MANHATTAN - One by one, the names of the more than 200 New Yorkers who were killed in traffic crashes so far in 2020 were read out loud.
What You Need To Know
- November 15 is World Day of Remembrance for road traffic victims
- Traffic death victim advocates want more funding for Vision Zero funding
- Vision Zero is a street safety project to help prevent fatalities and serious injuries
- New York is the first city in the country to adopt Vision Zero
Rows of white-painted shoes signifying the lives lost to traffic violence in New York City, where laid out in City Hall Park. For those who knew each of them, the ceremony was personal.
“We just hope it brings a personal face to this issue. Its not just random people. It’s people’s family members, loved ones who are being killed,” said one person who attended the event.
The tribute at City Hall Park on Sunday was part of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Organizers are seizing on the moment to call on local leaders to increase safeguards and penalties to prevent reckless driving and deadly crashes.
“No more speeches. We need action now,” chanted the crowd.
New York is the first city in the country to adopt Vision Zero, a street safety project aimed at helping to prevent fatalities and serious injuries.
The advocacy group Families for Safe Streets is urging Mayor Bill de Blasio to provide even more funding for the program.
“Each day that we don’t do something to change this, more lives are being devastated,” said an organizer of the event.