January 19, 2022
Video out there at: https://youtu.be/k24M_sY-_bs
Main Design Modifications and Elevated NYPD Enforcement Will Goal Intersections The place 79 P.c of Pedestrian Accidents Happen
Mayor Adams and DOT Decide to Enhancements to Make 1,000 Intersections Safer
New Site visitors Rule Defending Pedestrians Takes Impact Right now
NEW YORK — New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams at present was joined by New York Metropolis Division of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and New York Police Division (NYPD) Commissioner Keechant Sewell to announce main new actions and investments in pedestrian security at intersections. With intersections the main web site of pedestrian accidents and fatalities, DOT will make design enhancements to make 1,000 intersections safer with improved visitors indicators, raised crosswalks, and different expanded pedestrian area and visibility measures. Empowered by a brand new visitors rule defending pedestrians that takes impact at present, the NYPD will instantly start expanded enforcement towards drivers who fail to acknowledge the primacy of pedestrians in crosswalks. The companies additionally introduced a brand new schooling marketing campaign to make sure that all drivers know the foundations of the highway.
“After the tragedy of 2021, when visitors fatalities in New York Metropolis reached their highest stage in almost a decade, we clearly must turbo-charge Imaginative and prescient Zero — and quick,” stated Mayor Eric Adams. “I thank my two commissioners for placing this early deal with enforcement and design inside intersections, the place we now have the instruments that may and can save lives. Drivers must know that intersections are the place most crashes occur — and so in case you don’t drive safely by way of them, NYPD officers will ensure you pay a worth.”
“Because of Mayor Adams’ management, we’re taking these early actions to avoid wasting lives,” stated Division of Transportation Commissioner Rodriguez. “As we take a brand new strategy to Imaginative and prescient Zero, we all know intersections are the place pedestrians and cyclists face the biggest risks — and so we are able to and can make a whole bunch of crosswalks safer with a variety of remedies, each new ones and extra of those who we all know work. We is not going to be complacent or settle for any life misplaced on our streets. My due to Commissioner Sewell and the NYPD for his or her severe focus this 12 months on failure-to-yield, which sends a powerful sign to New York drivers about how severe we’re about this.”
“Guaranteeing the protection of New York Metropolis streets and all who use them is paramount, and this new plan is vital to the NYPD’s vital work with its metropolis companions,” stated Police Commissioner Sewell. “The NYPD continues to be relentless in imposing the legal guidelines, together with this new rule that protects pedestrians crossing metropolis intersections. By means of Mayor Adams’ management, and by working hand-in-hand with the Division of Transportation on this new strategy to Imaginative and prescient Zero, the NYPD will preserve innovating to make our streets safer.”
Intersections pose a particular security problem in New York Metropolis, the place crashes at intersections sometimes comprise 50 p.c of all fatalities and 70 p.c of all accidents. For pedestrians, the hazards are extra pronounced: 55 p.c of pedestrian fatalities and 79 p.c of pedestrian visitors accidents happen at intersections. Right now’s intersection-focused announcement contains the next components:
DOT Design Toolkit Concentrate on Intersections
DOT introduced that in 2022 it will undertake new and expanded efforts centered on intersection design at 1,000 areas, together with by way of:
- Elevated deal with intersections in Road Enchancment Initiatives: DOT will use its full toolkit of road design remedies as redesigns occur, centered on Imaginative and prescient Zero precedence geographies, areas the place fatalities and severe accidents have occurred, and Precedence Funding Areas as detailed within the NYC Streets Plan. These adjustments embody new flip indicators and “head-starts” that enable pedestrians to enter the intersection earlier than autos can flip.
- Raised crosswalks: DOT will start a program to assemble 100 raised crosswalks at curb stage yearly. Raised crosswalks serve a twin goal of rising accessibility for the incapacity group, whereas on the identical time serving as velocity bumps that sluggish drivers. This work will probably be completed primarily through a brand new contract with the New York Metropolis Division of Design and Building.
