“We have a reputation for being aggressive and fast drivers,” O’Malley said Friday afternoon, talking by phone using a hands-free Bluetooth setup as he drove. “I want the term ’Boston Driver’ to become synonymous with safety and civility.”
“The reputation that Boston drivers have is an ill-deserved one,” he said, and some national surveys have found the same.
“Ninety-eight percent are good drivers," he added. "There are a couple of bad apples that ruin every bunch as there are in every city.”
A date for the hearing has not yet been chosen, but O’Malley said he hopes the hearing will be held in February or early March.
He said studies done in other major urban areas have explored mechanisms to calm traffic “that balance and protect the safety of livability of residential neighborhoods with emergency service needs.”
In a statement from his office, O’Malley listed ideas for slowing drivers down including: classifying streets as primary or secondary emergency response arteries; speed cushions; speed humps; median islands; speed slots; radar speed signs and increased traffic enforcement.
By phone he also said he hopes state leaders at the hearing will consider looking into filing legislation that would allow city leaders to set and change speed limits on Boston’s streets, rather than current laws that dictate the state leaders decide.
He suggested other ideas including: public awareness campaigns to remind drivers of traffic laws and “something as simple as signage” like signs posted at intersections that say: “Don’t block the box.”
When asked, O’Malley said he’s open to the idea of installing red-light and speed cameras in the city.
“I’m really open to every idea,” so long as the idea does not interfere with emergency response vehicles, the councilor added.
Citing a hearing he held this past fall where a host of local officials and residents met to talk about ways to improve snow removal in Boston, O’Malley said he hopes the meeting will bring about similar collaboration between various public agencies, organizations and residents and foster new and better relationships between those parties.
