The East Hills Board of Trustees decided at a meeting Thursday night to install two “No Outlet” signs at the entrances of East and West Horseshoe Drive after residents raised concern about unsafe driving on the road.
During the public comment portion of the hearing, residents said drivers coming from West Horseshoe Drive are racing around the top of the horseshoe, which is a blind spot, at unsafe speeds.
It was agreed to put the two signs up because, according to Mayor Michael Koblenz, it could be done quickly and without further approval. Other suggestions included a surveillance camera, turning the horseshoe into a one way, beginning at East Horseshoe Drive, and a blinking stop sign.
“If I turn this into a one way, half of you may be happy, but the other half is going to give me calls asking ‘what’s going on,’” Koblenz said during the meeting.
Residents on the horseshoe, which has 15 to 20 occupied homes, said the east side is concerned about cars coming from the west side to go onto Old Westbury Road. They said that a majority of issues come from nonresidents, including Uber drivers and truck drivers.
Bernhardine Brody, who has lived on the corner of East Horseshoe for 45 years and is sometimes referred to by residents as “mayor of the Horseshoe,” said there needs to be a deterrent for reckless behavior.
“It is affecting the lives of residents, children and families,” Brody said. “We want to be preemptive before something tragic happens. We are running out of options.”
Residents on the east side of the horseshoe submitted a petition to the board saying that they would support surveillance in the area. Koblenz said that the cost to install a camera would be nearly $7,000, but if the overwhelming majority of the road’s residents agree to pay for it one would be installed.
The mayor said that these issues are not specific to just one road. However, he said he understands the needs and wants to do whatever a majority of the road’s residents want to do.
“If I do something for you, then every road is going to want the same thing,” Koblenz said. “I don’t want to create more problems by solving one.”
The residents in attendance said they will gauge interest in a one-way sign, which they feel is the best approach. According to Brody, so many residents come in through East Horseshoe as it is that it would not be too much to ask. However, it would prevent cars driving from the west side and exiting via the east, which is seen as the biggest risk.
It is unclear when the two signs will be installed, although Koblenz said it could possibly be done by this week.
Also during the meeting, Koblenz stressed the need during the holiday season to keep car doors locked to prevent thefts. He said that modern cars are easy to spot if a fob has been left inside because the side view mirrors do not automatically adjust when parked. Tips he and the board provided also include removing valuables and adding alarm stickers to windows.
