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New York passes ‘slow down to get around’ bill

New York passes ‘slow down to get around’ bill
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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed into law Senate Bill 4268 (sponsored by Sen. Carl Marcellino, R-5th, and identical to Assembly Bill 7763 sponsored by Assemblyman Michael DenDekker, D-34th), which will require motorists to slow down when passing waste and recycling collection vehicles starting in November. Now enacted, the legislation is incorporated into Chapter 293 of New York state law.

New York is now the 12th state to enact this legislation, commonly referred to as “Slow Down to Get Around,” which is designed to protect waste and recycling workers.

Motorists are now required to slow down around waste and recycling trucks when actively engaged in making collections when safety lights are flashing, similar to cautions motorists must now exercise when traveling through a construction work zone or when passing a stopped public safety vehicle. The new law will become effective in November. New York is the latest state to enact this legislation, which is part of a nationwide campaign by the National Waste and Recycling Association (NWRA), Washington, and its state chapter, with heavy involvement with the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA).

“SWANA was an active supporter of this effort in New York,” says David Biderman, SWANA CEO and executive director. “Our chapter and members will work tirelessly throughout the state to educate drivers to ‘move over’ when driving near waste and recycling vehicles.”

The effort in New York involved a broad coalition of private waste and recycling companies, labor groups and municipal leaders in getting this important worker safety measure enacted into law.

“This law is about the safety of waste and recycling collectors who serve our communities statewide,” says Steve Changaris, New York state chapter manager for NWRA. “Now all motorists are to exercise caution and must slow down to get around waste and recycling vehicles, which will save lives and prevent unnecessary accidents and injuries. Our focus now turns to raising awareness of the new law and educating New Yorkers of the dangers that collection workers face daily on our roadways.”

The most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the waste and recycling collection occupation ranks fifth in the nation for injuries, accidents and fatalities, and more recent data shows that many accidents involving waste and collection workers are caused by inattentive motorists and distracted driving. New York now joins eleven other states that have enacted “Slow Down to Get Around,” including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

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Source: Recycling Today
New York passes ‘slow down to get around’ bill
<![CDATA[New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed into law Senate Bill 4268 (sponsored by Sen. Carl Marcellino, R-5th, and identical to Assembly Bill 7763 sponsored by Assemblyman Michael DenDekker, D-34th), which will require motorists to slow down when passing waste and recycling collection vehicles starting in November. Now enacted, the legislation is incorporated into Chapter 293 of New York state law.New York is now the 12th state to enact this legislation, commonly referred to as “Slow Down to Get Around,” which is designed to protect waste and recycling workers.Motorists are now required to slow down around waste and recycling trucks when actively engaged in making collections when safety lights are flashing, similar to cautions motorists must now exercise when traveling through a construction work zone or when passing a stopped public safety vehicle. The new law will become effective in November. New York is the latest state to enact this legislation, which is part of a nationwide campaign by the National Waste and Recycling Association (NWRA), Washington, and its state chapter, with heavy involvement with the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA).”SWANA was an active supporter of this effort in New York,” says David Biderman, SWANA CEO and executive…

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