February - March 2003 Edition

Letters To Editor    Why Route 4 Has That Ugly Barrier During my career as a Fair Lawn Police Officer I had the good fortune of being sent to Rutgers University to take a two year course in Traffic Engineering Principals, conducted by the New Jersey State Highway Department. Route 4 was a four lane undivided highway that allowed motorists to make left turns into side streets as well as business establishments. Thousands of vehicles daily used this roadway resulting in hundreds of traffic mishaps resulting in injuries and fatalities. It was my duty and responsibility to seek professional traffic engineering help. After submitting a five year collision diagram between the railroad overpass and the Route 208  interchange it became very obvious that left turning traffic trying to make that turn or stopped waiting to turn left contributed to a majority of the accidents (head on and rear end collisions).  The collision diagram of all accidents on Route 4 clearly indicated that all left turns and vehicles stopping to make a left turn had to be eliminated. With the help of Professional Traffic Engineers from the NJDOT a center barrier was installed eliminating all left turns.  All turning movements were made from three locations- by means of "jug handles" resulting in a 54% decrease in traffic accidents. In addition all traffic signals were synchronized based on the 85%ile speed allowing traffic to move more efficiently and safer. Although I now reside in Florida, I was in Fair Lawn recently and drove on both Route 4 and Fair Lawn Avenue and still feel that Route 4 is safer. Vincent J. DiPentima Retired Deputy Chief of Police. Overnight parking It should be permitted. I don't see what's the big deal.  It's only for 3 hours anyway. Rafael Paredes   Fair Lawn News Fan I just love your news online and I wanted to thank you for putting so much into this informative communication.  Things that I cannot read in the paper, I find in fair lawn news.   Please continue to grow and "prosper".  Happy new year. Zak     What's Better Sending Than A Letter To The Editor?   Post a Message on the  Fair Lawn News Discussion Forum.