Requires a study of the performance of the state's roadways in reducing the risk of motor vehicles departing the travel lane and overturning, or colliding with fixed objects

Title of bill

An act to amend the transportation law and the public authorities law, in relation to the study and examination of the state's roadways and the thruway in reducing certain motor vehicle risks

Purpose or general idea of bill

Requires a study of the performance of the state's roadways in reducing the risk of motor vehicles departing the travel lane and overturning, or colliding with fixed objects.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1. Amends the transportation law, section 14 by adding a new subdivision 36. Requires the Commissioner to submit a report on lane departures, utilizing existing data whenever possible. Provides that such report shall be submitted no later than August 31, 2016 and annually thereafter to the governor and the legislature. Specifies that the report shall include but not be limited to high-fatality roadway segments and those segments with hazardous features such as steep slopes, embankments, cliffs, drop-offs or deep bodies of water. Provides that no provision of this subdivision shall be deemed to conflict with or supersede the evidentiary and discovery protections and rights as provided for in federal or state law.

Section 2. Amends the public authorities law, section 361 by adding a new subdivision 3. Requires the authority to study and examine the performance of the thruway authority in reducing the risk of motor vehicles departing the travel lane and overturning. Provides that such report shall be submitted no later than August 31, 2016 and annually thereafter to the governor and the legislature. Provides that no provision of this subdivision shall be deemed to conflict with or supersede the evidentiary and discovery protections and rights as provided for in federal or state law.

Section 3. Effective Date

Existing law

None

Justification

Motor vehicle crashes take a terrible human toll on people whether they are vehicle passengers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, or pedestrians, depriving individuals of their independence when crashes cause serious physical injury, and depriving families of their loved ones and society of valued members when the crashes are fatal. While there are general downward trends in the number of motor vehicle fatal crashes and the number of fatalities on New York State's roadways, more can and should be done to further prevent them. This bill presents an opportunity to focus on high-risk sections of roads across the State such as those with a high number of fatal crashes, and those with hazardous features like steep slopes, embankments, cliffs, drop-offs and deep bodies of water. Strategies for reducing the risk of vehicles abruptly leaving their lanes of travel and crashing can and should be identified in order to reduce the risk of crashes at these high-risk locations to better protect the safety of the traveling public and prevent future tragedies.

Prior legislative history

2014: S.3416A - Amend and Recommit to Transportation/A.5669A - Amend and Recommit to Transportation 2013: S.3416 - Advanced to Third Reading Calendar, Committed to Rules/A.5669 - Referred to Transportation

Fiscal implications

Minimal

Effective date

This act shall take effect sixty days after it shall have become a law.