Park Slope

Mayor de Blasio pushes for tougher laws to keep dangerous drivers off streets

March 15, 2018 Brooklyn Daily Eagle
In this Thursday, March 8 photo, people gather at a sidewalk memorial for the two children who were killed in Park Slope. AP Photo/Mark Lennihan
Share this:

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a new package of state legislation yesterday to keep dangerous drivers from getting behind the wheel. Following last week’s crash that claimed the lives of two children in Park Slope, the city is seeking to extend and expand its speed enforcement camera program, escalate fines and suspend the vehicle registrations of repeat offenders, and require physicians to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) following medical events that could cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle.

“In the wrong hands, a car can be a deadly weapon. We are fighting on every front to make our streets safer, but we need Albany’s help to keep dangerous drivers off the road, before we lose another life,” de Blasio said.

“After last week’s tragedy in Park Slope, we must act to prevent future tragedies — whether via legislation, street redesign or enforcement,” said Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.

“Through the mayor’s leadership, we are continuing our fight for a range of state legislation to tackle dangerous driving, including more school zone speed cameras. Despite complaints about speeding along 9th Street in Park Slope, current law does not allow us to put a speed camera there. With more enforcement tools at our disposal, the administration’s Vision Zero agencies can continue doing more important work — like the Dusk and Darkness campaign that just ended — that are helping reduce fatalities,” she continued.

The mayor also announced the results of the second year of the Vision Zero Dusk and Darkness campaign, a partnership between DOT, NYPD and [the Taxi and Limousine Commission] to reduce pedestrian crashes during the fall and winter evening hours that are most dangerous to pedestrians. In the most recent four-month period of this initiative that ended last week, pedestrian traffic fatalities dropped by 24 percent compared to the prior year.

De Blasio’s proposed changes to the state law include extending and expanding the school zone speed camera program, fee escalation and registration suspension for photo violations and requiring physicians to notify the DMV following specific medical events.

“I thank Mayor de Blasio for supporting tougher laws to keep dangerous drivers off our roads,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. “Vision Zero compels us to act, in the name of Abigail, Joshua, Kevin and every single soul who has been stolen from us in a preventable crash on our streets. I will continue to push Albany to advance a legislative agenda that puts safe streets first.”

 

Subscribe to our newsletters


Leave a Comment


Leave a Comment