Our History
Families for Safe Streets (FSS) was founded in New York City in 2014 by families of loved ones who were killed or injured in crashes. Our early success in New York City showed the power of grassroots advocacy to create life-saving change.
By partnering with the local street safety organization Transportation Alternatives — leaders in reclaiming NYC streets for people since 1973 — our fight for safe streets became a reality. TA provided much-needed resources, strategic guidance, and planning. Families for Safe Streets amplified TA’s advocacy through bold campaigns and story sharing.
As FSS won major legislative and policy victories in New York, other local advocacy organizations took notice, asking how they could establish an FSS chapter.
Today, Families for Safe Streets is a thriving grassroots advocacy organization powered by people directly impacted by crashes. We are now over a thousand members strong, working tirelessly for legislative and policy change in communities across the country.
2014
FSS established as a New York City grassroots advocacy organization in partnership with Transportation Alternatives.
FSS successfully advocates for lower speed limits in NYC, from 30 mph to 25 mph, reducing traffic deaths by more than 22% and people killed while walking by more than 25% within one year.
FSS advocacy wins speed cameras in 140 NYC school zones, resulting in a dramatic decline in speeds, a 23% drop in crashes, and 15% fewer injury crashes.
2015-2016
FSS NYC launches redesign of Queens Boulevard (previously known as “the boulevard of death”), resulting in a dramatic decline in deaths, including 3 years with not a single traffic death.
#EverySchool campaign launched with gains made for speed camera expansion in NYC making it the largest speed camera program in the nation.
First FSS chapters form outside of NYC, in Northern Oregon/SW Washington and the San Francisco Bay Area, CA.
FSS NYC held the first, major World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims commemoration in the country as hundreds marched from City Hall to the United Nations demanding change. This huge success becomes a model for other chapters and other organizations with many dozens held annually in subsequent years.
2017-2020
15 new FSS chapters established including: Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, and Richmond, VA; New Jersey; Greater Los Angeles in Southern California; Toronto, Canada, Philadelphia, PA; Central Texas; Greater Washington DC; Provo, UT; Atlanta, GA; and Nashville TN.
Washington, DC chapter successfully advocates for Vision Zero Omnibus legislation that mandates street design changes, speed safety cameras, signal timing to protect vulnerable road users, and more.
NYC chapter successfully fights for master plan to redesign NYC’s most dangerous streets and expansion of the speed safety cameras program so that it is now the nation’s largest program and operates.
2021-2022
FSS joins national partners to successfully advocate for a commitment to zero traffic deaths.
Transportation Secretary Buttigieg announces the first-ever national goal of zero roadway deaths and commits to specific actions to advance the goal of safe mobility for all people.
"Today we commit that our goal is this: zero. Our goal is zero deaths; a country where, one day, nobody has to say goodbye to a loved one because of a traffic crash."
(Read the Secretary’s remarks)FSS Chapters established in Montgomery County MD, Cleveland OH, and San Diego CA.
FSS founder, Amy Cohen participates in National Fireside Chat with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to discuss roadway safety ahead of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
Greater Philadelphia FSS chapter successfully advocates for speed camera program on Roosevelt Boulevard, resulting in a 90% reduction in excessive speeding, a 36% drop in car crashes, and 50% fewer traffic deaths in the first seven months.
San Francisco Bay Area FSS helps win statewide authorization for communities to lower speed limits and overrules the federal Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) requirement that speed limits be set at the speed that 85% of drivers are going.
FSS NYC successfully fights for the speed safety camera program to operate daily 24/7.
2023
San Francisco Bay Area, Southern California, and San Diego FSS advocates successfully advocate for AB 645, allowing six California cities to pilot speed safety cameras.
FSS Washington DC successfully advocates for the country’s first-ever legislation mandating Intelligent Speed Assistance for repeat speeding drivers.
Greater Philadelphia FSS chapter secures $78M grant from USDOT Safe Streets and Road for All to redesign Roosevelt Boulevard.
Philadelphia member Latanya Byrd participates in panel discussion for White House Convening on Equity.
2024-Present
FSS NYC successfully advocates for Sammy’s Law granting NYC control over its speed limits.
FSS members from across NYS partner with local street safety organizations to secure lowering local speed limits to 25 mph.
FSS partners with other national organizations to send over 150 advocates to Washington DC to share their personal stories with lawmakers and push for life-saving legislation.