Momentum Building for Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act, Coalition Surpasses 100 Groups, Electeds
Statewide reform package has the support of major hospital groups, five city governments, and grassroots organizations around New York State
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York State elected officials, citizens groups, and local governments are pledging their support to the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act, a package of eight statewide reforms designed to address the rising crisis of traffic deaths introduced in Albany this legislative session.
The New York State Safe Streets Coalition supporting the package now includes more than 100 groups and elected officials. Supporters include big healthcare players like SBH Health Systems, smaller advocacy groups like Reconnect Rochester, and more than a dozen elected officials from county and city governments around the state.
In addition, more and more local governments are pledging their support officially. The councils of the cities of Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany, Saratoga Springs, and New Paltz have all passed resolutions supporting the CVRSA, urging state action.
“As an emergency physician and EMS medical director for our health system, I have seen firsthand the often tragic impacts of traffic crashes on our patients and their families,” said Dr. Reed Caldwell, Chief of Service at the Perelman Center for Emergency Services at NYU Langone Health's main campus in Manhattan. Langone is part of the coalition supporting the package. “The CVRSA would protect New York’s most vulnerable street users from death and injuries related to traffic crashes.”
The reform effort comes at a time of rapidly increasing road violence. The eight bills called the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act are aimed at confronting the mounting epidemic of road fatalities in New York State and providing protections to its victims.
“Our statewide coalition of more than 100 organizations, elected officials, and local councils has a clear message: Every corner of our state deserves safe streets,” said Amy Cohen, NYS Safe Streets Coalition lead and co-founder of Families for Safe Streets. “After a reckless driver killed my 12-year-old in 2013, I fought to lower New York City’s speed limit. Later, a driver struck another child on that same street. The lower speed limit saved his life. Whether from Schenectady, Syracuse, Sanford, or Sagaponack, no parent should have to bury their child as I did. We have proven tools to end this crisis of traffic violence, and the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act will save lives.”
"As Saratoga Springs embarks on a renewed effort to make Complete Streets a reality for our city, this package of legislation will be a crucial tool to assist us,” said Saratoga Springs Mayor Ron Kim. “The Saratoga Springs City Council is proud to support passage of the CVRSA as we work to make our streets safer and achieve smart climate goals."
“These traffic deaths and injuries are major and when a person survives, their life is changed forever,” said Buffalo Common Council Member Ulysees O. Wingo, Sr., who sponsored a resolution supporting the package in Buffalo that passed unanimously. “We need to do everything we can to urge our state delegation to pass the eight bills that are in their committees to ensure the safety of our pedestrians and our cyclists.”
"It's imperative that we pass the CVRSA to create walkable and bike-able cities where streets are designed, not to prioritize car traffic, but for the safety of all,” said Rochester Council Member Mary Lupien.
"When the Albany Common Council unanimously passed the first Resolution in the state supporting the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act last month, it was clear that these bills are necessary here in Albany and in communities across the state. The epidemic of traffic violence must be addressed now so that needless deaths and injuries are prevented,” said Owusu Anane, Albany's 10th Ward Council Member.
“Every Schenectady neighborhood has streets that are unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists due to poor design or neglected maintenance,” said Tom Carey, AICP CNU-A, Schenectady United Neighborhoods. “Speeding and dangerous driving are commonplace across the city, and sidewalks are often in such poor condition that people have to walk in the street. That’s why the Schenectady Safe Streets Coalition is calling on State lawmakers to pass the Crash Victim Rights & Safety Act to make our neighborhoods safe to walk or ride to schools, parks and shops.”
Among the eight measures:
S02021 would allow municipalities outside of New York City to reduce the speed limit to 25 mph, while S524 – Sammy’s Law – would allow lower, life-saving speed limits in New York City.
S3897 would increase the share of state funding on local road projects from 80 percent to 87.5 percent if municipalities follow “complete streets” principles, making the streets safe for all road users whether they drive, walk, bike or wheel.
S5130 would require municipalities to implement complete streets design measures — such as sidewalks, bike lanes or traffic calming elements — when a road is resurfaced or undergoes major maintenance.
