By Linda Nwoke | Photos credit: IQ INC | Photo of Darnell Sealy-McCrorey, Public Advocate and Member, Families for Safe Streets
Niyell London McCrorey was a vibrant and gifted young woman whose future was filled with promise. She was a ‘passionate self-taught dancer and a natural peacemaker,’ says her father, Darnell Sealy-McCrorey, Public Advocate and Member of Families for Safe Streets. “Niyell had just begun her high school journey when her life was cut short while crossing an intersection on Manhattan Avenue between West 109th and 110th Streets; a speeding SUV struck her. The impact caused a traumatic brain injury, and after seven days in the pediatric intensive care unit, she passed away,” he recollected.
Each year, over 44,000 Americans are killed in traffic crashes, estimated at an average of 120 lives lost per day. Besides, more than 14,000 people suffer serious injuries daily due to traffic violence.
In New York City, according to a 2024 report from Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets, traffic crashes claimed the lives of more than 250 New Yorkers—an average of one death in over a day, indicating a rise in pedestrian and child fatalities. In addition, there was over 30% and 20% increase, respectively, in child deaths and pedestrian fatalities compared to 2023.
One death is one too many, as every loss dims a light, ends a story, and shatters lives.
Surprisingly, despite the 30% reduction in violations due to New York City’s 24/7 speed safety camera, repeat lawbreakers continue to pose a significant threat and cause of traffic violence. Data shows that one driver received over 500 speeding tickets in one year.
Now, families that have been personally affected by traffic violence are calling for immediate legislative reform, including Darnell and others who act as advocates for the group. The death of his daughter and those of so many others could have been prevented if specific policies were in place to prevent frequent offenders from continuing their behavior.
About Families for Safe Streets
Darnell’s pain led him to Families for Safe Streets (FSS), a national advocacy group with over 1,100 members. The group gathers individuals who have experienced similar losses or have been personally affected by these tragedies to push for safer streets and stronger traffic safety legislation nationwide. Darnell described the organization’s mission as saving lives and preventing traffic-related deaths.
Founded in 2014 by New York City families who lost loved ones to traffic crashes, Families for Safe Streets has grown into a powerful national movement. Their mission is to end the epidemic of traffic violence through brave advocacy and by supporting victims of crashes. Besides advocacy, Families for Safe Streets also offers compassionate support services to crash victims and survivors across the United States, ensuring that they don’t face the trauma of traffic violence alone.
Members are motivated by the desire to turn personal tragedy into purpose. They share personal stories of loss and survival to push for proven, life-saving policy reforms. The members strongly believe that many serious injuries or deaths on the streets of New York City are preventable. They are not “accidents” but products of systemic failures that are fixable through legislation.
The Traffic Violence Speed Limit Bill
One such proposal is the “Speed Limiters for Reckless Drivers” bill. Darnell described the bill as a vital step toward protecting communities from reckless and the most dangerous drivers on the road. “This bill is super important—not just to me, but to many people in the community,” says Darnell. He described it as modeled after drunk driving prevention tools like Breathalyzers; the bill targets repeat speed offenders, requiring those who receive six speeding tickets within a year to install a speed-limiting device in their vehicles. “This device would prevent cars from exceeding speed limits—such as 25mph on city streets—by automatically decelerating them,” he explained.
In his view, it is more than just a punitive measure; rather, the bill is described as a tool for behavioral change. “We’re not saying punish the driver,” he explained. “We’re saying, here’s a way to help you become more aware of your reckless behavior—because you can take lives.” Darnell highlighted the bipartisan success of similar legislation in Virginia. He noted growing support in New York, with Senator Andrew Gounardes sponsoring the bill and other lawmakers like Senator Cordell Cleare signing on. “This is no joke,” Darnell stated. “We need to become more aware of the speed on these streets—because 27mph behind the wheel can be deadly.”
Suggested Ways of Supporting the Bill
The general public’s involvement is central to the bill’s popularity, so it is urged to gather momentum for its passage. Darnell encouraged anyone supporting the legislation to visit the Families for Safe Streets website. The platform offers detailed information about the bill, its purpose, and how it aims to curb dangerous driving by requiring repeat speed offenders to install speed-limiting devices in their vehicles.
He explained that getting involved is simple. “Once you go to the website and look up the bill, you can engage by contacting any of the organizers or admins,” says Darnell. The team behind Families for Safe Streets is ready to help community members learn more and take action in various capacities—whether that means spreading awareness, reaching out to lawmakers, or joining advocacy efforts.
Families for Safe Streets and its Mandate
Families for Safe Streets (FSS) is a deeply personal and supportive organization composed of individuals who have experienced or witnessed firsthand traffic violence. According to Darnell, “Everyone who is a part of this organization has witnessed, if not been involved, but has witnessed traffic violence or the loss of a loved one.” Members are bound by shared grief, resilience, and a commitment to pushing through life’s most challenging moments.
The organization provides a genuine support system. “Any time that I’m depressed or just going through these emotions, I can get on my phone and contact any of these organizers,” Darnell stated, “There’s real moral support behind this organization. It’s not just for show.”
He recalled a recent moment when he met a woman who had lost her one-year-old daughter to traffic violence. “She started crying… I introduced her to the organization,” he said.
For Darnell, FSS has become a vital part of his journey toward healing. While he admits to still waking up angry every day from the loss of his daughter, he finds solace and strength through the organization. “I now have the option to channel that anger with something positive,” he said. Through therapy and his involvement with FSS, he has learned to turn his pain into power. The organization gives members a way to use their grief constructively, offering a sense of purpose and a healthy coping mechanism during one of life’s most difficult trials.
Message/Call to Action
When asked about his main message for drivers, Darnell Sealy-McCrorey didn’t hesitate: “Slow down. Stop speeding.” His plea comes from a place of deep, personal pain—the unimaginable loss of his daughter to traffic violence. “No parent should ever have to bury their child,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion. It’s a reality he never thought he’d face and one he now works tirelessly to prevent for others.
Reflecting on how policy can save lives, Darnell spoke about proposed legislation that could have made a difference. He wondered if the installation of the device could have saved his daughter’s life. McCrorey believes many drivers aren’t even aware of how fast they’re going until it’s too late. He hopes that by embracing safer driving habits and supporting new safety laws, others will be spared his daily heartbreak of losing a child.
Read Document: We Need Speed Limiters for the Most Reckless Drivers (S4045/A2299-A )
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