Maury neighbor here. I agree, it's not fair to just blame 'Maryland drivers' for this. We've all got to get to work every day and I don't begrudge anyone for doing so.

The problem is a serious one, though. It's really out of control and needs to be reigned in. That's MPDC's responsibility, with appropriate direction from elected authority. I hope we don't have to have a child killed before that happens.

If this little girl's injuries were accurately reported up thread, there's little question the driver who hit her was speeding. A broken pelvis is excruciatingly painful and usually occurs when a pedestrian is thrown way up in the air when hit. It's the landing on the pavement that will break a pelvis and there's no way that would happen at the 15 m.p.h. speed limit around Maury.

Prayers for the child and her family. We need to get this under control, now.

Anonymous wrote:Little bit of a tangent: Last weekend I was driving THE SPEED LIMIT southbound on 11th just south of Lincoln Park in the afternoon. I guess the driver behind me didn't like that I was driving THE SPEED LIMIT and actually sped up, drove into the other oncoming traffic lane (11th is two lanes, not four), and passed me. I was pissed off and honked my horn at him but still kept to my speed limit. And I admit I was ready to say, "rotten MD driver" but it actually turned out to be a DC driver.

I live on 11th Street SE and this happens to me ALL THE TIME. Part of the issue, I imagine, is that if you go over the 25 MPH speed limit, you can hit all the lights down to the stop sign at D Street. So either changing the lights so you can go the speed limit and make the lights, or un-synchronizing those lights completely -- so that you will hit a red light no matter what, which will also slow you down -- would be a big help.

Little bit of a tangent: Last weekend I was driving THE SPEED LIMIT southbound on 11th just south of Lincoln Park in the afternoon. I guess the driver behind me didn't like that I was driving THE SPEED LIMIT and actually sped up, drove into the other oncoming traffic lane (11th is two lanes, not four), and passed me. I was pissed off and honked my horn at him but still kept to my speed limit. And I admit I was ready to say, "rotten MD driver" but it actually turned out to be a DC driver.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about drivers protect children by slowing the hell down?

They're Maryland assholes. They don't care about DC children.

Oh STFU. No one wants to hurt a child. Don't be so glib.

Sure they do. Don't you know that it's OK to talk about "all of those people" as long as you think you have liberal street cred? A MD driver cut me off, so I can generalize about all MD drivers. I guess the people who are generalizing about all MD drivers would agree with the statement, "I once was robbed by a ______ [insert description here] so they must all be robbers and thieves."

Exactly! The 'All MD drivers are assholes' people sound ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about drivers protect children by slowing the hell down?

They're Maryland assholes. They don't care about DC children.

Oh STFU. No one wants to hurt a child. Don't be so glib.

Sure they do. Don't you know that it's OK to talk about "all of those people" as long as you think you have liberal street cred? A MD driver cut me off, so I can generalize about all MD drivers. I guess the people who are generalizing about all MD drivers would agree with the statement, "I once was robbed by a ______ [insert description here] so they must all be robbers and thieves."

Fuck you. Go stand outside Maury and see the parade of reckless assholes speeding their way to and from Maryland.

Anonymous wrote:According to MOTH, the child is still hospitalized with internal bleeding. Two surgeries so far.

I so hope she's okay.

According to MOTH, the child is still hospitalized with internal bleeding. Two surgeries so far.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about drivers protect children by slowing the hell down?

They're Maryland assholes. They don't care about DC children.

Oh STFU. No one wants to hurt a child. Don't be so glib.

Sure they do. Don't you know that it's OK to talk about "all of those people" as long as you think you have liberal street cred? A MD driver cut me off, so I can generalize about all MD drivers. I guess the people who are generalizing about all MD drivers would agree with the statement, "I once was robbed by a ______ [insert description here] so they must all be robbers and thieves."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.capitalcommunitynews.com/content/car-strikes-middle-schooler-maury

From the article: Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen said he's working with the MPD First District officers on targeted traffic enforcement to catch those running red lights, stop signs and speeding. He's also considering the possibility of extending school speed zone hours later for those students in after school programs.

WHY IS HE SO WORTHLESS?!?!?!

How about increasing fines and points for school zone traffic violations, Charles? I get it's largely symbolic because MPD and DDOT don't prioritize pedestrian or cyclist safety but there needs to be a well-publicized crackdown.

You are an idiot. I don't mean that to be mean, just as an observation of fact. You excoriate public officials for not taking action that you acknowledge won't do anything other than send a message? So sending a message to the fools who howl at the moon is what Charles and others should do? Seriously, do you see how silly your argument is?

Anonymous wrote:Most of the Hill including our street has the equivalent of speed bumps -- I.e., insanely narrow two-way streets that force drivers to go exceedingly slowly so as to avoid losing a mirror or worse. The positive spillover is greater safety for kids/pedestrians.

Unfortunately some streets such as Constitution enable faster traffic.

