New York Assembly Bill A07931

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/15/25
• Refer: 4/15/25

Caption

Enacts "Shawn's law"; requires persons driving on a state expressway route, state interstate route, or state thruway route to pull over and seek assistance if their vehicle is unable to exceed thirty-five miles per hour; requires the division of state police to conduct an accident reconstruction and create a report in the case of certain accidents resulting in a fatality.

Impact

In addition to the speed-pulling regulation, the bill introduces a requirement for the division of state police to conduct accident reconstructions involving fatalities that occur on designated state expressways and thoroughfares. This addition aims to provide a structured approach to understanding and documenting serious accidents, ultimately leading to better road safety statistics. The mandated reports could enable the revision of existing traffic laws, addressing any deficiencies and improving overall traffic enforcement policies.

Summary

Bill A07931, known as 'Shawn's Law', aims to enhance roadway safety by mandating that drivers on state expressways, interstates, or thruways who are unable to exceed a speed of thirty-five miles per hour must pull over to the right-hand shoulder and seek assistance. This requirement is designed to reduce accidents and ensure that vehicles traveling at significantly reduced speeds do not pose a hazard to other motorists. The bill seeks to address a critical safety issue by formalizing a protocol for slow-moving vehicles, thus promoting safer travel conditions on busy highways.

Contention

Some points of contention surrounding A07931 may arise from debates over the effectiveness and practicality of enforcing such a requirement, especially in various driving conditions or environments. Opponents might argue that the obligation to pull over could create additional safety risks, especially in heavy traffic or adverse weather conditions. Furthermore, there could be discussions regarding the financial implications of enforcing the accident reconstruction requirement, including the allocation of resources and personnel required to implement the new policy effectively.