DOT Unveils New Safety Design at Local Intersections

By Y.M. Lowy

The New York City Department of Transportation is rolling out a new safety measure aimed at preventing crashes where they happen most: intersections. The design, known as hardened daylighting, uses physical barriers like granite blocks to stop cars from parking too close to the corner, improving visibility for everyone on the road.

With this improvement, drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians can better see one another when entering an intersection. Nearly half of all traffic fatalities in the city occur at these crossings, and the DOT hopes this approach will help bring those numbers down.

Many of the first intersections scheduled for the upgrade are along Ocean Avenue, including crossings at Church Avenue, Avenue J, and Foster Avenue.

Starting in 2025, the DOT will install the new design at select high-crash locations, focusing on streets with a history of turning crashes, busy bike lanes, and frequent truck traffic.