9 people died in car accidents in New York in the first 10 days of 2017
9 people including 7 pedestrians and bicyclists died in NYC car crashes in the first 10 days of 2017. In a recent statement, Paul Steely White, the Transportation Alternatives Executive Director, expressed his outrage and asked the city of New York to accelerate street redesigns. He also wants the New York police to change their attitude and be more accountable.
In his statement, Steely White, noted that 7 of the 9 fatal crashes occurred in locations that have been previously identified by Vision Zero as “priority areas”. Transportation Alternatives asks the city to allocate immediate funding to redesign these high crashes locations.
Steely White also expressed his outrage towards NYPD investigators behavior. The NYPD has a horrible habit of blaming the victims and exonerating drivers. For example, the driver of the box truck who fatally struck Rafael Nieves last week and left the scene of the accident was let go without his case being referred to the district attorney (see previous blog). The police also didn’t charge the driver who killed 43 year old Marlon Palacios. The driver told the police his leg had become stiff and got stuck on the accelerator. The police have the power to act as a judge and a jury while a court should make such decision. Additionally the police are supposed to deter dangerous driving in New York City but they often blame the victims and let go reckless drivers.