A cabbie who struck and killed a 9-year-old boy who was crossing West End Avenue at West 97th Street last month won’t lose his taxi license. This is despite the fact he was cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian.
The agency that employs him, New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission, did dock his license by three points. But they didn’t feel the situation warranted revoking his license.
The boy’s father, who was crossing with his son at the time of the accident, suffered a leg injury. It wasn’t until the child was taken to the hospital that he was pronounced dead. Meanwhile, the family is working to see that cab drivers face stiffer consequences when their negligent actions cause death in spite of pedestrians taking safety precautions.
Mayor Bill de Blasio wants to see more done to reduce pedestrian fatalities in general. One way is through a program called “Vision Zero,” which utilizes different means of reducing deaths, such as stricter enforcement of traffic laws and installing safety cameras. He also has directed numerous agencies (including the taxi agency), to construct pedestrian safety plans.
“Vision Zero” has become a focus for other elected city leaders. In particular, they want the program to become a priority on Northern Boulevard in Queens. It is one of the more dangerous intersections for pedestrians. Forty-eighth Street was the horrifying scene of a hit-and-run accident on February 1, 2014. A driver seriously injured five people standing at a bus shelter when the vehicle jumped the curb.
Other crossings with Northern Blvd. considered to be dangerous include 52nd Street, 42nd and 43rd Streets. Additionally, 62nd Street is where an unlicensed truck driver struck and killed an 8-year-old.
While more needs to be done to protect pedestrians, it’s also important that when someone has been careless or reckless, he or she is held accountable. To learn more about one’s rights as a victim or the family of a loved one who has been killed in a pedestrian accident, contact an attorney at Gacovino, Lake & Associates today.
