TFN’s Advocacy Spotlight Series, spearheaded by the network’s Mobility and Access Collaborative, lifts up the work of nonprofit grantees making an impact in their communities and beyond. We asked funders to nominate a stellar grantee to be featured in this series. We’ll share these Advocacy Spotlights TFN’s Blog and social media platforms as part of our commitment to amplifying community-led sustainability solutions and building the field of philanthropy through shared learning.
Advocacy Spotlight: Families for Safe Streets
Nominated by: Natalie Draisin, Director, North America Office and United Nations Representative, FIA Foundation
Families for Safe Streets hosted the Queens Children’s March Street Safety in March 2024 following a deadly crash that killed a child in the New York City community. The march drew more than 300 participants, most of them families from the school districts in the areas.
About Families for Safe Streets
Families for Safe Streets (FSS) is at the forefront of a movement to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries by addressing one of the most significant yet preventable causes of crashes: speeding. Their work is rooted in evidence-based solutions, including advocating for 20mph speed limits and promoting Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology, both of which are proven to save lives.
FSS is driven by the lived experiences of crash survivors and families who have lost loved ones to traffic violence. Their advocacy is not only personal but also deeply impactful in shaping policy at the local, state, and national levels. In 2024 alone, they successfully passed legislation in New York State to allow 20mph speed limits, played a key role in Washington D.C.’s adoption of ISA for reckless drivers, and helped introduce ISA legislation in six states.
The organization prioritizes equity by focusing on the disproportionate impact of unsafe roadways on marginalized communities. Lower-income neighborhoods and communities of color often face higher rates of traffic violence due to historical underinvestment in safe infrastructure. By advocating for lower speed limits and ISA technology — especially for the most reckless drivers — FSS is actively working to make streets safer for those who need it most. Their coalition-building efforts, which include organizations such as AARP-NY, the United Federation of Teachers, and the National Transportation Safety Board, reflect their commitment to a broad, intersectional approach to roadway safety.
Families for Safe Street members at the official signing ceremony for Sammy’s Law with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in May 2024, following almost five years of campaigning.
About Their Impact
One of Families for Safe Streets’ most significant victories in 2024 was the passage of Sammy’s Law, a bill that allows NYC to limit speeds to 20mph, a historic policy change that aligns with global best practices. The implementation of these lower speed limits began in October 2024, with FSS leading efforts to secure community support across New York City through advocacy at local Community Board meetings. Their persistent efforts have made New York City a national model, demonstrating that such policies are achievable even in the most complex urban environments.
In addition to their work on speed limits, FSS has been instrumental in advancing Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) legislation. Their advocacy led to the passage of an ISA for Reckless Drivers bill in Washington D.C., and they played a major role in pushing similar legislation in California (SB961). Despite the California governor’s veto following an aggressive lobbying campaign by auto manufacturers, FSS successfully brought national attention to ISA, laying the groundwork for further legislative victories. The latest news of success comes from their state-level ISA push. They have successfully passed bills through three legislatures in the past four months: Virginia, Georgia, and Washington State. They are working on additional bills in New York State, California, Maryland, and Arizona. Their hope is to dramatically expand the number of state-level bills introduced across the country next year.
In December 2024, they co-founded a national ISA coalition, which has already introduced legislation in six states, including Virginia, where a bill is making its way through the legislature. Through strategic advocacy, grassroots organizing, and an unwavering commitment to traffic safety, Families for Safe Streets is proving that bold policy changes can save lives. Their work is not just about changing laws—it’s about shifting cultural norms and ensuring that safe streets are a right, not a privilege.
Families for Safe Streets supporters celebrate a successful community board vote to redesign the most dangerous corridor on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in 2016. The campaign took more than three years, and was prompted by a string of particularly horrible crashes in the community.
Learn More
Learn more about Families for Safe Streets work at this upcoming webinar, How Technology Can Stop Super Speeders on Monday, May 7 at 2 p.m. ET.
Featured Image: Following a crash that killed two children in Brooklyn, around 1,000 people participated in the 2018 Brooklyn Children’s Rally for Street Safety
Photo Credit: All photos provided by Families for Safe Streets.
About this series: TFN invited funders to nominate a stellar grantee to be featured in the Mobility and Access Collaborative’s Advocacy Spotlight series. The stories in this series were submitted by funders and shared with nominees in advance for fact-checking and further clarification when needed. If you have any questions about this series or TFN’s Mobility and Access Collaborative, please contact Martha Roskowski martha@fundersnetwork.org