Traffic safety requires the 'three E's,' repair immigration

Traffic safety requires the ‘3 E’s’

Several traffic safety advocates stated that the need to reduce motor vehicle speed lies in improved engineering and driver education ["Suffolk led NY in 2020 roadway fatalities," News, Sept. 27]. But the more inclusive "three E’s" approach is what’s required: education, engineering and enforcement.

Educating the public with cliches such as "leave extra early for appointments" may generally appeal to our better angels, as would engineering measures such as adding rumble strips to slow traffic. Short of restricting when and where Long Islanders can drive, controlling "road anarchy" (drinking and driving, texting while driving, changing lanes without signaling, reckless speeding, etc.) will always require the visual presence of law enforcement.

The use of proactive enforcement appears to have declined in recent years. As an example, when was the last time motorcycled police were present on our roadways other than for ceremonial events?

With the increasing prevalence of micromobility vehicles such as e-bikes and scooters, the need for a motorcycled police presence only intensifies.

Traffic education and engineering can only go so far to make our roads safer, but if drivers forget that their right to operate a motor vehicle is a privilege and not an automatic entitlement, the third pillar, enforcement, will need to make a strong comeback — if we ever want to see an end to the daily headlines of Long Island roadway fatalities.

— Lowell F. Wolf, Farmingdale

The writer is program director for the New York Coalition for Transportation Safety.

We have all seen this type of driver. The one that weaves in and out of lanes driving like they have zero regard for anyone’s safety. Driving on Long Island has made me feel like I am risking my life every time I get behind the wheel. Pick-up trucks are driven like sports cars, and drivers use the right lane to pass. Aggressive driving has made traveling by car unsafe.

How many more people have to die before the police and state and local governments admit that the current state of driving dangerously has become an epidemic.

Speed cameras that would catch and ticket drivers with points should be introduced on parkways until drivers start obeying speed limits, which would create safer driving.

More traffic stops by police need to happen, and ticketing data should be made public.

Troopers camping on the roadside in plain sight only temporarily deters dangerous driving. Enough is enough!

— Carmine Ricciardi, West Babylon

Reader letters struck a chord with me ["Fed up with LI’s reckless, bad drivers," Aug. 1]. I have been disgusted and fed up with drivers on Long Island for some time now.

I live in Suffolk County, and it is the worst! Besides speeding and reckless driving, the amount of drunk or impaired driving is incredible. More incredible is the mere slap on the wrist and visit to court. That’s nonsense.

People are dying from drunken driving, and we don’t jail most of these drivers? Where are the politicians when we need them? It’s disgraceful.

I live near Mooney Pond Road, where there is a nearby school. The speeding cars on this road are unbelievable. A police officer could give out 30 tickets an hour if they wanted to. When is someone going to do something about all this?

— Grace Califano, Coram

Congress must fund, repair immigration

I agree with the editorial "Desperation over immigration" [Sept. 26] that "Coming here legally must be made easier. Coming here illegally must be made fruitless." The problem is that Congress has failed to implement prior acts and neglected funding for border security and immigration reform.

Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act in 1986 focused on amnesty and enforcement to prevent future illegal entry and prohibited hiring and harboring of  undocumented immigrants. Few resources were allocated, and poor funding tied the hands of enforcement officials.

Ten years later, Congress passed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, boosting enforcement, but poor funding hindered the actual enforcement of the laws.

It’s time to implement real solutions with adequate funding, and not superficial acts to satisfy political agendas.

Immigration became a federal responsibility in 1876. Handling border security, immigration enforcement and amnesty as three separate issues will permit a more focused approach to arrive at the proper solutions for each, without detracting from each and stalling progress. Congress must act and fund the solutions to provide legal, humane immigration and protect the border.

— James T. Rooney, Centerport