K 24: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim January 20 - 27, 2025, as National Passenger Safety Week in the State of New York
This legislative body memorializes Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim January 20-27, 2025, as National Passenger Safety Week in New York. The goal of this week is to increase awareness of road safety concerns that affect all New Yorkers. Passenger deaths accounted for 25% of all traffic fatalities nationwide in 2019. Despite a 13% decrease in vehicle miles traveled, traffic deaths increased by 7% in 2020 and 18% in the first six months of 2021. The main behaviors driving this increase were speeding, impaired driving, and failure to wear seat belts. Passengers are at risk of serious injury or death if the driver is impaired, speeding, or driving distracted. The resolution encourages passengers, especially teens and young adults, to speak up and call out unsafe driving, and parents to teach their children about the importance of speaking up or not getting in the car with someone who is dru…
| Jan. 21, 2025 | adopted |
| Jan. 17, 2025 | referred to calendar |
Assembly Resolution No. 24 BY: M. of A. Magnarelli MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim January 20 - 27, 2025, as National Passenger Safety Week in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official weeks that are set aside to increase awareness of concerns that affect the lives of each and every New Yorker; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim January 20-27, 2025, as National Passenger Safety Week in the State of New York; and WHEREAS, Everyone has an important role to play in increasing road safety; in 2019, passenger deaths accounted for 25 percent of all traffic fatalities nationwide; and WHEREAS, According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) preliminary estimates, traffic deaths increased seven percent in 2020, and 18 percent in the first six months of 2021; and WHEREAS, Passenger vehicle occupant deaths rose five percent in 2020; and WHEREAS, Historic increases in traffic deaths occurred even though there was a 13 percent decrease in vehicle miles traveled; and WHEREAS, NHTSA's data shows the main behaviors driving this increase were speeding, impaired driving and failure to wear seat belts; and WHEREAS, Whether a driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs, is speeding, driving too aggressively, driving distracted or cannot stay awake at the wheel, bad driving choices put passengers at risk of serious injury or death; and WHEREAS, Many of those lives might have been saved had a passenger in the car insisted the driver slow down, stop texting, or not get behind the wheel in the first place; and WHEREAS, Passengers - especially teens and young adults - need education and encouragement to empower them to save lives by calling out unsafe driving in the car as it happens; and WHEREAS, Parents also need education and encouragement to teach their children about the importance of speaking up or not getting in the car with someone who is drunk, drugged or distracted; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim January 20-27, 2025, as National Passenger Safety Week in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New York.