Mayor De Blasio's Vision Zero Plan Under Fire Following Pedestrian Deaths
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Mayor Bill de Blasio went on the defense Monday over his Vision Zero traffic plan following the deaths of two pedestrians over the weekend.
"What we say in other places that have attempted these strategies -- and Sweden is particularly famous for it, but other places as well -- the rallying cry really mattered," de blasio said.
The mayor noted that a lot of what will make Vision Zero work is based on what individuals choose to do, WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported.
"The whole message around Vision Zero and all the energy it's created and all the local discussion it's created is helping to change behavior," he said. "Some of it comes down to government being smarter; the speed cameras around schools, the traffic calming measures, the speed limit."
Two men were fatally struck by vehicles in separate hit-and-run incidents early Sunday morning.
In the Bronx, a 26-year-old man was hit by a cab as he tried to cross Pelham Parkway near White Plains Road at around 1 a.m.
The driver remained on the scene following the crash, but the victim was then hit by a second vehicle that did not stop. The victim was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he later died.
Two hours later, a 33-year-old man, identified as Doohee Cho, was struck by a car while crossing Fifth Avenue between East 15th and East 16th streets.
Cho, of Manhattan, was rushed to Bellevue Hospital Center, where he was pronounced dead.
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