Sen. Jeff Klein and NYC DOT Commissioner Sadik-Khan Join Forces to Highlight Dangerous Speeding at PS 81 in Riverdale

RIVERDALE, NY — Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) joined New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and PS 81 parents today to release new statistics demonstrating a pattern of dangerous speeding near PS 81, an elementary school in Riverdale. To combat the danger posed by this consistent speeding, Senator Klein has introduced legislation in the Senate that would authorize the use of speed cameras in New York City school zones where dangerous speeding is most prevalent. The legislation, S.4459A/A.4327A, is being considered in both the Assembly and the Senate in the final weeks of this year’s legislative session.

Senate Majority Coalition Leader Jeff Klein said, "The results are clear: speeding on Riverdale Avenue is a real threat to the safety of students, teachers and members of the Riverdale community. But that doesn’t need to continue. Research shows that when people know they might be caught, they slow down. That’s critically important in school zones, where even five miles per hour can make the difference between life and death for a child. I’m pleased to stand here with Commissioner Sadik-Khan today so that we can encourage my legislative colleagues to approve the use of these speed cameras right away.”

“There is no passing grade for people speeding near our schools and putting our children’s lives in danger,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. “We need to bring the rampant speeding that occurs near our schools every day to a screeching halt, and I join Senator Klein and call on his colleagues in Albany to move full speed ahead on this life-saving legislation."

New York City’s Department of Transportation released a traffic safety report in March, detailing speeding rates in school zones across New York City. Results indicated that PS 81 in Riverdale experienced the most speeding in the Bronx with 96% of vehicles driving above the speed limit. With this information, Senator Klein commissioned follow-up testing at PS 81.

PS 81 PA Co-President, Amy Moore, said, “I am thankful to Senator Klein for bringing attention to speeding around our school – an issue of deep concern to many of the parents here. The statistics are shocking. On any given day, more than 50% of vehicles passing our school are moving at very dangerous speeds. Anything that we can do to reduce car speeds around our schools – where children are frequently coming and going – must be considered, and I applaud Senator Klein for bringing this concern to our community and to Albany."