The New York State Pedestrian Safety Action Plan is an ambitious partnership of the New York State departments of health and transportation and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee to protect the state’s most vulnerable road users.
Pedestrians comprise more than 25 percent of fatalities due to motor vehicle crashes in the state. The plan identifies 20 “focus communities” in upstate New York and on Long Island that account for nearly half of all pedestrian crashes, and provides for engineering improvements, enforcement strategies, and educational initiatives.
Among the countermeasures implemented are crosswalk improvements, law enforcement training, pedestrian and bicycle safety training, a statewide “See! Be Seen!” campaign available in 12 languages, and a pedestrian safety toolkit to help communities implement educational strategies. Most notable is the ongoing partnership not only among the three agencies, but also including community groups, law enforcement agencies, and local government entities.
Preliminary data show a 22 percent drop in pedestrian fatalities the first year of the plan.