Michael Powell looks at the penalties facing drivers that strike pedestrians and cyclists in New York City, and finds depressingly few repercussions.
"In this city of walkers, where we take pride in hoofing it with such a
manic intensity that researchers often find us moving faster than
crosstown buses, striking a pedestrian - or a biker - and driving away
carries few consequences," notes Powell.
"The State Department of Motor Vehicles recorded about 3,000 serious
nonfatal accidents last year in New York City. The city Police
Department's Accident Investigation Squad investigated only 63, or 2
percent of these nonfatal serious crashes, according to the state."
Even as the city continues with one of the most ambitious pedestrian and bicycle safety campaigns in its history, "Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, characteristically, claims to see
no problem. His department is state of the art; the streets get safer
all the time; pedestrian fatalities have dropped 30 percent in the past
decade."
FULL STORY: Reckless Drivers Who Hit People Face Few Penalties in New York
Supposed Safe Havens Pose Danger to Pedestrians in NYC
A new study conducted by NYU's Langone Medical Center reveals that pedestrians are most often struck by cars in New York's supposed safe havens: in a crosswalk with the signal on their side. Findings related to bicycle safety were also revealed.
NYC Congestion Pricing May Be Saving Lives
According to preliminary data, crashes and injuries dropped dramatically within the city’s new congestion relief zone.
NYC Officials Split on Jaywalking Decriminalization
While some council members say the ‘outdated’ practice disproportionately impacts Black and Latino residents, law enforcement officials say its a necessary measure for road safety.
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Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
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A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.
Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.
Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
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