City Council moves to monitor dangerous Philly intersections

A Philadelphia City Council committee is making an effort to prevent crashes with a bill that calls for reviewing a hazardous intersection within 60 days if a council member requests it.

Councilman Curtis Jones drafted his bill after 96 people suffered fatal injuries in traffic crashes in Philadelphia last year. The toll included 40 pedestrians and three cyclists.

“We want to know if there something we can do — whether it’s adding a stop light, stop sign or speed bump where appropriate to create a safety assist — through the Streets Department,” Jones said.

Too many people are being hurt or killed on Philadelphia streets, said Marge Chance of the American Association of Retired Persons.

“Crossing the street should not mean crossing your fingers,” she said. “Yet every hour, pedestrians and other users of a roadway are killed because a street crosswalk or intersection is unsafe.”

No one testified against the bill. City officials said they are also working to pass a different bill authorizing speed-enforcement cameras to slow drivers down.