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De Blasio Signs Traffic Safety Bills, Says 25 MPH Will Go Into Effect This Fall
Earlier today, Mayor Bill de Blasio returned to the schoolyard where he launched his administration's Vision Zero campaign in January, just feet from where 9-year-old Noshat Nahian was killed last December while walking to PS 152 with his sister. A little more than six months after announcing his intent to eliminate traffic fatalities within 10 years, the mayor signed bills that suspend the licenses of dangerous taxi drivers, require the installation of 20 mph Slow Zones, and make it a misdemeanor to strike a pedestrian or cyclist with the right of way, among other changes.
June 23, 2014
City Council Passes Home Rule Message for 25 MPH. Is Klein Listening?
Update: The Daily News reports that Klein will be introducing legislation by the end of the week to lower speed limits to 25 mph only on streets with two lanes or less. Streets with more than two lanes would remain at 30 mph, and the local community board would be required to make a request for a lower speed limit before the city could make the change. This would effectively tie the city's hands on arterial streets, where DOT can already set the limit at 25 mph under current law.
June 11, 2014
Council Bill Would Fine Drivers for Leaving the Scene of a Crash
Council Members Jimmy Van Bramer and Ydanis Rodriguez have introduced a bill that would impose civil penalties for hit-and-run crashes.
June 4, 2014
For Cooper’s Law to Work, NYPD Must Change Its Approach to Traffic Crashes
One of the most substantive traffic safety bills passed by the City Council Thursday was Intro 171 -- “Cooper’s Law” -- which allows the Taxi and Limousine Commission to suspend or revoke hack licenses of cab drivers who cause critical injury or death as a result of breaking traffic laws. The effectiveness of the law, however, depends on NYPD, which often does not ticket drivers involved in serious crashes.
May 30, 2014
City Council Passes Several Bills to Reduce Reckless Driving
The City Council today passed a slate of bills and resolutions aimed at improving street safety.
May 29, 2014
TLC Won’t Renew Hack License of Cab Driver Who Killed Cooper Stock
The cab driver who killed 9-year-old Cooper Stock won't be prosecuted by Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, but he won't have a hack license much longer.
May 23, 2014
No Mention of Cab Safety Tech as TLC Commish Outlines Vision Zero Budget
Mayor de Blasio's Vision Zero Action Plan contains a number of initiatives to improve cab driver safety, including "black box" technology to monitor cabbie behavior. TLC Commissioner Meera Joshi told the City Council in early May that the agency has issued RFIs for a telematics pilot program, but she didn't mention the program during testimony at Thursday's council budget hearing.
May 16, 2014
DOT Breaks Down Street Safety Spending for City Council
At a City Council budget hearing today, Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg outlined in detail how DOT plans to allocate funds for street safety over the next year.
May 15, 2014
Council Members Rally With StreetsPAC (and Bicycles) on City Hall Steps
This morning, five City Council members joined StreetsPAC and dozens of bike commuters on the steps of City Hall to celebrate Bike to Work Week and push for Vision Zero traffic safety policies before today's transportation budget hearing.
May 15, 2014
Council and Advocates Unite Behind 25 MPH Limit to Pass Bill in Albany
In an effort to pass a bill in the state legislature this session to reduce the city's default speed limit, the City Council and street safety advocates are uniting behind the de Blasio administration's call for a 25 mph limit. In a unanimous 9-0 vote this morning, the City Council Transportation Committee passed a resolution supporting a 25 mph limit. It is expected to pass at the City Council's stated meeting this afternoon.
May 14, 2014