Accident at Jefferson and Maplewood ave archived

If Jefferson were to be made a one way street going west (up hill), would that solve the problem preventing the installation of a light at Maplewood/Jefferson or are there other concerns?

Another issue that I have with this stop is that its very poorly lit. I live very near this intersection and travel through it daily. One night (6pm) recently I was traveling on Maplewood Ave toward the village. My intention was to turn left onto Jefferson. I was passing through the intersection and almost hit a pedestrian who was in the intersection (dressed in dark clothing) as I totally did not see her. Luckily I was able to stop in time.
I imagine the time of day has a direct correlation to the number of pedestrian involved incidences at this intersection.

scoobydoo said:

Another issue that I have with this stop is that its very poorly lit. I live very near this intersection and travel through it daily. One night (6pm) recently I was traveling on Maplewood Ave toward the village. My intention was to turn left onto Jefferson. I was passing through the intersection and almost hit a pedestrian who was in the intersection (dressed in dark clothing) as I totally did not see her. Luckily I was able to stop in time.
I imagine the time of day has a direct correlation to the number of pedestrian involved incidences at this intersection.

+1

It's not only about the cars. People in dark clothing and poorly lit intersection is a recipe for disaster. I still walk my daughter to the corner to help her cross to school to make sure the crossing guard is there. It's amazing how many people don't even stop for the crossing guard in the morning!

this is the stupidest, most rediculous interesection ever. They need to make it a 4 way stop or a traffic light. Cars with the right of way come flying down that hill which is somewhat blind.....anyone who isn't totally familiar with the cross would be at risk. I have been driving through that intersection multiple times at night and not noticed pedestrians in the dark and consider it blind luck that I didn't hit them. Its shameful that its like that. I also pray the person in the accident is ok.

Better lighting would definitely make a difference. When crossing at dusk/in the dark, I always turn on my flashlight (I keep a mini one on my key chain).

It might be too complicated, but pedestrians would be safer if they could trigger a signal button that would start a light flashing at the top of Jefferson so cars about to speed down the hill would know that there is a pedestrian in the crosswalk.

As several people have stated, it is clearly marked. But too many people do not pay attention. Cars waiting to cross are often too fixated on watching traffic and don't notice pedestrians.

EBennett said:

Better lighting would definitely make a difference. When crossing at dusk/in the dark, I always turn on my flashlight (I keep a mini one on my key chain).

That's this entire town. When I moved here last year, I was baffled by the darkness. Especially as you head over to South Orange. Barely lit lamps as street lighting is insanity.

joan_crystal said:

If Jefferson were to be made a one way street going west (up hill), would that solve the problem preventing the installation of a light at Maplewood/Jefferson or are there other concerns?

Sure, except Jefferson has some special designation, as a a rapid access for Fire and Police which require it to be a 2 way.

Access needed is from the fire station to whereever fire equipment is going. Return to the station need not be such an emergency. Making West Parker one way eastbound could help move emergency vehicles more quickly in that direction.

Perhaps, you have to suggest and sell this to the MFD, the Master Plan committee, the Zoning Department and likely the TC. MOL will be of little help.

My experience earlier in the day with what appeared to be a two-car accident at that intersection: I was traveling east on Jefferson, and stopped at the intersection before turning left on to Maplewood (northbound) with my left turn signal on because a woman with a baby carriage was crossing Maplewood (going westbound on Jefferson). Seeing that I stopped at the yellow light, the woman in a grey mini-van who was stopped on Maplewood (going northbound) gunned it across the intersection, almost running over the woman with the baby carriage. Stupid, stupid drivers and people -- that's the problem. Not signs, not blinking lights.

I just went through this intersection a few minutes ago - it's not that tricky. Stop sign going one way, go slow/yield if going the other way.

If there's an accident....someone was doing something wrong. It's not the fault of the sign or the hill or whatever else. Personal responsibility when driving.

Making Jefferson one way east would have some effect on fire response times, especially when mutuaal aid units come in.

To me the biggest problem with this solution is that is will further make the divide between the two sides of Town worse. Just my opinion.

I have lived near that intersection for 35 years...this issue has been discussed on MOL. The problem is that coming down Jefferson there is a crest just before the intersection and there would not be enough time for a vehicle to stop if the light was red....please do not shoot the messenger....this is what the community was told back in the day.

Bobk: Suggestion is to make Jefferson one way going WEST [up hill]. This should aid fire response times not hinder them.

joan_crystal said:

Bobk: Suggestion is to make Jefferson one way going WEST. This should aid fire response times not hinder them.

Joan, why should we rearrange a main municipal road bc some drivers run stop signs and cause accidents?

It would make a lot more sense to intermittently have an officer there writing tickets or a red light camera. Word will get around town that not stopping translates to a fine and points.

joan_crystal said:

Bobk: Suggestion is to make Jefferson one way going WEST [up hill]. This should aid fire response times not hinder them.

