Nearly 100 Safe Streets Leaders, Families, Elected Officials Rally in Albany to Pass Crash Victim Rights & Safety Act, Combat Rise of Deadly Traffic Violence
Surge in momentum for NYS Safe Streets Coalition as group grows to include 103 member organizations statewide, obtains resolutions in support from municipalities including Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany, and more
Recent National Safety Council report estimates 21 percent more motor vehicle fatalities in New York State in 2021 compared to 2019
ALBANY, N.Y. — Today, advocates and elected officials from across the state rallied to demand action to prevent deadly traffic violence by passing the Crash Victim Rights & Safety Act, a package of eight bills that will help build safe streets, set safer speed limits, and support victims and their families in the aftermath of crashes.
Today’s rally shows the growing momentum for the NYS Safe Streets Coalition, which now includes more than 100 organizations from across the state including the National Safety Council, Tri-State Transportation Campaign, GOBike Buffalo, NYU Langone, and St. Barnabas Hospital Health Systems. Local governments across the state have passed resolutions in support of the CVRSA, including Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany, Saratoga Springs, and New Paltz.
"As we improve New York's infrastructure, we must do so intentionally and with safer streets at the forefront of any investment. We know that speeding and reckless driving increased significantly during the pandemic, putting the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorists at risk. That, among many reasons, is why it’s imperative that we advance the Crash Victim Rights & Safety Act in its entirety. As the Chair of the Transportation Committee, I'm proud to sponsor several pieces of legislation within the Act, and I fully believe in the purpose and impact of these reforms," said Senator Tim Kennedy, Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.
“No New Yorker should have to bury a loved one. No New Yorker should have to experience the pain that traffic violence brings or live with a lifelong injury after a crash,” said Amy Cohen, co-founder of Families for Safe Streets, whose 12-year-old son was killed by a reckless driver in Brooklyn in 2013. “Our statewide coalition today had a simple message for our leaders: Pass the entire Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act without delay and save lives on our streets.”
Every day in New York State, at least three New Yorkers are killed in crashes and hundreds more suffer debilitating injuries with life-long consequences. Crashes are the leading cause of injury-related deaths, second leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations, and third leading cause of injury-related emergency department visits in the state.
The CVRSA consists of bold, life-saving legislation that will make the state’s streets safer for all road users, while creating real, protected rights for the victims of traffic violence and their families. The legislation would, in part, provide greater funding for implementation of “complete streets” features — such as bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and traffic calming interventions — allowing for lower speed limits, setting a minimum passing distance for drivers overtaking cyclists, and guarantee basic legal rights to victims of crashes.
A recent National Safety Council report estimated 2021 motor vehicle deaths were 19 percent higher than pre-pandemic 2019 nationwide with 21 percent more motor vehicle fatalities in New York State in 2021 compared to 2019.
In New York City, 2022 was the deadliest start to a year since the Vision Zero program began in 2014. Without action from Albany to pass the CVRSA and lift the limits on life-saving automated traffic safety programs such as speed safety cameras and red-light cameras, 2022 is expected to be the first year since at least 1990 that traffic fatalities have increased for four years in a row.
WHAT ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE SAYING
“I am sick and tired of the all-too-familiar mix of anger and grief I feel whenever I hear of another New Yorker taken from us by traffic violence," said Senator Andrew Gounardes. "Like so many others who have lost a loved one to traffic violence, I am sick and tired of talking about how we can make our streets safer — because we know how to make our streets safer. We need lower speed limits. We need safer street design, traffic calming measures, and more education on how to safely share the road. We need the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act so that no New Yorker has to fear crossing the street ever again.”
Vehicle-related deaths have skyrocketed 44 percent in the first three months of this year. We must transform New York into a city that protects and prioritizes our loved ones over the convenience of cars. Sammy’s Law, the Crash Victims' Bill of Rights, and the entire Crash Victims Rights & Safety Act do just that. This session, we must pass our vehicle safety bills because reducing traffic speed is a proven way to make our streets safer. I am immensely grateful for the ongoing efforts of Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets to move this package forward,” said Senator Brad Hoylman.
“We have seen an increase in traffic related crashes and deaths all of which could have been prevented if we properly invest in street safety infrastructure and laws that hold people accountable and put in preventative measures. I am proud to be a sponsor of all bills in the Crash Victims Rights and Safety Act and I will work with my colleagues to make sure we pass them. This is for the sake of all New Yorkers,” said Assemblymember Harvey Epstein.
"While I am heartened to stand with so many colleagues and advocates working tirelessly to combat traffic violence, I am also furious that we are still contending with an increase in deadly crashes throughout our state. It is time to pass the Crash Victims Rights & Safety Act without delay. I commend the families who've lost loved ones to traffic violence for their tremendous efforts to save lives and ensure that other families are spared their pain,” said Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick.
“We have several tools to help prevent traffic crashes and deaths, and the fact that we are not implementing them with our full might is a travesty. We must expand street calming measures, reduce the speed limit, increase education on driver safety, and expand the school speed camera program. These tragedies are preventable. The legislature must pass the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act so that New Yorkers have a fighting chance to safely navigate our streets,” said Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon.
