"Editorial: Safety for our children won't be achieved until 'daylighting' in streets becomes commonplace everywhere"
In the bustling streets of New York City, safety is a paramount concern, especially for pedestrians and cyclists. One solution that has proven effective in improving visibility and reducing accidents is daylighting – a simple and impactful treatment that reclaims one parking spot adjacent to crosswalks.
Daylighting can help drivers understand points of conflict at an intersection, make smart decisions, slow down, and avoid crashes. It has been hailed as a basic design standard for every intersection in the city, making streets safer for all road users. However, as of September 2024, only 45 daylighted intersections could be found in Brooklyn.
Recognising the potential of daylighting, Intro 1138 aims to make it a universal law in New York City. This bill, if passed, would mandate daylighting all intersections in the city and require physical infrastructure at 1,000 intersections per year. The bill aligns with Brooklyn's 2025 Comprehensive Plan, which calls for the implementation of universal daylighting and the use of physical barriers.
The push for universal daylighting is not unique to New York City. Paris pledges to daylight every intersection in the city with physical infrastructure by 2026, and in Hoboken, NJ, elected officials credit universal daylighting as the main reason for no traffic fatalities in 8.5 years. In fact, daylighting is a street safety convention across the United States, with 44 states having universal daylighting laws.
Unfortunately, New York State's law has not been fully implemented in New York City, allowing it to opt out. This has led to tragic incidents, such as the death of a 10-year-old girl in South Williamsburg in 2024, a 15-year-old girl in front of James Madison High School in Sheepshead Bay in 2022, and a 7-year-old boy in Fort Greene in 2023.
The current status of Intro 1138 in New York City is that it has broad bipartisan support from a majority of City Council members, including 25 co-sponsors. However, it has not yet been brought to a vote by Speaker Adrienne Adams. There is pressure on Speaker Adams to bring the bill to a vote, and a push is ongoing to secure a veto-proof majority due to a potential veto from Mayor Adams.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso has expressed his support for the bill, stating that it is a crucial step towards making our streets safer for all. Speaker Adams has the opportunity to bring a life-saving street safety intervention to every street in New York City by advancing Intro 1138.
With more pedestrians and motorists killed in Brooklyn than in any other borough in 2025, and four out of six child deaths occurring in Brooklyn, the need for action is urgent. It is time for Speaker Adams to bring Intro 1138 to a vote and ensure it passes with a veto-proof majority. The lives of our city's most vulnerable residents depend on it.
