By KIMBERLY ACEVEDO
And according to Nassau County Police, three intersections--Lido Boulevard and Regent Drive, Lido Boulevard and Blackheath Road, and Lido Boulevard and Greenway Road--made the list of High Frequency Accidents, which were based on reports from January 1 through mid- September.
The three intersections are commonly used to gain entrance to the high school, middle school and Blackheath Pre-K. Six accidents during the nine month span occurred at Regent Drive. At Blackheath and Greenway Roads, four accidents were logged.
The severity of each accident, which could range from a fender-bender to a fatality, was not indicated on the list. In assessing these statistics and the status of danger these intersections pose, the volume of traffic in these areas are highly relevant, but such information is unavailable, according to police.
The traffic accident figures are compiled to help police try to improve conditions, if they can, or to deter speeding by bolstering enforcement, said Police Officer Mike Bitsko, a Nassau County Police Department spokesperson.
"These numbers are recorded because we want to have officers in patrol cars or someone from the POP [Problem-Oriented Policing] Unit issue tickets and provide some speed control," Bitsko said. "We either go to the officers patrolling that area or to the POP Unit to try to resolve that problem."
As for the three intersections that lead to the school, Long Beach City School District Superintendent Dr. Friedman said the district has requested help from Nassau County on "numerous occasions" to increase safety at the intersections.
"The county has not contacted us but we have contacted the county on numerous occasions," Friedman said. "We have asked for help...We have requested that the county take what ever action makes sense."
But a Nassau County traffic official said they have not had or been in contact with the school district. And, according to Ray Ribeiro, the assistant director of traffic engineering for the Nassau County Department of Public Works, the county does not have an active study or review in process involving the intersections.
But, if contacted, Ribeiro added, the county would survey the intersections and take necessary action.
The school district has requested help from the Nassau County Fourth Precinct Police Department.
"We have increased our patrols around there," Fourth Precinct Administrative Lieutenant Larry Feffer said. "The local post cars are enforcing the traffic laws."
Meanwhile, Friedman said he would like to see mechanical roadway changes that would slow and moderate traffic at the intersections. Raised crosswalks, changing the traffic lights and delaying their timing would certainly help, he said.
"I would like to see some major 'traffic calming' initiatives that have been done in other communities," he said.
