What's happening
This bill requires state agencies to study and annually report on roadway and thruway safety, focusing on reducing lane departure crashes and hazards.
Why it matters
Targets high-risk road areas. By requiring specific attention to segments with frequent fatal crashes and hazardous features (like steep slopes, embankments, cliffs, or bodies of water), the bill pushes agencies to focus resources and safety strategies on the most dangerous roadway segments.
Broadens safety analysis. The bill mandates tracking not just typical vehicle crashes but also incidents involving pedestrians, bicyclists, and various crash types (fixed object, head-on, rollover, etc.), encouraging a more comprehensive approach to traffic safety.
Increases accountability and transparency. Annual reporting to the governor and legislature means the public and policymakers will have regular, detailed information on where and how roadway safety is improving—or where more action is needed.
Promotes data-driven interventions. By explicitly requiring analysis of crash data and documentation of safety measures taken or planned, the legislation builds a foundation for evidence-based upgrades, potentially influencing funding and engineering priorities statewide.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Roadway Crash Risks
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4932
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 3, 2017
Introduced by Sens. DIAZ, HAMILTON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
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
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 14 of the transportation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 36 to read as follows:
36. To study and examine 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, or colliding with motorized or non-motorized vehicles or pedestrians, or leaving the roadway. Such study and examination shall include, but not be limited to, segments of the state's roadways with a high number of fatal crashes, and segments of roadway with hazardous features such as steep slopes, embankments, cliffs, drop-offs or deep bodies of water. The commissioner shall submit a report on lane departures, utilizing existing data whenever possible, beginning no later than August thirty-first, two thousand eighteen and annually thereafter, to the governor and the legislature which report shall include but shall not be limited to: (a) the number and type of travel lane departure crashes on the state's roadways including, but not limited to, fixed object, head-on, cross-over, rollover and sideswipe crashes, roadway departures, and those involving non-motorized vehicles and pedestrians; (b) the extent to which the department has analyzed crash data and identified and considered the safety needs of the state's roadways including but not limited to high-fatality segments and segments with hazardous features such as steep slopes, embankments, cliffs, drop-offs or deep bodies of water; and (c) the measures and strategies that the department has undertaken, or plans to undertake, to
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07237-01-7
S. 4932 2
improve roadway performance and reduce the risk of motor vehicle travel lane departures and crashes.
§ 2. Section 361 of the public authorities law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. The authority shall study and examine the performance of the thruway in reducing the risk of motor vehicles departing the travel lane and overturning, or colliding with fixed objects, or colliding with motorized or non-motorized vehicles or pedestrians, or leaving the thruway. Such study and examination shall include, but not be limited to, segments of the thruway with a high number of fatal crashes, and segments with hazardous features such as steep slopes, embankments, cliffs, drop-offs or deep bodies of water. The authority shall submit a report on lane departures, utilizing existing data whenever possible, beginning no later than August thirty-first, two thousand eighteen and annually thereafter, to the governor and the legislature which report shall include but shall not be limited to: (a) the number and type of travel lane departure crashes on the thruway including, but not limited to, fixed object, head-on, cross-over, rollover and sideswipe crashes, roadway departures, and those involving non-motorized vehicles and pedestrians; (b) the extent to which the authority has analyzed crash data and identified and considered the safety needs of the thruway including but not limited to high-fatality segments and segments with hazardous features such as steep slopes, embankments, cliffs, drop-offs or deep bodies of water; and (c) the measures and strategies that the authority has undertaken, or plans to undertake, to improve thruway performance and reduce the risk of motor vehicle travel lane departures and crashes.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
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
To improve the safety of the state's roadways and reduce the risk of crashes.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Amends the transportation law by adding a new subdivision 36. Directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to study and examine the performance of the state's roadways in reducing the departure of motor vehicles from travel lanes and subsequently crashing, utilizing existing data whenever possible. Requires the Commissioner to submit a report no later than August, 2016 and annually thereafter, to the governor and legislature. The study and examination would be required to 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.
Section 2. Amends the public authorities law by adding a new subdivision 3. Directs the New York State Thruway Authority to study and examine the performance of the thruway in reducing the risk of motor vehicles departing the travel lane and overturning or colliding with fixed objects. Such study and examination shall include but not be limited to segments of the thruway with a high number of fatal crashes and segments with hazardous features, utilizing existing data wherever possible. Requires the Authority to submit a report no later than August, 2016 and annually thereafter, to the governor and legislature. The study and examination would be requited to 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.
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 road 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
2016: S.260A - AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO TRANSPORTATION/A.6541-A - amend and recommit to transportation 2015: S.260 - REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION/A.6541 - referred to transportation 2014: S.309A - Amend and Recommit to Transportation/A.176A - Amend and Recommit to Transportation 2013: S.309 - Referred to Transportation/A.176 - Referred to Transportation
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Effective date
This act shall take effect sixty days after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.