Governor George Pataki
Executive Chamber
Albany, New York 12224

Dear Governor Pataki:

Transportation Alternatives is New York City's bicycle and pedestrian advocates. We join with the City of New York to urge you to please veto S.1763, A.6819, legislation which allows motor vehicles in Richmond County (Staten Island) to make right turns while the traffic signal is red. This legislation is seriously flawed and endangers the public safety and well being of pedestrians, bicyclists in Staten Island and the rest of New York City. Following are our reasons for opposing this legislation.

Right Turn on Red on Staten Island (Richmond County):

1. Is dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, more cyclists and pedestrians are struck, injured and killed after Right Turn on Red is installed.

2. Adds to the Risks Faced by Elderly Pedestrians. Very elderly pedestrians incur a hugely disproportionate share of pedestrian deaths in New York City. They also have the greatest difficulty seeing and reacting to turning motor vehicles.

3. Requires Motorists to Stop Before Turning: But More than 50% Do Not . According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and studies produced by the Transportation Research Board, half of drivers do not come to a complete stop when turning at a red light when the right turn rule is in effect. By far the number one cause of pedestrian crashes in New York City is motorists turning and failing to yield right of way to pedestrians in a crosswalk. This problem will only be aggravated as motorists turning right, look left for on-coming traffic and turn into the path of pedestrians.

4. Will Increase Confusion and Lead to More Crashes, Injuries and Deaths in the Rest of New York City. It is completely illogical to have different traffic laws applying in different boroughs of New York City. Many motorists from outside of the city are already ignorant of the city's No Right Turn on Red law. Exempting Staten Island from that law will fuel that confusion and cause more motorists to turn into pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles.

5. Is Bad Government. New York City is a single political entity that shares the same laws. Applying state laws county by county ignores the wishes of the city as a whole. As long as Staten Island is part of the city, it should not have state laws, opposed by the city, written especially for it.

Again, Transportation Alternatives urges you to veto this harmful legislation, which if passed will ultimately result in the deaths and injuries of numerous bicyclists and pedestrians.

John Kaehny
Executive Director