Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun (at podium) speaks during the dedication of solar-powered flashing stop signs April 27 at the intersection of Pardee Avenue and Annapolis Street.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS – City officials launched the installation of stop signs with flashing lights April 27 at the intersection where a bicycling boy was hit and killed by a driver three years ago.
Joey Smith of Dearborn Heights was 12 when he was fatally injured when hit by a vehicle at the intersection of Pardee Avenue and Annapolis Street on Oct. 14, 2022, while riding his bicycle home from an Annapolis High School football game.
Mayor Mo Baydoun said that as a result of that loss the city started a simple initiative to establish safer streets within the city.
Solar-powered stop signs with flashing lights like the one at Pardee Avenue and Annapolis Street will be installed at select intersections near schools, parks and other pedestrian areas throughout Dearborn Heights.
He said they were installing the first signs at the Pardee and Annapolis intersection to honor Joey Smith.
“I want to be clear: this is not a political stunt, this is not looking for clout, this isn’t looking for photo ops,” Baydoun said. “This is letting our residents know that you have been heard and that we care for our residents and we want to honor those that have lost their lives because of rolling a stop sign.”
The mayor said the first stop signs will be installed in the south end of the city, with 250 lighted stop signs purchased for citywide installation using a more than $780,000 grant from the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments.
Baydoun said initial lighted stop sign locations have been identified with input from Public Works Director John Danci and Police Chief Michael Guzowski, as well as resident suggestions.
“This is a simple fix and a simple start,” he said. “A start to new beginnings, ensuring our residents that public safety is extremely important to us here at city hall, and that the residents’ voices were heard.”
Danci said the first 50 lighted stop signs that have been delivered will be installed in the next three months by Department of Public Works employees, with the installations being prioritized as part of their work schedule.
“It’s the residents’ voices being heard and it’s us doing everything we can to stay on top of every aspect of public safety,” he said.
Guzowski said road and traffic safety is everyone’s responsibility.
He said the department’s police officers do a great job, but they can’t be everywhere, so he urged parents to teach their children who are riding bicycles and minibikes about safe practices, as well as urging vigilance among new teenage drivers.
“This is a great opportunity to remind everybody to talk to your kids, and your teenagers, about driving tips, and how important it is to be safe on the road,” he said.
A memorial to Joey Smith, who was fatally hit by a car Oct. 14, 2022, while bicycling home from an Annapolis High School football game, is located at Pardee Avenue and Annapolis Street in Dearborn Heights, where the crash occurred.
Dearborn Heights Public Works Director John Danci (at podium) speaks during the dedication of solar-powered flashing stop signs April 27 at the intersection of Pardee Avenue and Annapolis Street.
Dearborn Heights Police Chief Michael Guzowski (at podium) speaks during the dedication of solar-powered flashing stop signs April 27 at the intersection of Pardee Avenue and Annapolis Street.
Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun (at podium) speaks April 27 during the dedication of solar-powered flashing stop signs at the intersection of Pardee Avenue and Annapolis Street as Councilmember Tom Wencel (left), Treasurer Lisa Hicks-Clayton, Public Works Director John Danci, Police Chief Michael Guzowski and City Councilmember Hassan Saab listen.