We need to prevent these awful crashes

I am deeply saddened and angered by the tragic incident in which a minivan plowed through a nail salon, resulting in the loss of four lives and injuring nine others [“Mourners gather at salon site,” News, July 1].

It’s baffling that while we mandate helmets for kids riding bicycles, we haven’t implemented laws requiring protective poles in front of businesses to prevent such devastating crashes.

How many more lives must be lost before we take action to ensure our safety? We must do something now to prevent these tragedies from happening repeatedly.

— Lori Izen, Merrick

This and similar tragedies can be avoided by requiring all parking lots to have bollards separating the parking lot from the stores.

The bollards would prevent cars from crashing into stores or pedestrians. The cost is well worth it if lives can be saved. Can we get such a law passed? This should not be partisan.

— Lynn Geisler, Huntington

I was appalled at the audacity of some to suggest that road and parking lot designs could have prevented this tragedy. Narrower lanes on Grand Boulevard, or any other street, would not have prevented a highly intoxicated person from driving recklessly.

Instead of creating roads that make drivers more impatient, let’s focus on the actual issue — preventing people from getting behind the wheel drunk.

— Jonathan Winderman, Island Park

Four more people killed. This is similar to another situation in which a driver was sentenced to only 7 to 21 years in prison for four vehicular deaths [“7 to 21 Years for Crash,” News, June 29].

So, if convicted, how many years would this suspect deserve? The same number? More? Fewer?

Does it depend on the district attorney since it’s a different county? Does it depend on the judge? Or does it depend on the State Legislature, which should enact laws with longer sentences for reckless, lethal driving?

— Richard Siegelman, Plainview