Cuomo to propose stretch limo ban in New York following fatal crash

[Eugene]

Source: The Hill

Cuomo to propose stretch limo ban in New York following fatal crash

BY BRETT SAMUELS - 01/15/19 10:03 AM EST

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on Tuesday will propose additional regulations on the state's limousine industry, including a ban on "stretched" limousines following a deadly crash last year involving one of the vehicles.

The Albany Times Union reported that Cuomo will discuss the proposals when he unveils his 2019 budget. The governor is seeking to strengthen oversight of limousine passenger vehicles through the Departments of Transportation and Motor Vehicles.

In a statement to the Times Union, Cuomo cited an October crash in Schoharie County that killed 20 people after a remanufactured limousine slammed into a parked vehicle and struck two pedestrians. Both pedestrians were killed, as were all 18 people inside the limousine.

-snip-

The Times Union said Cuomo will propose several changes, including the creation of new penalties for any Department of Motor Vehicles inspection station that illegally issues an inspection sticker; the elimination of the exception to seatbelt requirements for limousines, buses, taxis, liveries; and the prohibition of U-turns for larger vehicles on all state roads.

-snip-

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/425380-cuomo-to-propose-stretch-limo-ban-in-new-york-following-in-wake-of

[Jake Stern]

2. I've noticed that his response to nearly every tragedy is to push for a ban

Nobody does knee jerk nanny state quite like Cuomo.

Guarantee more New Yorkers die from food poisoning in one year that have been killed by stretch limos since the beginning of freaking time - should Andy ban restaurants as well?

[edhopper]

5. food poisoning

is also banned,

[Jake Stern]

8. But the restaurants transmit it

Time for Andy to call for a ban!

[edhopper]

10. Those long, long stretch limos

are a hazard. I have no problem with banning them.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

13. Thing looks like a death trap for anyone in the passenger compartment not near the back doors.

Keep the limos but make them adhere to safety standards (suitable emergency exits, seatbelts) and pass crash tests.

[edhopper]

14. an interior

nothing dangerous here.

[Takket]

3. Ban limos? That is stupid.

Do you know how many lives limos save by providing a professional driver to chauffeur around large groups of drunken revelers who aren’t using their own cars instead?

[edhopper]

4. The ban is for

those rediculous stretch limos.

Not livery limos.

[Blue_true]

6. Exactly.

There are SUVs that can carry 6-9 partiers, on a stable frame. The problem with really stretched limos is that the chassis is weak in some areas of the stretch, it works ok as long an forces above a certain level do not occur, but if those forces do, the entire passenger cabin of the limo crumble.

[Jake Stern]

7. Surprised Cuomo hasn't pushed for a bathtub ban

More New Yorkers have died from falls in their bathtubs than have died in stretch limos.

[mr_lebowski]

9. Bathtubs are a lot more essential than stretch limos ... this is not sound logic, Jake ... (nt)

The stretches in NYC can be sold off to other areas without the ban (or simply transferred there by larger limo companies).

Even if that 'stretch ban' part doesn't pass NY state legislature, I've never quite understood the logic as to why seatbelts aren't required when travelling in a limo, but they are for all other vehicles? What's the logic behind that?

That seems like a common-sense regulation ...

[edhopper]

11. I think Jake

works for a stretch limo company.

[FakeNoose]

12. I hope they do get banned and New York leads the way

These oversize limos are unsafe and unnecessary. When you need to transport 18 people, there are buses and minivans for that.

Limousines should have a max. weight limit, or a maximum # persons limit.
Something had to go wrong before people realize the danger.