Assemblymember William Colton, who represents the area, said the corridor has a long history of dangerous crashes, several of them fatal.
“In 2019, a 3-year-old child was killed one block away from Bath Avenue on Benson Avenue,” Colton said. “We’ve got to stop this heart‑wrenching destruction of our children. It just can’t continue.”
Residents and business owners say they don’t need a formal study to know drivers regularly speed down Bath Avenue and make fast, blind turns.
Valerie Ocampo, a parent who lives nearby, said she constantly worries for her four daughters.
“Cars don’t respect the limit, not even school buses,” she said. “They see a stop sign, they don’t stop. It’s dangerous.”
Colton is urging the city to stagger traffic lights along the avenue, so they don’t all turn green at once - a change he believes would slow drivers and reduce the risk of children being hit as they cross the street.
"I'm not an expert, but we need them to take another look, like they did on Avenue T in Gravesend, and we don't have these issues there," he said.
Residents say they support the idea.
“You need it for the kids’ safety,” said Beni, a local business owner. “All the churches, the mosques nearby — everybody’s safety.”
In a statement, the Department of Transportation said it is evaluating the site, as it does after every fatal crash, and is considering Colton’s request.