NYC Council passes legislative package to reduce traffic fatalities

The New York City Council passed 11 bills and 6 resolutions Thursday that aim to reduce traffic fatalities.

The bills include measures that would increase the penalties for reckless driving by taxis and establishes fines for drivers who don’t yield to residents and bicyclists that have the right of way.

Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer said the goal isn’t to fine drivers to raise money for the city.

“We’re not interested in playing a game of ‘gotcha,’” said Van Bramer. “We’re interested in changing behavior and making sure that people are being held accountable for breaking the law.”

The legislation is part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s so-called “Vision Zero” plan, which aims to significantly lower the number of traffic fatalities in the city. This package of legislation includes six resolutions that call on the New York State to enact initiatives. These include increasing the penalties for reckless driving, such as driving on the sidewalk. They also ask the state to give New York City complete control over the use of speed cameras.