Increasingly, cities across the country are creating spaces where people can walk and bike safely without worrying about dodging much larger, faster vehicles. The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), for example, recently began implementing Regional Slow Zones throughout the city.
So far, there are about 70 of these areas where the speed limit is 20 miles per hour. The goal is to have 250 such zones by the end of the year.
Zones focus on high pedestrian traffic, high crash rate areas
The areas are largely planned for school zones as well as Open Streets and Shared Streets areas that have a lot of pedestrian traffic and children in the area. A 1.8 square mile area of the DUMBO neighborhood is the first such designated zone in Brooklyn. This area has experienced one traffic death and 10 serious injuries in just the past five years.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso hopes to see more slow zones. He said, “While we celebrate this slow zone in DUMBO, we must continue to expand slow zones across this city and prioritize neighborhoods where crash rates are highest, such as North Brooklyn.”
Sammy’s Law
The Regional Slow Zone program followed the enactment of Sammy’s Law. That’s a state law that gives cities the authority to designate speed limits as low as 20 mph as they deem necessary. The law is named after a 12-year-old boy who was fatally struck by a van on Prospect Park West here in Brooklyn as he went to retrieve a ball in the street. His story is just one of many.
Typically, in vehicle vs. pedestrian or bicycle accidents, those not in the vehicle fare the worst – often suffering catastrophic or fatal injuries. Regardless of the speed limit, drivers have a responsibility to watch out for those with whom they share the road.
While those who don’t exercise caution may face criminal charges, they can also be held civilly liable for compensation to cover victims’ and surviving family members’ expenses and other damages. Getting legal guidance as soon as possible can help protect a victim’s right to justice and compensation.