Two New York lawmakers are proposing legislation that will require bad drivers to install tech in their vehicles that would stop them from going faster than 5 mph above the speed limit. According to a report in the New York Post, the bill would target reckless drivers who either rack up at least six speed violations or red-light camera tickets in a year, or get 11 points on their driver’s licenses over two years. Lawmakers announced this at a news conference after a gruesome Brooklyn pedestrian accident that took the lives of 35-year-old mom Natasha Saada and her two daughters, Diana, 8, and Debra, 5, leaving their 4-year-old brother Philip seriously injured.
Fatal Crash Propels Legislation
The driver who caused that fatal pedestrian crash, Miriam Yarmini, had 21 speeding tickets in the last two years, six red light camera violations in the last six months plus over 70 violations in the last two years, said New York Sen. Andrew Gounardes. He said it is shocking that she was still able to get behind the wheel. Gounardes said the tech could have prevented the tragedy. The bill, which he cosponsored with fellow Democrat Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher, was first introduced in late January.
The tech, which works just like Breathalyzer ignitions, is known as intelligent speed assistance technology and is being installed in new cars sold in the European Union. Virginia became the first U.S. state to pass similar legislation last month to stop dangerous drivers. New York State has already successfully tested the technology. Gounardes said New York City did a pilot test of 500 vehicles equipped with this tech and found that every single one was able to operate within the speed limit.
Proponents for road safety have raised a concern that this legislation does not allow vehicles to be impounded for repeat speeding offenses. Under current laws, vehicles in New York City can only be impounded if the driver has racked up $350 or more in parking or red-light camera tickets. Gounardes and Gallagher are fighting to get the bill passed during this legislative session, which ends in June.
Dangerous Drivers and Pedestrian Accidents
Dangerous drivers significantly increase the severity of pedestrian accident injuries through reckless and negligent (careless) behavior. Speeding is one of the most critical factors. When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian at higher speeds, the force of impact is much greater often resulting in life-threatening or fatal injuries. Even a small increase in speed can dramatically raise the risk of death. For example, a pedestrian hit at 40 mph has an 85% chance of being killed, compared to just 5% at 20 mph.
Distracted driving also plays a major role. When drivers are texting, talking on the phone or otherwise not fully focused on the road, they are less likely to stop in. time to avoid a collision. This often results in full-speed impacts, especially at crosswalks or intersections where pedestrians have the right of way. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs further impairs a driver’s ability to react quickly and make sound judgments. This lack of control can lead to drivers veering off roads or ignoring traffic signals, endangering anyone on foot nearby. Ultimately, dangerous driving increases both the likelihood of hitting a pedestrian and the seriousness of the injuries they sustain, making these behaviors a major public safety concern.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident or bicycle accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent (careless) driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
Pedestrian accident victims and their families should remember that they can seek compensation for injuries or losses in collisions even if the victim was not walking in a marked crosswalk and even if the driver involved in collision was not charged. Our law firm recovered the full one-million-dollar insurance policy for a girl who was not in the crosswalk when a motor vehicle hit her.
For over 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. We recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
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Source: https://nypost.com/2025/03/31/us-news/ny-bill-would-force-bad-drivers-to-install-speed-limit-tech-in-cars-after-horror-crash-that-killed-mom-kids/