State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend, Gerritsen Beach, Manhattan Beach, Marine Park) last week joined with other elected officials and advocates in announcing a new package of street safety legislation designed to protect New Yorkers from traffic injuries and deaths.
The announcement came following a particularly bloody week of traffic-related fatalities, in which six pedestrians were hit and killed in five days, including two Brooklyn schoolchildren in East New York and a hit-and-run in Bensonhurst,
“In 2019, New Yorkers of every age and from every walk of life were devastated by traffic violence in 2019. Their families were forever torn apart because of our city’s inability to keep its people safe in our streets. Just this week, we lost 26-year-old Jose Contla [Bensonhurst], 10-year-old Patience Albert and 7-year-old Payson Lott [East New York]. In memory of those we lost, we must do everything in our power to make our streets safe for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers alike,” said Gounardes.
“It’s time to say goodbye to the days when drivers, no matter how reckless and careless, could injure and kill our neighbors with impunity. It’s time for every single person to feel safe walking down the street,” he added.
The three bills introduced are as follows:
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The Dangerous Driver Act to clarify vehicle and traffic law to make it easier for dangerous drivers to be charged by District Attorneys. The bill clarifies that dangerous driving that causes an injury to another person does not need to require that the individual was aware of the harm they would cause or a minimum number of violations. Previously, the law had been interpreted otherwise, causing the vast majority of reckless drivers to avoid charges. This bill is sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblymember Dan Quart (D-Manhattan).
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S7875, to expand pedestrian rights by deeming every intersection, marked or unmarked, to be a crosswalk. This common-sense measure has been adopted in multiple other states including Oregon, Washington and Georgia, and has been shown to increase driver awareness and reduce pedestrian injury and death.
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S7876, to create a pedestrian safety rating of all vehicles based on how likely these vehicles are to cause injury or death to others on the road. This bill is sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblymember Nily Rozic (D-Queens).
Gounardes also urged the passage of previously introduced bills:
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S3470 to prevent drugged driving, sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan).
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S5226A to require a written exam upon license renewal and
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S5228A to include an understanding of pedestrian and cyclist safety as part of the pre-licensing course for drivers, sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblymember Felix Ortiz (D-Sunset Park, Red Hook).
Several Brooklyn lawmakers are also supporting the measures.
“The culture of impunity for dangerous drivers must end,” said Assemblymember Mathylde Frontus (Coney Island, Bay Ridge, Brighton Beach), who lost a close family friend to a hit-and-run driver in Brooklyn in January. “Drivers do not own the roads. Our streets are made for cars, pedestrians, and cyclists. The law needs to be changed to make sure our streets are safe for all New Yorkers.” Assemblymember Frontus is working on a bill to impose additional penalties on hit-and-run drivers.
“Each time we lose a neighbor to traffic violence yet another family is torn apart and another community is devastated. To end the culture of dangerous driving in New York we have to reorient our streets to prioritize pedestrian safety and hold drivers accountable for reckless behavior that puts their neighbors lives at risk. I’m grateful for Senator Gounardes’ leadership to ensure that every New Yorker can walk down the street in safety,” said City Councilmember Brad Lander (D-Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Gowanus).
“Senator Gounardes and I have been focused on improving street safety for many years – long before we were both elected to office – because it’s not only about addressing particular corners or corridors that need attention but about having a real, honest discussion about a dangerous car culture where, to some, pedestrians are merely obstacles. And that conversation, until very recently, was not happening around here,” said City Councilmember Justin Brannan (D-Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach).
“But now, with Senator Gounardes leading the charge, we have a team of local elected officials who refuse to turn a blind eye to this problem. People should feel safe while crossing the street and for far too long, aggressive and reckless driving has gone unchecked. We are 100% dedicated to improving the safety, mobility and livability of our streets so they can be shared and enjoyed by all,” Brannan added.
