Transportation Alternatives, New York City's advocates for pedestrian safety, urged Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to immediately pass A04111, (http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A04111) a bill enabling the use of speed enforcement cameras in New York City. Speed cameras in Washington D.C. reduced speeding and traffic fatalities by 75% and 30% respectively, over a two year period.

Early today a speeding motorist critically injured two 14-year olds in a hit and run incident at Francis Lewis Boulevard at the intersection with the Horace Harding Expressway (service road of Long Island Expressway). This stretch of the Boulevard is infamous for its speeding and drag racing.

Before New York City can use speed cameras, a state law authorizing their use must be passed. Such legislation passed the State Senate in 2001, but has been opposed by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

According to John Kaehny, a spokesperson for Transportation Alternatives:

"Sheldon Silver owes it to New Yorkers to put the brakes on dangerous drivers by passing speed camera legislation."

For more information about speed enforcement cameras, and their use in New York City, read T.A.'s 2003 report Slowing Speeds, Saving Lives at http://www.transalt.org/campaigns/reclaiming/slowingspeeds.html