Senator Dilan Joins Advocates to Call for 20 MPH Limits, Expanded Enforcement

Senator Martin Malavé Dilan recently joined Families for Safe Streets to speak in support of initiatives and efforts to reduce the spate of deaths at the hands of reckless and dangerous driving in New York City.

Among the initiatives Families For Safe Streets is seeking is S.6496-A, sponsored by Senator Dilan in the Senate, and carried by Assembly Member O’Donnell (A.8478A) in the Assembly. The legislation would allow the city of New York to establish 20 m.p.h speed limits in problematic areas. The legislation also calls on municipalities that do enact lower speed limits to report what effect the speed reduction, and other traffic calming measures, has had on serious accidents and deaths.

“Danger will always be inherent in a large city where so many vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians share the road, but the recent spate of traffic-pedestrian incidents and deaths can’t be overlooked. We have to consider every option to address the issue, from enforcement to outreach, to traffic cameras and speed limits; we also need to ensure that New York City has these tools at its disposal,” said Senator Martin Malavé Dilan.

Families for Safe Streets is a group of families whose loved ones have been killed or maimed by reckless driving and dangerous conditions on New York City's streets.

“We are parents, children, partners and siblings who represent the full breadth of New York's diversity,” said Amy Cohen, who lost her 12-year-old son Sammy Cohen Eckstein in 2013. “We envision a city where pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers safely co-exist, and children and adults can travel freely without risk of harm – a city where no loss of life is acceptable,” she said.