“We have lost too many to this epidemic of traffic violence on our streets. Passing the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act in Albany will allow people to move around our city without fearing for their lives. It’s why I sponsored the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program in the City Council, and it remains urgent now to combat reckless driving using all the data and intervention tools we have,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander.
"Our communities are experiencing tragedy after tragedy on our roads. We do not have to accept deadly motor vehicle crashes as a way of life. This package of bills offers common-sense ways to make our streets safer and more accessible for all,” said Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart.
"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.
WHAT THE NYS SAFE STREETS COALITION IS SAYING
“Motor vehicle fatalities are increasing in New York and across the country, impacting pedestrians and bicyclists at an alarming rate,” said Mark Chung, executive vice president of roadway practice at the National Safety Council. “The CVRSA makes roads safer for all road users, including people who walk and bike, by allowing localities to lower speed limits, incentivizing the building and maintenance of complete streets and educating young drivers to safely interact with all road users. NSC was happy to join the New York State Safe Streets Coalition in Albany today in support of and to advocate for the passage of these bills.”
"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 call on state lawmakers to pass this package of bills as soon as possible to stop this deadly trend on our roads,” said Sonia Szczesna, Director of Active Transportation, Tri-State Transportation Campaign.
“Our roads are increasingly dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists and other vulnerable road users. Motor vehicles have grown more massive so that at the same speeds on the same roadways a cyclist or pedestrian is more likely to suffer more serious injury or death. Making matters worse, people are driving faster and with less attention. We need laws like the CVRSA to turn this deadly trend around, said Ed Brennan, President of the Albany Bicycle Coalition.
"When we look at NYC's municipal data, we see the impact of street design. We believe that every New Yorker should feel safe walking around town, and when design fails them, have a legal bill of rights in proceedings. We support the Crash Victim Rights & Safety Act so towns across the state have the power to lower their speed limits and ensure that their streets are designed for safety, not speed." Noel Hidalgo, Executive Director of BetaNYC, a public interest technology non-profit.
“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 Chekpeds.
"Designing our streets to exact the correct behaviors of all roadway users will end the persistent traffic violence in our communities,” said Justin Booth, Executive Director at GObike Buffalo. “I look forward to seeing these bills advance this legislative session to prioritize safety, equitable access and sustainability in all future infrastructure investments."
“The Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act will protect the most vulnerable road users across New York State: people who walk, people in wheelchairs, and thousands of our members who ride bicycles and need safer roads. We cannot afford to wait any longer to pass the life-saving measures of these eight bills,” said Leah Golby, President of New York Bicycling Coalition.
Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters, said, "We can't drive our way out of the climate crisis. Micromobility options like bikes and scooters are critical to reducing our reliance on cars, but our streets need to be safe in order for these modes of transit to be accessible to all New Yorkers. The New York League of Conservation Voters supports the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act and urges all legislators to pass it this session."
“The Rochester Bicycling Club is strongly committed to advocating for the rights of cyclists to safely use our state's roadways. The bills comprising the Crash Victims Rights and Safety Act represent important concrete steps toward making NY's roads safer for all users,” said Mark Robbins, Rochester Bicycling Club Advocacy Coordinator. “Those bills would make it easier for localities to reduce speed limits, incentivize the building and maintenance of complete streets, establish a 3 foot passing requirement, educate young drivers on safe interactions with cyclists and pedestrians, and protect the legal rights of crash victims. These are common sense solutions to our current epidemic of traffic violence and we urge the swift passage of this important legislation.”
“Increasingly, Hudson Valley communities recognize that making streets safer and more accessible for all users is essential to meet local economic goals, encourage climate-friendly commuting, and make transportation more equitable," said Andy Bicking, director of Government Relations and Public Policy for Scenic Hudson. "The Crash Victim Rights & Safety Act offers a meaningful step forward to achieve this. As a committed cyclist who has lost a friend to a bike-car collision, I can attest to the transformative potential of this legislation.”
“It’s a fact that lower traffic speeds prevent deaths and injuries. And it’s a fact that complete-streets designs make streets safer for everyone who uses them. Lawmakers must not leave Albany without passing the entire package of bills included in the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act this session,” said Eric McClure, Executive Director of StreetsPAC.
“Traffic deaths in New York City are on the rise for the fourth straight year. We must bring an end to this preventable public health crisis. We need Albany to give cities across the state, including New York City, the tools and the funding to build safe streets,” said Danny Harris, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “Our leaders in Albany must pass the full Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act without delay and lift the limits on New York City’s life-saving automated traffic safety programs. We know what works to create safe streets. It’s time for Albany to allow our cities to put them into action.”
“Infrastructure for safe, separated walking and cycling should be in every city,” said Carter Strickland, VP Mid-Atlantic, Trust for Public Land. “Greenways and other dedicated paths for zero-carbon transportation will help address the climate crisis, keep us healthy, and provide safe routes to schools and parks for children.”
“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 all of us — even if just walking or wheeling from a car or bus to a building — are pedestrians,” said Jackie Gonzales of Walkable Albany.
