We are pleased to announce that Gov. Cuomo has signed into law the Crossover Mirror bill which will require all trucks, tractors and tractor-trailers or semi-trailer combinations registered in New York State having a maximum weight of twenty six thousand pounds or more to be equipped with a convex mirror on the front of the vehicle. SAfH and Transportation Alternative, along with other partners, have sponsored this legislation.

Impact

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Traffic Safety Facts for 2006 Report, 70% of pedestrians killed by large trucks were initially impacted from the front of the truck. Presumably, these percentages would be reduced if cross over mirrors were installed. In New York City specifically, the number of accidents involving trucks and pedestrians that resulted in death or injury were 204 and 4,698, respectively between 1994 and 2003. Cross-over mirrors are an existing, simple, and cost-effective way in which to reduce the likelihood of these types of incidents. In addition, they are already in use on all New York City school buses, providing a successful model.

Congratulations to Transportation Alternative for leading the work on this legislation!