I think that could create traffic flow issues throughout town. Where would the downhill traffic turn? Durand then left on Maplewood Ave? That intersection is already jammed, especially when trains are coming in. Or one of the side streets around Audley, then coming down past Walton?

I am thinking of this because Jefferson is my regular through street when I'm coming home; I turn left there and then right on Parker, another major through street in town. If you're coming from Maplewood or Millburn, turning at Jefferson is what allows you to avoid the Village (which is important for traffic flow there too).

bgs said:

I have lived near that intersection for 35 years...this issue has been discussed on MOL. The problem is that coming down Jefferson there is a crest just before the intersection and there would not be enough time for a vehicle to stop if the light was red....please do not shoot the messenger....this is what the community was told back in the day.

IMO If the driver is sticking to the 25mph there would be plenty of time to stop.

What are the pros and cons of installing a motion detector alerting motorists on Jefferson approaching the intersection that there is a car or pedestrian and they should slow down?

joan_crystal said:

Bobk: Suggestion is to make Jefferson one way going WEST [up hill]. This should aid fire response times not hinder them.

For mutual aid who may be coming from Millburn or West Orange it might hinder them if they came in on Ridgewood Rd and needed to go east.

mumstheword said:

Stupid, stupid drivers and people -- that's the problem. Not signs, not blinking lights.

HoBoTransplant said:

... Cars with the right of way come flying down that hill which is somewhat blind.....anyone who isn't totally familiar with the cross would be at risk. I have been driving through that intersection multiple times at night and not noticed pedestrians in the dark and consider it blind luck that I didn't hit them....

that's exactly why having eastbound traffic stopped on Jefferson would be dangerous.

which way was the pedestrian crossing? which direction was the car going?

The problem is not the intersection... It is that lots of drivers in nj don't pay attention to pedestrians in crosswalks and don't obey the law... I believe the pedestrian was crossing north on Jefferson and the driver was driving south on Maplewood and making a right turn

A traffic light COULD be installed on east bound Jefferson well before the arch in the road keeping traffic out of the intersection and preventing any "surprise" traffic back-ups. Just sayin'

Two lights?

Or a sign with flashing red light just before the hill saying something like "Red light 100 feet ahead" akin to the one coming off the S-curves Eastbound on SO Ave just before Glenview.

Got out my compass and Joan is right on the directions I messed up. Sorry. Making Jefferson one way westbound might work. The other choices are very limited.

norman-getting drivers to do 25 n Jefferson or Maplewood for that matter is really not thinking in real time....I get beeped at every time I am on Ridgewood doing 25 and if I slow down by the school you would think I had committed murder with the responses from irresponsible people!!!!!

Martha: Until drivers of vehicles traveling on our roads learn to pay attention to speed limits and signage, take their minds off their distractions, and allow sufficient time for them to arrive where they are going so as not to feel the pressure to disobey the rules of our roads, the occassional issuing of moving violation tickets is not going to solve the problem. Until pedestrians learn to be more aware of their surroundings and start wearing more reflective clothing at night and/or carrying a light source (such as a flashlight) we are going to continue having the high potential for more car hits pedestrian incidents. Some form of transportation engineering is needed when an intersection is so dangerous that there are two separate traffic accidents there in a single day and more occurring regularly.

Spontaneous: Mutual aid traffic from Millburn heading east of Maplewood Avenue could take Millburn Avenue to Valley Street or Springfield Avenue depending on their destination. Mutual aid from West Orange heading to a location east of Maplewood Avenue could take SO Avenue to Scotland Road/Valley Street, Prospect Street, or Irvington Avenue, depending on their destination. There are reasonable alternatives.

Making Jefferson one way is just one suggestion that MIGHT make that intersection safer by eliminating the problem posed by traffic heading east on Jefferson not being able to stop in time if another vehicle or a pedestrian is in the intersection when their own vehicle reaches it. Assuming this idea has any merit and assuming the town wishes to consider it, it is up to the town engineer to determine (a) if this is the BEST solution (I never said that it was) and (b) if the impact on surrounding roadways would create an even worse problem elsewhere.

Zero tolerance law enforcement can help educate drivers. We have the technical means to do this.

I can't imagine making Jefferson one way. It isn't like we have a number parallel streets that can have alternate directions like the streets in NYC.

bobk said:

Got out my compass and Joan is right on the directions I messed up. Sorry. Making Jefferson one way westbound might work. The other choices are very limited.

Making Jefferson one way westbound would be a traffic nightmare for the entire town. Everyone on that side of town would have to weave through residential neighborhoods to get to Parker or they would have to be funneled through the downtown going past the middle school. Either way the traffic congestion would be horrendous.

What is needed is a little education and acceptance by both pedestrians and drivers. I know that visually Jefferson does not appear to be a main road but with the limited crossings under the tracks and with Parker stopping right after crossing under the tracks and Baker dumping into the downtown, Jefferson is the main road going east-west on the west side of town. People approaching Jefferson either on foot or in a car need to treat it as if they are crossing Valley, Ridgewood or Wyoming.