- Bike corrals at intersections: DOT will “daylight” not less than 100 intersections with bike corrals this 12 months, as a part of its deliberate set up of greater than 10,000 bicycle racks by the tip of 2022. Bike corrals at intersections assist present visibility for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, whereas stopping drivers from slicing corners and turning too shortly.
- Parking lot and gasoline station traffic-calming: Curb cuts at high-traffic areas like parking heaps and gasoline stations, typically at intersections, can create hazard as drivers minimize throughout sidewalks unpredictably — a explicit concern for weak pupil and senior pedestrians. DOT efforts will goal dozens of downside areas, largely exterior Manhattan, lowering driver “brief cuts” and higher channeling car visitors to extend visibility and predictability.
- Doubling the Flip-Calming Program: Analysis has proven that drivers take turns extra slowly and intentionally when bodily components are in place to power turns at extra acceptable speeds. DOT will double the manufacturing of such efforts to 100 intersections this 12 months.
Elevated Enforcement Inside Intersections
The NYPD will strongly implement failure-to-yield (FTY), a violation that particularly endangers pedestrians and cyclists at intersections, with a objective of doubling 2021 FTY enforcement efforts.
Whereas enforcement will probably be at intersections citywide, officers will additionally be empowered by a new DOT traffic rule that goes into impact at present for such violations at over 1,200 intersections citywide that are ruled by neither a visitors sign nor a cease signal. Beneath the brand new rule, drivers and cyclists passing by way of such intersections should not merely yield however totally cease till a pedestrian has fully crossed the road. The brand new rule is meant to make clear enforcement and take away any subjectivity from such violations.
New “Cease. Let Them Cross” Public Consciousness Marketing campaign
This month, DOT will start a public consciousness marketing campaign on social media and in group and ethnic media publications to elevate consciousness for the brand new cease for pedestrians’ rule for uncontrolled intersections. The message additionally underscores the significance of slowing down and being conscious of pedestrians whereas driving in New York Metropolis.
“Road security is of paramount significance and redesigning our intersections will save lives,” stated State Assemblymember Robert Carroll. “I commend Mayor Adams and Transportation Commissioner Rodriguez for popping out of the gate intent on addressing these vital questions of safety early of their administration. I look ahead to partnering on future enhancements to make our streets safer.”
“Defending pedestrians at harmful intersections is paramount. As a Metropolis, we should stop visitors fatalities and accidents, and make sure that our streets are protected for everybody,” stated Metropolis Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. “Implementing design enhancements, visibility measures, and different remedies, mixed with expanded enforcement and an schooling marketing campaign, will make an amazing distinction. I thank Mayor Adams, DOT Commissioner Rodriguez, and Police Commissioner Sewell for taking these vital actions for the protection of all New Yorkers.”
“I wish to first specific my honest gratitude to Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez for his or her consideration to this vital and life-threatening scenario,” stated New York Metropolis Councilmember Shahana Hanif. “Almost a month in the past, Arcellie ‘Celi’ Muschamp tragically misplaced her life to a reckless driver on fifth Avenue and Union Road in my district. This group is aware of all too effectively the toll visitors violence can take and the determined must obtain Imaginative and prescient Zero. I’m happy to see the DOT implementing a number of of the proposals I referred to as for simply this previous Tuesday, corresponding to daylighting intersections and bettering road designs, particularly with main pedestrian intervals. By taking these vital steps, we are able to stop future tragedies and guarantee our streets are protected for everybody.”
“The urgency of constructing our streets safer can’t be overstated,” stated New York Metropolis Councilmember Rita Joseph. “Intersections are the place a disproportionate variety of pedestrian visitors accidents happen, and I thank Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez for their data-driven deal with guaranteeing that our streetscape is people-focused. Crossing the road shouldn’t be a matter of life or demise.”
“Bike New York thanks Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez for transferring shortly to carry new visitors security measures to metropolis streets,” stated Jon Orcutt, advocacy director, Bike New York. “We want bodily adjustments to sluggish harmful driving: Raised crosswalks and bike corrals at corners will save lives. We additionally applaud the deal with curb cuts — we’d like enhancements on this regard alongside bike lanes like Brooklyn’s 4th Avenue.”