The Senate Transportation Committee also advanced S4529, a measure that would establish a minimum 3-foot passing distance for vehicles overtaking cyclists. The package would also give localities more power to set safe speed limits and revise driver’s education to offer more instruction about safely interacting with cyclists and pedestrians.
“These bills offer real solutions,” said Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart, one of the CVRSA’s many elected supporters. “Traffic injuries and fatalities are on the rise. Everyone should be able to get around safely, whether they are driving, cycling or walking.”
“The data is clear. Nationwide, roads designed for speed and size are increasing the number and severity of injuries and deaths in populated areas. We've seen this epidemic in Syracuse, NY, since 2016. As we prepare for replacing Interstate-81 through Syracuse with a ‘Community street Grid’, we need safer walking and driving by improving street designs, and we need protection for crash victims” said Peter King of the Syracuse-based Moving People Transportation Coalition.
"For too long we have overvalued the speed and flow of automobile traffic, at the expense of pleasant neighborhoods that are walkable, bikeable, and financially productive. It is time that we prioritize the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. A walkable community is a livable community, especially for seniors, children, people with disabilities, and residents who are less likely to own vehicles,” said Neil Bettez, New Paltz Supervisor.
“Walking safely in the street is a right like clean air and drinkable water. These measures are long overdue to guarantee safe movement to New York State citizens,” said Christine Berthet, co-founder of New York City-based CHEKPEDS.
"With over 100 organizations from all corners of the state supporting the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act, that's a signal of tremendous momentum and a need for the legislature to act. These eight bills support public health, make economic sense and address safety on streets and roads everywhere. Let's cross the finish line this year with a win for all of New York,” said Leah Golby, President of New York Bicycling Coalition.
“New Yorkers across the state are demanding streets where everyone can get around safely, whether they’re walking, biking, or driving, and the breadth of this 100+ member statewide coalition shows it,” said Dylan Carey, Parks & Trails New York Project Director. “From walkable main streets to bike-friendly routes to school, this package of bills will help create a future of thriving, livable communities across New York and address the traffic violence rampant on our streets.”
“Slow Roll Syracuse is proud to join with more than 100 organizations around New York State to demand our leaders in Albany take urgent action to protect everyone on our streets,” said Anika Flagg, Lead Organizer at Slow Roll Syracuse. “The Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act will make our streets safer and we look forward to working with our legislators in Albany to win passage of the full package this session.”
“Every single traffic death is a policy failure as well as a tragedy. It’s imperative that the legislature pass all eight bills included in the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act this session. We stand proudly with the NYS Safe Streets Coalition in urging Leader Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Heastie to bring the CVRSA to a vote ASAP,” said Eric McClure, Executive Director of New York City-based StreetsPAC.
“The first three months of 2022 were the deadliest on New York City streets since Vision Zero began. Our leaders in Albany must respond to this crisis by passing the full Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act this session,” said Danny Harris, Executive Director of New York City-based Transportation Alternatives. “We’re proud to join with more than 100 organizations, elected leaders, and city governments across New York State in demanding urgent action to save lives on streets across the state.”
"With traffic violence and death at an all-time high, our leaders must be doing everything in their power to address the crisis on our roadways. The Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act provides tools and solutions to creating safe streets for everyone, especially those walking, bicycling, and rolling. We are proud to stand with more than 100 members as the New York State Safe Streets Coalition to call on state lawmakers to pass this package of bills as soon as possible and stop this deadly trend on our roads,” said Sonia Szczesna, Director of Active Transportation, Tri-State Transportation Campaign.
This package of bills is an important step toward making New York's streets safer for all users. These simple, common-sense measures will help protect the lives of all New Yorkers, since every New Yorker-- even if just walking or wheeling from their car to a building -- is at some point in time a pedestrian, said Jackie Gonzales of Walkable Albany.
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About the NYS Safe Streets Coalition: The New York State Safe Streets Coalition is comprised of over 100 organizations across the state and is led by Families for Safe Streets, Albany Bicycle Coalition, Bike Walk Tomkins, GObike Buffalo, National Safety Council, New York Bicycling Coalition, Open Plans, Parks & Trails NY, Reconnect Rochester, Rochester Bicycling Club, Slow Roll Syracuse, Transportation Alternatives, Tri-State Transportation Campaign, and Walkable Albany.
