Crime & Safety

After Skateboard Accident, Police and Schools Promote Board and Driver Safety

Police say young skateboarders are engaging in risky behavior and urge all who use city roads to be careful.

After a 13-year-old boy was hit by a car on Midland Avenue at 12:44 p.m. last Tuesday, Rye police and school officials are urging all residents to be more careful on city roads. The boy was struck when he was riding his skateboard downhill, headed west on Apawamis Avenue, and he tried to make a left in front of the vehicle. The driver and another witness both said the driver had the green light, according to the police report. Police say there was no indication that speed was a factor. The boy was transported to Sound Shore hospital with leg and lower back injuries.

Rye kids are demonstrating “terribly risky behaviors” on their longboards according to the police. This afternoon Police Commissioner William Connors and Rye City School District officials urged kids and drivers to take extra precautions while in city streets this spring.

Among the risky behavior police report are:

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performing tricks on Purchase Street; clinging to vehicles; riding in the dark while wearing dark clothing; weaving across roadways; blocking streets to ride downhill, often regardless of traffic lights or traffic from cross streets; sitting in the middle of a street, back to traffic, watching friends ride; and riding downhill in a prone position, like an Olympic luger, after dark.

Police Commissioner Connors sent a letter to the school district, who distributed it to the school community, asking for all walkers, drivers and boarders to be cautious while on city streets.

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“Children need to be careful on whatever form of transport they choose, especially to avoid the hazard we now call ‘distracted walking.’ Drivers need to use an even higher level of caution as pedestrian traffic increases, to obey traffic regulations, and to avoid distracted driving; that text message or telephone call can wait,” the letter reads.

You can read Connors’ full message below.

Do you see kids longboarding dangerously around town? Tell us your thoughts in the comments. 

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Commissioner Connors' Letter: 

As warm weather approaches, outdoor activity increases. In the coming weeks, our children will take to the streets on foot, on bicycles, on scooters, and on the latest incarnation of the skateboard - the "longboard."

We would like to take the opportunity, as we often do, to remind the community to be observant as we make the seasonal transition into summer. Children need to be careful on whatever form of transport they choose, especially to avoid the hazard we now call "distracted walking." Drivers need to use an even higher level of caution as pedestrian traffic increases, to obey traffic regulations, and to avoid distracted driving; that text message or telephone call can wait.

This year, once again, we appeal to our community's longboarders and their parents. Longboards are legal, but they are considered vehicles and are subject to the same basic laws as bicycles. Boarders must ride on the right side of the road, single file, with traffic. They must obey traffic control devices. Riders under fourteen years of age are required to wear helmets - and riders of any age should.

While some young people use the longboard as a means of transportation, many are thrill seekers who use the boards in more dangerous ways. While we encourage the use of the skate park at Rye Recreation, officers have seen terribly risky behavior elsewhere, such as: performing tricks on Purchase Street; clinging to vehicles; riding in the dark while wearing dark clothing; weaving across roadways; blocking streets to ride downhill, often regardless of traffic lights or traffic from cross streets; sitting in the middle of a street, back to traffic, watching friends ride; and riding downhill in a prone position, like an Olympic luger, after dark. No doubt many residents have witnessed similar activity.

The Police Department has an obligation to do whatever we can to protect our young people, as well as to address the many complaints we receive from residents when dangerous and disturbing behavior occurs. We ask for the cooperation of young boarders; please ride safely and responsibly, mindful of your safety as well as the impact of your riding on others. We also ask for parents' cooperation; please instruct your children on the importance of safe riding and monitor their activities insofar as possible. Most importantly, in many cases the only option for police officers when dealing with boarders who endanger themselves or others is to confiscate their boards. Please understand that the officers are acting in your children's best interests when they do so, so we ask that you support their efforts and join the officers in attempting to make a "teachable moment" out of the event when retrieving your children's boards. We share the same goal: the safety of your children.

We cannot prevent all accidents, nor can we guarantee that children will always make wise choices. But by making them aware of the legal consequences, the potential hazards, and the responsibilities associated with their actions - and by working together to guide them in the right direction - we can maximize their safety.

Thank you in advance for your assistance. We look forward to a safe and successful Spring and Summer.


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