Elizabeth Hocker was at Community College of Philadelphia Northeast Regional Center last week to talk about the night in April 2024 when her 17-year-old son, Damien, was walking home in Ridley, Delaware County.
“My son never made it home,” she said.
Damien, Elizabeth’s only child and an only grandchild, was hit by a car and killed as he crossed the street.
“The pain of being without him is relentless,” she said.
Hocker, a member of Families for Safe Streets Greater Philadelphia, was testifying at a state Senate Majority Policy Committee hearing on aggressive driving and safer roads.
After her remarks, Sen. Dave Argall, the committee chairman from Schuylkill County, called it “one of the bravest public statements I’ve ever heard.”
Sitting at the same table as Hocker was Nicole Brunet, program director of 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania. She pointed to the 2023 death of 16-year-old Billy McWilliams, killed by a hit-and-run driver while riding his bike at Woodhaven and Byberry roads. A memorial of flowers, stuffed animals, crosses, lighting and a bike remains at Woodhaven and Byberry.
“Your son and Billy are the reason we’re here today,” Sen. Joe Picozzi said.
Others who testified were Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel; Deputy Police Commissioner Michael Cram; Christopher Puchalsky, director of policy and strategic initiatives, city Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems; Din Abazi and Ashwin Patel, PennDOT engineers; Rich Lazer, executive director of the Philadelphia Parking Authority; and Kevin Murphy, manager of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Office of Safe Streets.
Argall and Picozzi were joined by Sen. Pat Stefano on Zoom.
The people testifying identified a variety of problems that cause dangers on the road. They include speeding, running red lights and stop signs, tailgating, illegal passing, dangerous lane switches and illegal car meet-ups, dirt bikes and ATVs.
Proposed and/or implemented solutions have included speed cushions, so-called “road diets,” better street designs, parking-protected bike lanes, more funding for public transit, drones, car stops, vehicle seizures, tickets for moving violations, arrests, monitoring social media and the use of overtime for police aggressive driving details on Bustleton, Castor, Cottman, Grant and Harbison avenues and Academy Road.
One solution that does not seem to be working is driver’s license suspensions, since studies show drivers continue to get behind the wheel without a license.
Red light cameras and speed cameras on Roosevelt Boulevard, authorities say, have been effective due to the $100 fines issued.
“It’s not about raising revenue. It’s really about changing behavior,” Puchalsky said.
“We are saving lives,” Lazer said. “Drivers are changing their behavior.”
Argall recalls working on those issues with former state Reps. John Taylor and George Kenney, who were in attendance. Speed cameras are coming soon to portions of Frankford Avenue, Levick Street and Robbins Avenue.
Picozzi recalls drag races on the Boulevard before cameras.
“We don’t have that anymore,” he said.
Picozzi said reckless driving is a crime, and he said the hearing influenced his perspective. Now, he hopes the conversation turns into more action.
One idea is to engage body shops to solve hit-and-run cases.
Another idea is for driver education. In his district, more than 50 languages are spoken.
“It’s a challenge to make sure everyone is on the same page,” he said.
As for Argall, while places like Schuylkill County might not have the dangers on the road like Philadelphia, he seemed ready to take action.
“I understand this issue a lot more than I did three hours ago,” he said. ••
