Signs in Waldwick urge motorists to slow down. Record file photo.
We continue our series on where the Bergen County candidates stand with an issue that’s so pervasive in daily life that it rarely gets discussed much.
But that began to change when a Waldwick police officer was killed while using radar to track speeders along Route 17.
As my Record colleague John Cichowski reported, the stretch of highway where Officer Christopher Goodell died has been the seen of many serious accidents.
We posed the following question to the candidates:
The recent death of Waldwick Police Office Christopher Goodell drew attention to the number of traffic accidents along a stretch of Route 17. What should the county be doing to address traffic problems, especially accidents and fatalities?
Here is what they said:
Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan (Republican):
“Distracted and impaired driving are two of the biggest reasons we are seeing more motor vehicle accidents. In regards to distracted driving, it is so important that we as a community pledge to put the phone down while driving. When you look down for a second your car is still going hundreds of feet. It is a preventable accident!
“The same can be said for driving while impaired. Most people think of it as driving while intoxicated but it can be also be driving while too tired. As with distracted driving, impaired driving is completely preventable. It’s about making the right choices.
“One issue that doesn’t get a lot of news is the work of our Bergen County Police and their weights and measures. They are on the roads checking that trucks have not overloaded their cargo. This ensures the safety of those around the trucks by making sure that they can stop in time and preventing rollovers.
“Our law enforcement agencies are on the roads 24 hours a day looking out for these issues before they become accidents. Sometimes they give their lives for this as with the case of Officer Goodell.”
Freeholder and County Executive candidate James Tedesco (Democrat):
“Traffic is always a concern in Bergen County, especially when it puts our residents and first responders in jeopardy.
“In my time as Mayor of Paramus, traffic was a primary concern of mine and I have been working to reduce it for years. Greater use of public transportation and speed controlling mechanisms will help but more is needed to fully address the problem.
“The bottleneck by the Garden State Plaza must finally be addressed cooperatively by the county and state. We must protect our County’s Blue Laws to give our residents one day where moving through the county is easier. I am always looking for new solutions to this problem, as the issues are constantly changing.”
Freeholder Chairman David Ganz (Democrats):
“State Highway 17 isn’t regulated by the county, though addressing traffic issues is one of the oldest functions in the 320 year history of the Freeholder board.
“The County should continue working with State and Local officials and even the state of New York to make sure our roads are well signed, well paved, patrolled, and well maintained.
“We should also continue educating people about road safety with programs like Click It or Ticket.”
Freeholder Joan Voss (Democrat):
“It is sad that the death of a police officer needs to draw attention to the number of accidents on Rte 17. This is a daily occurrence that needs the support of all parties involved.
“We need to have a greater working relationship with haulers and truckers, our residents and state leaders in addressing the safety our roads. Well-maintained paved roads, proper signage will continue to help make our roads safer.”
Freeholder candidate Robert Avery (Republican):
“A terrible tragedy, and there are no other words to describe it!
“Perhaps the question should be addressed this way: How can we get drivers today to slow down, to not tailgate, to not be distracted, to not change lanes carelessly, to not be inattentive, and to be more responsible behind the wheel?
“A look at any day’s RECORD shows multiple and fatal car accidents all over the county, the state and the tri-state area.
“I support road improvement projects as well to make our roads safer, however, I wish to stress better education programs of drivers as well and wonder why more driver safety alerts and bulletins are not put out regularly by Trenton.
“I am stressing driver education as I am aware that no amount of road improvement will completely prevent accidents, perhaps best evidenced by that fact that the site of there cent tragedy is at a wide part of Rt.17, and is well maintained and unobstructed. ‘
Freeholder candidate Bernadette Walsh (Republican):
“Since I was a child, I have been aware of the ever present problem of accidents along Route 17.
“Speeding seems to be the biggest problem along with reckless driving. I would start with a review of the procedures to monitor law enforcement along the highway and propose tougher penalties for offenders.”
Tomorrow’s issue; The William Carlos Williams Center
