After death of 6-year-old boy, DDOT looking into safety improvements on Livingston Road
WASHINGTON - It has been nearly a week since 6-year-old Xavier Luckey was struck and killed while trying to cross Livingston Road in Southeast D.C. Residents have demanded city leaders to do something about the cars constantly speeding down this street and Luckey's death last Wednesday on his sixth birthday was the last straw.
On Saturday, DDOT said they installed new speed limit signs on the street. There are two schools on Livingston Road and when children are present, the posted speed limit is 15 miles per hour. At all other times, the speed limit stands at 25 miles per hour.
On the day following Luckey's death, his family and community gathered for a vigil to remember him. Even with police present, FOX 5 witnessed several cars driving much faster above the posted speed limit.
"From the very beginning, you can always see cars coming around the corner just not paying attention to how fast they are going," said resident Darnetta Clark.
She said she would like to see speed bumps on the street to slow drivers down.
"Because nobody should have to be putting balloons on a tree instead of celebrating their child's birthday," Clark said.
"We cannot regain time," said Jo Anne Clark-Booker. "We can't go back and unsee something or undo something. But while we have the opportunity, while we have the chance, if we have the resources, if we have the connections, do it."
Mayor Muriel Bowser has enacted the Vision Zero Initiative and the goal of it is to have zero traffic fatalities by the year 2024.
The 6-year-old's death has brought the spotlight back to the traffic issues on Livingston Road where DDOT has now installed seven sets of cables throughout the length of this road, which is almost a mile long. DDOT said traffic engineers will use these cables to collect speed and volume data.
Once the data is collected and the analysis is complete, DDOT will determine the feasibility of a crosswalk and speed bumps on the street. They say the analysis will be complete within 30 days.
As of Tuesday, there are still no charges for the driver who fatally struck Luckey.
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