A record fatal crash new York City's Vision Zero program is a far cry from its goal

At a hearing held by the New York City Council on Mayor Bill de Blasio's Vision Zero program, frustration was high. The increase in traffic fatalities continues to plague New York City, with critics accusing the mayor of doing nothing.

According to the patch website, traffic accidents in New York City have already killed 233 people this year, a figure that puts New York City on track to break the record for the highest number of traffic fatalities during Blasio's tenure. This is a far cry from the Vision Zero goal of traffic deaths.

Members of the City Council Transportation Committee asked on Tuesday how transportation officials could strengthen Vision Zero. Committee member Vanessa Gibson accused traffic officials of still acting passively.

Vision Zero, de Blasio, is a way to make city streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. Proponents of this program believe that Vision Zero is achievable, but the Blanche administration must take the necessary steps to strengthen Vision Zero.

Danny Harris, executive director of Alternative Transportation, said that every Monday, we wake up to a tragic news: Another deadly weekend, there were preventable car accidents on our streets. This weekend was a child being hit and killed by an SUV. Multiple hit-and-run. A second pedestrian within two weeks was killed on Atlantic Avenue. On the streets of Mayor De Blasio, New Yorkers have set record deaths, Harris said, and our mayor has refused to treat the growing traffic violence like a public health epidemic.

Members of the City Council Transportation Committee generally agree that more should be done to strengthen the Vision Zero initiative. Ydanis Rodriguez, chairman of the City Council's Transportation Committee, argues that New York City should fight for more leeway to change its street safety laws. For example, change the way crosswalk signals are displayed to give priority to pedestrians and vehicles.

Julie Kite-Laidlaw, director of strategic operations at the Transportation Authority, notes that about 50 percent of fatal traffic accidents occur at intersections each year.

Gibson also blamed NYPD officials for apparently not following up on 311 complaints about traffic issues and placard abuse, or simply falsifying responses.

Compile: LH