Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Daniel Squadron

Mirror Law Loopholes Keep City Pedestrians at Risk From Large Trucks

Loopholes in the state's crossover mirror law allow large trucks to operate unsafely, and legally, on city streets. Photos: Brad Aaron

Following queries by Streetsblog, two state senators have pledged to address loopholes in a new state law that permit large trucks to be operated without safety mirrors, thereby endangering pedestrians and cyclists, especially children and the elderly, in New York City neighborhoods.

The law requires trucks weighing over 26,000 pounds to be equipped with convex, or “crossover,” mirrors -- which allow drivers to see what, or who, is directly in front of them -- when driven on NYC streets. But the weight clause exempts trucks that have the same cab configuration, and the same "blind spots," as heavier trucks. And the law applies only to trucks that are registered in New York State.

The registration loophole lets companies that do business in the city but are based elsewhere forego the mirror mandate. One of those is Haddad's, a Pennsylvania firm that provides trucks for film and television productions. Haddad's set up shop in Inwood twice recently, for shoots for two TV shows. Of all the company's trucks that would be required to have the mirrors if not for their Pennsylvania plates, none did. Haddad's did not respond to multiple requests for comment for this story.

The mirror requirement took effect in January, after crashes that claimed the lives of Brooklyn school kids Juan Estrada and Victor Flores in 2004 and grandmother Theresa Alonso of Staten Island in 2010. Support for the bill grew after 5-year-old Moshe Englender was killed in May 2011 by the driver of a meat truck as he rode his tricycle on a Williamsburg street.

"All legislation are works in progress," said State Senator Marty Golden, who sponsored the bill. "We will look at the concerns and see if they can be legislatively addressed."

Enforcement is also a concern. Under the law, this truck should have crossover mirrors, which allow drivers to see what, or who, is in front of them.

Crossover mirrors have been standard on school buses for some time, but it took years for Albany to apply the regulations to large trucks. Had the law been in effect, the mirrors would have been required equipment on the truck that struck Brooklyn cyclist Mathieu Lefevre in October 2011, according to attorney Steve Vaccaro, who is representing the Lefevre family in a suit against the truck manufacturer.

"Last year's passage of legislation to require convex mirrors was an important step," said Senator Dan Squadron, a bill co-sponsor. "However, gaps remain and I'll continue to push for amendments and other legislation to ensure that pedestrians, cyclists and all users have every possible protection -- when it comes to trucks and in general."

As with many New York City traffic rules, enforcement is also an issue. An informal count conducted by the Daily News in April found many trucks in violation of the law. But the level of enforcement is not publicly available information, since NYPD summons reports do not itemize mirror violations.

Vaccaro says the initial bill was an invitation for trucking companies to skirt state regulations: "By writing this loophole into the crossover mirror law, legislators have given the businesses that use these trucks just one more reason to register and insure them out of state, while continuing to externalize and impose their various costs, including congestion, pollution, and crash risk, on New Yorkers."

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

New Bill Would Block Apps From Deactivating Workers Without Cause

A Brooklyn Council member wants delivery app companies to be more human and less robot.

July 18, 2025

Friday Video: Is Berlin a Great Biking City?

Have recent moves by anti-bike, pro-car legislators ruined the experience in the capital of a unified Germany? Sort of!

July 18, 2025

Eyes on the Street: Meeker Avenue Bike Lane Is a Failure

The Department of Transportation still hasn't finished a critical bike lane under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway that the agency has been stalling for over four years even after identifying the strip's danger and lack of proper signals.

July 18, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Cuomo’s Road Rage Edition

Why does Andrew Cuomo drive so recklessly? Plus other news.

July 18, 2025

Fixing Third Ave. Was Once ‘Top of List’ For Eric Adams — But as Mayor He Backed Off

Mayor Adams has delayed a redesign of Brooklyn's Third Avenue despite once saying safety fixes there should be "at the top of our list."

July 17, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Jerry Nadler Edition

U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler faced off with Sean Duffy on Capitol Hill. Plus more news.

July 17, 2025
See all posts