“Regional Plan Affiliation applauds Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez for fixing harmful intersections and doing extra to defend pedestrians,” stated Kate Slevin, govt vice chairman, Regional Plan Affiliation. “Tragically, visitors fatality numbers had been up in 2021, reaching the best stage since 2013. We look ahead to working with the mayor and commissioner on a complete strategy to carry these numbers down and create a safer metropolis for all. Efforts like this — with a deal with design, enforcement, and public consciousness — will probably be basic to that broader technique.”
“We’re very happy that Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez are making intersection security a precedence,” stated Eric McClure, govt director, Streets PAC. “Far, far too many pedestrians are injured or killed whereas doing precisely what they’re purported to be doing — crossing at intersections in crosswalks with the best of approach — and we’re assured that these new investments in intersection design will make a profound distinction in conserving individuals protected. Raised crosswalks are a design innovation that ought to be rolled out all through New York Metropolis, and LPIs, split-phase indicators, daylighting, and turn-calming are all proven-effective technique of conserving individuals protected. We hope the Division of Transportation will probably be given the sources to implement these adjustments as quickly as potential.”
“Final 12 months was the best on file since 2013 by way of visitors deaths, and this development has been transferring within the flawed route since 2018,” stated Liam Clean, coverage & communications supervisor, Tri-State Transportation Marketing campaign. “These focused investments to enhance our metropolis’s streets will go a great distance towards attaining zero visitors fatalities. We strongly help this new initiative, and we commend Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez for prioritizing safer streets for all New Yorkers.”
“Right now’s daring announcement from Metropolis Corridor signifies a historic turning level in our metropolis’s motion to make our streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists, riders and drivers. These actions and policy-changes will make an actual distinction within the on a regular basis lives of residents,” stated Consultant Yvette D. Clarke. “Rooted within the Imaginative and prescient Zero philosophy accountable for our success bettering pedestrian security up to now, these actions solidify not solely our metropolis’s dedication to defending pedestrians, however our promise to pursue each environmentally-friendly and inclusive insurance policies that may undoubtedly save lives. I thank Mayor Eric Adams and his administration, the Division of Transportation, and the NYPD for his or her shared dedication in the direction of making our metropolis extra pedestrian pleasant, and a extra equitable area for all commuters. I look ahead to seeing progress, together with enforcement towards those that do not adjust to these new security measures, take root when this initiative is totally applied.”
“I wish to thank Mayor Adams and his administration for giving their consideration to road security nearly instantly after taking workplace. Even one demise on New York Metropolis streets is just too many, and the variety of pedestrian fatalities and accidents in recent times is disheartening. I look ahead to the impression these adjustments will make for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers,” stated Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.
“Funding in protected road design is how we’ll obtain Imaginative and prescient Zero,” stated Danny Harris, Government Director, Transportation Alternate options. “The concrete options introduced at present will higher stop drivers from rushing and defend our most weak highway customers, like seniors, youngsters, and everybody who bikes. This effort should be coupled with extra actions that scale back the variety of harmful autos citywide, and, as we’ve put ahead in our NYC 25×25 imaginative and prescient, additionally reclaim road area that higher serves our public well being, local weather, and the native financial system. Right now’s emphasis on infrastructure is the best strategy, and we look ahead to working with the Adams administration on extra measures that get Imaginative and prescient Zero again on monitor.”
“Site visitors violence is a public well being disaster, and as lately as final evening, Households for Secure Streets members have been at vigils mourning preventable, heartbreaking pedestrian deaths right here in Brooklyn,” stated Fabiola Mendieta-Cuapio, member, Households for Secure Streets. “However like different public well being crises, we now have the confirmed instruments that may assist us save lives. This begins with redesigning streets for security, and we’re very glad to see the Adams administration prioritizing bodily infrastructure to guard New Yorkers on our streets. No one else ought to undergo the ache I confronted when my son was killed in a crash. With the best investments on our streets, we are able to save lives and clear up the visitors violence epidemic.”
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