Commish: Wrong-way driving is a DWI problem

Suffolk's public works commissioner and chief engineer told lawmakers Tuesday that there is little the county can do to reduce wrong-way driving as long as drunken drivers are on the roads.

"There's not a lot that can be done," Public Works Commissioner Gil Anderson said. "It's really an unfortunate issue. In most cases it's intoxicated drivers that are traveling down the wrong entryway or they've crossed over to the wrong side of the road."

The remarks came during discussion of a proposal from Legis. Tom Cilmi (R-Bay Shore) to direct Anderson to conduct a traffic and engineering study to determine any improvements the county could make to reduce wrong-way accidents. Legislators on the Public Works & Transportation Committee tabled the proposal until it meets again next month.

After Legis. Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk) suggested the county could invest in flashing lights to warn drivers they are traveling against traffic, William Hillman, the county's chief engineer, said such measures would be costly and ineffective.

"We have to start with the facts: The majority of these people are intoxicated," Hillman said. "As an engineer, its difficult for us to engineer stuff to stop people who should not be on the roads."

And short of putting up guardrails, it is impossible to stop drivers from crossing double-yellow lines on the county's two-lane roads like Montauk Highway, Hillman said.

"The best approach is to have a campaign to stop people from driving while intoxicated," he said. "To expect engineers to solve that problem is just beyond what we can do."

Anderson and Hillman suggested legislators wait until the state Department of Transportation concludes a study of wrong-way driving that is already under way.

"Our time could be more efficiently spent elsewhere," Anderson said.

Schneiderman said he did not believe county officials have exhausted what they can do to stop wrong-way driving.

"I'm not saying the county is being at fault," he said. "But we have had a series of these things. Is there something more that can be done?"

In other action, the committee also tabled a study proposed by Legis. Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) to create a 25-cent bus fare for riders who transfer from the Long Island Rail Road.

Romaine was unable to estimate what the special fare would cost the county. Lawmakers last month voted to increase the standard bus fare from $1.50 to $2 to fund a pilot program for Sunday bus service, but County Executive Steve Levy vetoed the measure.