To the Editor:

Has anyone considered installing speed bumps (two or three) in advance of each stop sign on Route 404 at the problem intersection with Route 401 in Westerlo?

That should at least slow people down who would otherwise blow past those stop signs at full speed —  which is something I have witnessed three times since 2018.

On one occasion, I had a very close call there when a white sedan blew past the west side stop sign on 404 doing at least 55 miles per hour while I was traveling south on 401 with my daughter and granddaughter in the car.

Had I not slammed on my brakes just before entering the intersection, that car would have slammed into the passenger side of our vehicle and, at that speed, it would most likely have been a fatal accident.

Speed bumps would at least slow people down and increase the reaction time for drivers on Route 401 as well as increasing the chances of surviving a collision if it can’t be avoided completely. Lower speed collisions are known to be more survivable.

Also, I know we have some data regarding actual accidents at that intersection, but it would be informative to ask the public how often they have witnessed people failing to stop at that intersection when it has not resulted in an accident and how many times they have had close calls like mine.

I suspect Albany County would find that information enlightening. It might make it harder for the county to ignore the fact that, despite all signage being in compliance with the regulations, accidents and near accidents continue to happen there on a regular basis, and it would be negligent to ignore that fact.

Cindy Adams-Kornmeyer

Westerlo

Editor’s note: See related story.