Senate Bill S4120

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S4120              REVISED 3/12/2019

SPONSOR: LIU
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the administrative code of the city of
New York, in relation to signage in school speed zones

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to protect school children and other pedes-
trians in New York City from traffic-related accidents by reducing the
speed in school zones and the creation of other speed zones.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends section 19-177(e) of the Administrative Code of the
City of New York to require that the posted signs at school zone s will
include the reduced speed limit, flashing beacons, and a notice that the
speed limit is in effect when such beacons are flashing.

Section 2 provides that the act shall take effect immediately.

              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Pedestrian safety has always been an important concern for New York City
residents, but recent data has given this issue special urgency.
According to the New York Times, 270 people died in New York City in
traffic-related incidents in 2012, with 148 of these victims being
pedestrians. This was the highest number of traffic-related fatalities
since 2008. These figures indicate a heightened risk to all City resi-
dents, but especially children. This bill is designed to protect the
most vulnerable members of our society, our children.

One factor that accounts for this risk is the insufficient number of
speed signs in school zones, which causes some people to forget that
they are driving in areas where children may be walking.  According to a
publication of the Phoenix Street Transportation Department, "research
conducted throughout the country over several decades has shown that
drivers are influenced by the type of street and the current traffic
conditions, not the posted speed limit." This bill seeks to change the
feel of the streets that the most vulnerable members of society use most
often through the installment of traffic calming devices. Once this bill
becomes law, no one driving in a school zone will be able to plead igno-
rance of the speed limit.  The Department of Transportation will be
required to post speed limit signs at every school zone.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.