Assembly Resolution No. 49

BY: M. of A. Magnarelli

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
January 22-28, 2023, as National Passenger Safety
Week in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official weeks that are set aside to increase awareness of concerns that
affect the lives of each and every New Yorker; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim January 22-28, 2023, as
National Passenger Safety Week in the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Everyone has an important role to play in increasing road
safety; in 2019, passenger deaths accounted for 25 percent of all
traffic fatalities nationwide; and

WHEREAS, According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration's (NHTSA) preliminary estimates, traffic deaths increased
seven percent in 2020, and 18 percent in the first six months of 2021;
and

WHEREAS, Historic increases in traffic deaths occurred even though
there was a 13 percent decrease in vehicles miles traveled; and

WHEREAS, NHTSA's data shows the main behaviors driving this increase
were speeding, impaired driving and failure to wear seat belts; and

WHEREAS, Whether a driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs, is
speeding, driving too aggressively, driving distracted or cannot stay
awake at the wheel, bad driving choices put passengers at risk of
serious injury or death; and

WHEREAS, Many of those lives might have been saved had a passenger
in the car insisted the driver slow down, stop texting, or not get
behind the wheel in the first place; and

WHEREAS, Passengers, especially teens and young adults, need
education and encouragement to empower them to save lives by calling out
unsafe driving in the car as it happens; and

WHEREAS, Parents should also be educated and encouraged to teach
their children about the importance of speaking up or not getting in the
car with someone who is drunk, drugged or distracted; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater awareness of this
serious issue, and more must be done to increase activity at local,
State and National levels; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim January 22-28, 2023, as
National Passenger Safety Week in the State of New York; and be it
further


RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.