laws.

"Whether you are walking, driving, or riding a bicycle, you have a responsibility to help prevent crashes and save lives," said County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert. "Educating yourself and teaching children about pedestrian and bicycle safety saves lives. The Rockland County Safe Streets website has important road safety information for educators, parents, and municipalities to prevent serious injuries and death."

A pedestrian died just last month. SEE: Pedestrian Killed On Route 304 In New City

The new website was designed and built with funding from the state through the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee; in the last round of funding, Oct. 1, 221-Sept. 30, Rockland received $45,664. The initial cost including the domain name and hosting and the website development was about $3,250.

Visit the website to sign up for a quarterly newsletter with information about injury prevention, including bike safety, pedestrian safety month, pedestrian safety awareness, back- to-school bus safety, information about complete streets, and funding opportunities for municipalities and community organizations.

The Rockland County Department of Health also offers educational programs and printed materials to educate the public about pedestrian and bicycle safety. If you are interested in scheduling a presentation for your school or community organization or would like printed safety materials to distribute, call 845-364-3755 or email lopeza@co.rockland.ny.us.

"To protect yourself and others, know and obey the laws and rules of the road and be alert," County Executive Ed Day said. "Avoid distractions like cell phones, especially while driving and walking near traffic, obey the speed limit if you are driving, and always watch out for other road users."

SEE ALSO:

• Orangetown Police Need Your Help Solving Pedestrian Hit By Car
• Police ID Pedestrian Killed In West Nyack
• Ramapo Has Most Pedestrian-traffic Injuries, Deaths