To Mark Pedestrian Safety Awareness Month, The Department of Motor Vehicles and Governor's Traffic Safety Committee Join Traffic Safety Partners to Urge Drivers and Pedestrians to Look Out for Each Other

To mark Pedestrian Safety Awareness Month this October, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and members of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) gathered to memorialize the victims of a crash that killed three pedestrians 15 years ago and to remind drivers to look out for pedestrians every day of the year.

The three women killed were members of the Empire State Capital Volkssporters, a walking group that regularly sponsors 5K and 10K walks through various cities, towns, neighborhoods and historic sites. They were struck in a church parking lot in Voorheesville, Albany County, by a driver impaired by prescription medication.

“Pedestrians are among the most vulnerable road users, and drivers need look out for them by being vigilant and aware of their surroundings, avoiding distractions and being sober before getting behind the wheel," said New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Acting Commissioner Christian Jackstadt. “Having grown up in this very neighborhood this tragedy is a sad reminder that life-changing crashes can happen anywhere and everywhere. These three women had done nothing wrong and were in fact just waiting to take a walk with their friends. Traffic safety is public safety, and Governor Kathy Hochul has made public safety and fighting for New York families her priority.  DMV and GTSC share that priority, and we work tirelessly in that effort every day with law enforcement and community partners.”

NYS Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “Governor Kathy Hochul is laser focused on public safety - and that means working to keep all users of the transportation system safe, especially our most vulnerable road users - pedestrians.  As part of our critical safety mission, New York State DOT works each day to reduce conflicts between cars and pedestrians, with a goal of reducing pedestrian fatalities to zero.  The 15-year anniversary of this heartbreaking crash is a stark reminder that every pedestrian death is preventable.”

Mary Tanner-Richter, DMV Deputy Commissioner for Traffic Safety and Investigations, said, “As the prosecutor of this devastating crash, I witnessed the raw pain it caused three families, their loved ones and this community. And although fifteen years have passed, the families’ heartbreak and loss remains, and the community’s memory has not faltered. I urge all New Yorkers to slow down, drive sober, always, always, always, check for pedestrians, and do all that you can to prevent another tragedy like this one.”

Voorheesville Mayor Richard Straut said, “I want to commend DMV, GTSC and DOT for their efforts to make pedestrian safer in New York. Our village still remembers the tragedy outside of St. Matthew’s all too well.  We have made pedestrian safety a priority here, and worked together with local, county and state partners to make improvements to our sidewalks and crossings and put other traffic calming measures in place to make sure our roads safe for everyone.”

Cathy Pallozzi, daughter of Frances Pallozzi, said, “15 years later, not a day goes by that I don’t think about my mother, Rosemarie and Carol. I carry their memory with me and share their story in the hopes that it makes at least one person think twice before getting behind the wheel and spares another family from a tragedy that our families have had to endure. Please, do not drive impaired or distracted and keep your eyes open for pedestrians and others on or near the road.”

In 2024, the last full year of statistics from the Institute for Traffic Safety Management & Research, there were 14,878 crashes involving pedestrians in New York State. Of those, 289 resulted in a death and 14,320 resulted in an injury.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee advises drivers and pedestrians to keep the following in mind on the road:

Drivers:
 

Pedestrians and drivers should never assume that a driver or pedestrian has seen them. They should establish eye contact or adjust their activity to make sure the other person is aware of their presence.

Learn more about pedestrian safety and other traffic safety initiatives on DMV’s website and the GTSC website. We also encourage you to follow the DMV conversation on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn and see what is being discussed on GTSC’s Facebook, GTSC’s X and GTSC's Instagram channel.  

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