Safe Streets Advocates Applaud Gov. Hochul for Including Sammy’s Law in State of the State, Demand Action to Stem Crisis of Traffic Fatalities in New York State

Governor Hochul commits to giving New York City control over speed limits

NHTSA report estimated 12% more traffic fatalities in New York State in 2020 compared to 2019.

Traffic violence killed 252 people in New York City in 2022.

ALBANY, NY — Following Governor Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address today, the NYS Safe Streets Coalition — a statewide coalition of more than 100 advocacy organizations, nonprofits, hospitals, elected officials, and more — called on the state to take continued action to end traffic deaths in New York State by passing the SAFE Streets Act.

In her State of the State announcement, Gov. Hochul supported a key piece of this bill package, allowing New York City to control its own speed limits — allowing safer, lower speed limits. 

The SAFE Streets Act is a life-saving package of six bills to address the crisis of traffic violence across New York State, which killed more than 1,000 people in New York in 2020, according to NHTSA. They include measures to:

• Allow New York City to control its own speed limits through Sammy’s Law.

• Create complete streets by incentivizing safe streets elements in projects receiving state or federal funding and when streets are being resurfaced.

• Mandate safe vehicles by requiring intelligent speed assistance and other features in new cars.

• Support those personally impacted by guaranteeing basic legal rights to crash victims and their loved ones.

• Protect vulnerable people on our roads by requiring drivers to pass bike riders at a safe distance of at least three feet.

This package builds on the momentum from last year’s Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act, where three measures became law under the leadership of Governor Hochul. These measures included new funding for complete streets projects around the state, authorizing municipalities to lower speed limits to 25 mph, and requiring additional driver’s education instruction on interacting with vulnerable road users.

“After my son Sammy was killed by a speeding driver, I fought to lower the speed limit in New York City to save lives. I am heartened that Governor Hochul is committing to passing Sammy’s Law this year to allow safer, lower speed limits in New York City. We look forward to working with our partners in Albany and in New York City to ensure this life-saving legislation is passed,” said Amy Cohen, co-founder of Families for Safe Streets.

“Too many families across New York State face the unimaginable pain traffic violence brings each year. My partner, John (also known as "Host"), was killed in 2021 while riding his bike in Kingston.” Said Families for Safe Streets Member Rose Quinn. "In the last two weeks alone, we have lost another two people to traffic violence. Given the size of Kingston, this is an unfathomable number. This crisis demands serious action from state lawmakers. By passing the full SAFE Streets Act this session, Governor Hochul and the state legislature can lead the nation in saving lives and confronting traffic violence.”

“Traffic violence is a preventable public health epidemic across New York and Governor Hochul and state lawmakers have the cure to end it. We thank Governor Hochul for supporting Sammy’s Law and we urge the state to commit to ending traffic deaths on our roads by 2050,” said Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris. “To end traffic violence, our state’s leaders must prioritize people over cars by mandating street designs that make it safer, easier, and more reliable to walk, bike, and take transit — as we’ve laid out in Seven Steps to Transform Our Streets — and pass the full SAFE Streets Act without delay.”

"We need solutions to slow vehicle speeds and end the traffic violence on our streets by making communities walkable, and bikeable while improving public transit access," said Justin Booth, Executive Director at GObike Buffalo. "Passing the full SAFE Streets Act will prioritize people, ensuring our roadways are safe and accessible for everyone, and it should be passed without delay. 

"Our elected officials make bold claims about protecting the health and safety of New Yorkers, but they’re not doing that if uncompromising, urgent action on street safety isn’t central to their plan. We have the tools to stem traffic violence and it is our government’s responsibility to use them. We’re so glad to be entering the new year with three new street safety bills signed into law, but more progress is desperately needed. We’re urging Governor Hochul and all our state officials to center street safety and swiftly pass the SAFE Streets Act this year," said Sara Lind, Chief Strategy Officer at Open Plans.

“We commend Gov. Hochul for the support of Sammy’s Law and the flexibility of New York City to adjust its own speed limit. The pace of city life should never be one that puts the lives of innocent New Yorkers at risk, especially where speed related crashes are preventable. Our mayor and city council must support this legislation and begin the process of making our city streets safer through speed limits that reflect and value the lives of our vulnerable road users,” said Cindy Brown of the New York Coalition for Transportation Safety.

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