I live on a super narrow street close to Lincoln park. People treat it like a super highway. It's insane. I have seen fights, car chases, red light pauses (no stopping, just a second to see if another car is coming), U-turns from the right lane (on Maryland Ave), and speeding. Some of the commuters are downright animals. Too bad we have empty suits in the council representing us. By the way, did you know that over 54% of commuters coming from PGC (geographically the closest) are by themselves in those giant cars?

Most of the Hill including our street has the equivalent of speed bumps -- I.e., insanely narrow two-way streets that force drivers to go exceedingly slowly so as to avoid losing a mirror or worse. The positive spillover is greater safety for kids/pedestrians.

Unfortunately some streets such as Constitution enable faster traffic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This makes me SO angry. I live in the neighborhood and am sick of cars speeding through not caring that it's a pedestrian neighborhood. I hope to GOD that child is ok and the driver gets punished!

Constitution is a MAJOR westbound COMMUTING ROUTE from Maryland. DC has not done anything to establish commuting routes and keep people out of neighborhoods. In fact, I contend that no systemic urban planning has occurred to account for commuter traffic-aside from the highway upgrades. It is a major problem, with no end in sight. The solutions seem to be piecemeal and just puts traffic on to different neighborhood streets. Pennsylvania Avenue, east of the Anacostia, major commuter/pseudo neighborhood DDOT, between Branch Ave and the Sousa Bridge took a lane to create a divided Main Street. Maryland Ave from 15th St, NE to 6th St, NE again major commuting route but instead of facilitating traffic flow, medians were erected, traffic flow restricted. I am not defending people speeding through the neighborhoods- but this is a systemic problem.

If we are honest there is no such thing as a "neighborhood street" in the city core. Some get more traffic than others but your streets entire point of exsisting is to move city traffic, you just happen to live off of it. You don't do your argument much credit by proclaiming city life but wanting a sheltered cul-de-sac. Every street in CH is a potential cut through if needed.

Idiot

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This makes me SO angry. I live in the neighborhood and am sick of cars speeding through not caring that it's a pedestrian neighborhood. I hope to GOD that child is ok and the driver gets punished!

Constitution is a MAJOR westbound COMMUTING ROUTE from Maryland. DC has not done anything to establish commuting routes and keep people out of neighborhoods. In fact, I contend that no systemic urban planning has occurred to account for commuter traffic-aside from the highway upgrades. It is a major problem, with no end in sight. The solutions seem to be piecemeal and just puts traffic on to different neighborhood streets. Pennsylvania Avenue, east of the Anacostia, major commuter/pseudo neighborhood DDOT, between Branch Ave and the Sousa Bridge took a lane to create a divided Main Street. Maryland Ave from 15th St, NE to 6th St, NE again major commuting route but instead of facilitating traffic flow, medians were erected, traffic flow restricted. I am not defending people speeding through the neighborhoods- but this is a systemic problem.

If we are honest there is no such thing as a "neighborhood street" in the city core. Some get more traffic than others but your streets entire point of exsisting is to move city traffic, you just happen to live off of it. You don't do your argument much credit by proclaiming city life but wanting a sheltered cul-de-sac. Every street in CH is a potential cut through if needed.

That's ridiculous and selfish. There are actual commuter roads in DC. Ripping through neighborhoods and endangering children to save yourself 5 minutes on your commute home is such an asshole move.

Whoever said they would support covering the Hill in speed bumps - I second that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This makes me SO angry. I live in the neighborhood and am sick of cars speeding through not caring that it's a pedestrian neighborhood. I hope to GOD that child is ok and the driver gets punished!

Constitution is a MAJOR westbound COMMUTING ROUTE from Maryland. DC has not done anything to establish commuting routes and keep people out of neighborhoods. In fact, I contend that no systemic urban planning has occurred to account for commuter traffic-aside from the highway upgrades. It is a major problem, with no end in sight. The solutions seem to be piecemeal and just puts traffic on to different neighborhood streets. Pennsylvania Avenue, east of the Anacostia, major commuter/pseudo neighborhood DDOT, between Branch Ave and the Sousa Bridge took a lane to create a divided Main Street. Maryland Ave from 15th St, NE to 6th St, NE again major commuting route but instead of facilitating traffic flow, medians were erected, traffic flow restricted. I am not defending people speeding through the neighborhoods- but this is a systemic problem.

If we are honest there is no such thing as a "neighborhood street" in the city core. Some get more traffic than others but your streets entire point of exsisting is to move city traffic, you just happen to live off of it. You don't do your argument much credit by proclaiming city life but wanting a sheltered cul-de-sac. Every street in CH is a potential cut through if needed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know how the child is doing?

Critical condition.

Ooooh, not the answer I was hoping to hear. Thank you for the update. Such a horrible situation. We're praying for the child, family, caregivers, basically everyone!!!

Important to add "but stable." She has a long road ahead but will survive/no cognitive effects.

Awesome news! We're rooting for her!!! Thank you so much for the follow-up!