Comptroller Lander, Queens BP Richards, State Sen. Gonzalez, AM Mamdani, AM Simon, TA March with Families for Safe Streets Members to Honor Crash Victims at World Day of Remembrance
Traffic violence has killed 226 people in 2023 — a 26% increase over 2018, the safest year under Vision Zero.
QUEENS, NY — Comptroller Brad Lander, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, and representatives from Transportation Alternatives joined with Families for Safe Streets members in Astoria Park to honor the 226 people who have been killed, and more than 2,247 seriously injured in traffic violence this year in New York City.
New York City’s World Day of Remembrance event is one of scores of events across the world. The march happened just hours after a motorcycle rider was critically injured by a hit-and-run in Astoria, underscoring the urgent need to build safe streets in New York City.
“My son Jayden deserved the chance to grow up. Instead, traffic violence robbed him of his future,” said Families for Safe Streets member Porscha McLaurin. “No parent should have to experience the pain that we, and countless parents across New York City, have felt. On this World Day of Remembrance, we need our leaders to commit to taking action to save lives across New York City. Traffic violence can and must be prevented.”
“On World Day of Remembrance, we honor and remember the 226 New Yorkers killed and 2,247 seriously injured in traffic violence this year – these are not statistics, but our loved ones, our neighbors, our friends.” said Danny Harris, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “Each death and serious injury must be an urgent call to action for our elected officials to end traffic violence on our streets. New York City has the tools, data, and expertise to achieve Vision Zero, but we need the political will to make safety a reality for everyone who walks, bikes, and drives in New York. Today, and every day, we demand from our leaders - no more excuses, no more empty promises, no more endless studies – make our streets safe now.”
Families for Safe Streets members also unveiled their goals for 2024. At the city level, FSS is fighting for holistic neighborhood-wide safety plans, which includes universal daylighting (repurposing parking spaces closest to intersections to improve visibility), Open Streets, school streets, bike boulevards, protected bike lanes, and more to keep every New Yorker safe.
At the state level, FSS is fighting for Albany to pass Sammy’s Law – legislation that would allow New York City to control its own speed limits – legislation to mandate the worst-of-the-worst repeat speeders have intelligent speed assistance installed in their vehicles, and an expanded and strengthened speed and red-light safety camera program.
Traffic fatalities in 2023 remain high. Traffic violence has killed 226 people in 2023 — a 26% increase over 2018, the safest year under Vision Zero – and this year has been the second deadliest year for cyclists in recorded history. Crashes have also killed nine children this year.
