New York Lawmakers Seek Funds to Prevent Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents

March 10, 2014

Pedestrians and cyclists in New York face a significant risk of being injured or killed as the result of a collision with a motor vehicle each time they travel on a roadway. In fact, the state Department of Motor Vehicles reports that in 2012, a total of 16,261 individuals were injured and 316 were killed as a result of Pedestrian Accidents. The same year, another 6,087 cyclists were injured and 45 died as a result of crashes with cars or trucks.

To help address this issue, several New York senators are asking for an additional $20 million in funding for infrastructure upgrades in the state to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety. According to an article from the Post Star, the move for state funding comes after a cut in federal spending slashed the state’s annual transportation budget by $12 million.

A decision to examine the budget move further will be made during an upcoming legislative session. In the meantime, many pedestrians and cyclists are wondering what they can do to stay safe while traveling.

The Personal Injury Lawyers with William Mattar Law Offices explain several actions can be taken to prevent accidents:

• Traveling with the flow of traffic on a bicycle, or vice versa when walking.
• Obeying all traffic signals
• Wearing light-colored clothing
• Equipping bicycles with headlights and reflectors
• Wearing a helmet when cycling