T.A. is pushing for legislative, enforcement and policy changes that hold drivers accountable for the consequences of their actions, and create deterrents from dangerous driving. We are working to halt reckless driving behaviors through more through and effective enforcement and automated enforcement cameras. And we are calling for more thorough investigation and reporting on all crashes so we can make necessary improvements to prevent others. With these efforts we will create real deterrents to dangerous driving behavior, and increase street safety for the cyclists and pedestrians who are the most vulnerable users of our roads.

Deterring the Most Dangerous Driving Behaviors

Vehicle drivers travel with reckless abandon, and an implicit understanding that there is no risk of punishment for their behavior. Transportation Alternatives is calling upon the NYPD to apply the Broken Windows Theory, which they so successfully employed to reduce minor and violent crime on city sidewalks, to the always dangerous and too often deadly traffic on city streets. While many violations are currently issued for violations like failing to wear a seatbelt, the biggest killers on NYC streets—failure to yield, red light running, speeding—are seldom if ever enforced against. T.A. research has found that dangerous drivers have little likelihood of reprimand for their actions, with the chance of a driver being ticketed for failing to yield a staggering 1 in 579,983 and the fact that a driver could speed everyday through New York City and be ticketed only once every 35 years. Redirecting limited enforcement resources to deter the most dangerous driving behaviors is the most effective way for the NYPD to reduce injuries and fatalities on our streets.

Data Transparency

The major barometer used by the NYPD to major traffic law compliance is the number of summonses they issue. The NYPD does not keep track of the number of traffic law violations that occur on city streets. But just as the number of prescriptions a patient takes is not a good indicator of their overall health, the number of summons issued is in no way indicative of the lawfulness of our roads. No New York City agency tracks traffic law compliance, which streets are most prone to moving violations or the precise GPS location of crashes.

And while various New York City agencies record the following data, none of it is readily available to the public:

• The number of summons for moving violations issued weekly or monthly
• What moving violation summons are most frequently issued
• The results of the adjudication of moving violation summons issued
• Which New York City intersections are most crash prone
• What traffic law violations lead to a crash
• The results of a crash, including injury severity, location, charges filed and concluding legal action

Transportation Alternative is working towards better data transparency across City agencies in the hopes of make the statistics which delineate the safety of our streets part of the public record, so we can know where and how the most work needs to be done.

Recognizing Best Practices in Policing

Police officers on the beat have a hard job to do. T.A. works to recognize best practices that are making streets safer right here in New York City, and to import innovative enforcement strategies from across the country. One of the best ways to shape NYPD policy is to encourage and recognize pilot projects at the precinct level that are reducing crashes or cutting traffic violations. In addition, T.A. works to empower New Yorkers to work with their local precincts to develop smarter, more effective traffic enforcement. See the Neighborhood Traffic Monitoring Kit Coming soon! for details on working with your local precinct.

View a presentation on International Best Enforcement Practices