Families For Safe Street Members to Travel 1,000 Miles, Host Five-Day Series of Vigils & Rallies Statewide to Highlight Need for Crash Victim Rights & Safety Act in Albany This Year
NEW YORK - On Tuesday, June 1, Families For Safe Streets members will leave New York City and set off on a multi-city trip across New York State, traveling 1,000 miles, or approximately one mile for every person killed in traffic across the state annually. The group will host a series of rallies to call attention to the need for this groundbreaking package of reforms confronting the devastating toll of traffic deaths across the state.
Bringing a large black coffin to each new city, advocates will travel from New York City to Syracuse, Rochester, Albany, Long Island and back to New York City, hosting a rally in each city. These activists will be calling on key state lawmakers to support the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act, a package of eight bills introduced this legislative session in Albany aimed at protecting New Yorkers from traffic deaths and injuries before the end of the legislative session on June 10.
“From New York City to Niagara Falls, too many New Yorkers die each year in traffic violence. We need our state legislature to save lives and prevent more families from the anguish of burying a child, spouse or parent. We hope that our statewide tour will show the urgency for passing the entire Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act this year” said Amy Cohen, co-founder of Families for Safe Streets, who lost her 12-year-old son to a reckless driver in Brooklyn and who is leading the statewide group.
“Traffic deaths are preventable. New Yorkers pay the price when our leaders do not act. The time is now for the legislature to pass all eight bills in the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act. We appreciate that the Senate has begun to move on these bills and urge Speaker Carl Heastie and Transportation Committee Chair Bill Magnarelli to advance these bills in the Assembly before it is too late” said Marco Conner DiAquoi, Deputy Director of Transportation Alternatives.
The tentative rally schedule is as follows. Advocates will also be stopping at ten sites of fatal crashes across New York State to hold vigils.
Tuesday 6/1: 9AM, Washington Heights, Manhattan and afternoon, Syracuse
Wednesday 6/2: Rochester and Albany
Thursday 6/3: Long Island
Friday 6/4: New York City
Participants will be placing flowers at the locations of fatal crashes around the state and will carry a coffin to draw attention to the costs of inaction. 2020 saw a surge in traffic deaths nationally, despite the decline in traffic related to the pandemic.
The Crash Victim Rights & Safety Act includes the following bills:
Sammy’s Law — to allow lower life-saving speed limits in NYC
Crash Victim Bill of Rights — to guarantee rights and a voice for crash victims and their loved ones in legal proceedings
Speed Cameras 24/7 — to allow cameras in NYC to protect people at all times
Dangerous Driving Act — to hold the most reckless drivers accountable and prevent future crashes
Vehicle Safety Rating and Labeling — to inform consumers throughout NYS of a vehicle’s danger level to pedestrians and cyclists
BAC .05 — to lower the blood alcohol content limit for DWI from from .08 to .05
Right to Safe Passage — to require drivers pass bicyclists at a safe distance of min. 3 feet
DMV Pre-Licensing — to educate NY drivers about safely interacting with vulnerable road users
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