Mayor Adams Vows Crackdown On Drivers And Cyclists Who Fail To Yield For Pedestrians: ‘Stop, Let Them Cross’

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Within the 10 years because the Imaginative and prescient Zero initiative started, 2021 was the deadliest 12 months for pedestrian accidents and fatalities. On Wednesday, the Mayor Eric Adams introduced a plan to vary that.

It’s referred to as “Cease, Let Them Cross.” And it warns each drivers and cyclists to count on enforcement of visitors legal guidelines, CBS2’s Jessica Moore reported.

A 3-month-old woman was killed in her stroller in Clinton Hill and a 15-year-old woman was hit by a faculty bus in Midwood. They had been simply two of the greater than 122 pedestrians killed in metropolis intersections over the previous 12 months.

“The prerequisite to prosperity is public security and justice. That public security additionally consists of visitors security,” Adams mentioned.

A brand new rule goes into impact in NYC immediately which requires drivers to cease, relatively than yield, for pedestrians in intersections when visitors controls 🚦🛑 are usually not in place. Drivers should stay stopped till such pedestrians cross the roadway.https://t.co/o6QCgz8r8z pic.twitter.com/CGm0MT9Inl

— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) January 19, 2022

Final 12 months noticed the very best stage of visitors fatalities within the metropolis in a decade. On Wednesday, Adams and the Division of Transportation introduced a brand new marketing campaign to finish visitors violence by smarter engineering and stronger enforcement on the intersections chargeable for 79% of pedestrian accidents.

“We’re going to reimagine 1,000 intersections all around the metropolis. There might be visitors widespread measures and recapturing area for pedestrians. We’re going to enhance visitors alerts, increase crosswalks, and extra,” Adams mentioned.

WATCH: Mayor Eric Adams Pronounces NYC Avenue Security Plan 

Additionally beginning Wednesday, drivers and cyclists should absolutely cease — not simply yield — for pedestrians in crosswalks, even at intersections with out visitors lights or cease indicators.

NYPD officers might be watching.

“That doesn’t imply decelerate and navigate your automotive in between folks strolling within the crosswalk. It means cease till the crosswalk is obvious of pedestrians, then proceed,” Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell added. “If our officers see a automobile failing to cease whereas pedestrians are crossing in entrance of them, that’s the place enforcement is available in.

“Each officer goes to be targeted on it and once they see these infractions they are going to be implementing them,” Sewell added.

The DOT mentioned it’ll make investments hundreds of thousands of {dollars} within the marketing campaign, bettering infrastructure and educating drivers in regards to the new guidelines.

“We will do it. The 7 million New Yorkers who doesn’t have automobiles count on that New York Metropolis might be there for them,” Ydanis Rodriguez mentioned.

Amongst them is Fabiola Mendieta, whose 5-year-old son was killed in visitors violence.

“I’m right here representing all the households like my very own who’ve empty chairs at our tables due to our little one, our companions, our siblings have been stolen from us, killed in crashes,” Mendieta mentioned.

The mayor mentioned the brand new plan will imply fewer tables with empty chairs.

Editor’s word: This story was first printed Jan. 19.