An increasingly evasive Mayor de Blasio on Friday punted questions about his lead-footed drivers to the NYPD — saying the speeding, stop sign-blowing street maneuvers are a matter of police “security protocols.”
“Guys, listen, you need to talk to the NYPD, they can tell you about the security protocols that the drivers observe,” Hizzoner told reporters as he headed to a morning workout from his Brooklyn home.
“We take very seriously the NYPD protocols, the NYPD training, so please talk to them,” he said.
De Blasio’s two-unit SUV police detail was caught on video Thursday speeding through Queens, tearing through two stop signs, and changing lanes without signaling as the mayor rode shotgun in one of the cars.
A CBS 2 News crew clocked the mayor’s NYPD detail pushing 60 miles an hour in a 45 mile-per-hour zone, and 40 -45 mph in in a 30 mph zone, two days after de Blasio announced a sweeping “Vision Zero” plan that includes lowering the city speed limit to 25 to end traffic deaths.
Asked if he thought it was hypocritical to lay out rules that his own drivers don’t follow, de Blasio said, “Again, talk to the NYPD.”
He said he would answer questions at a press conference later in the day.
“I’ve got to go to the gym,” the mayor said when asked if he would stick to the traffic rules.
“So let me say again, the NYPD provides security protocols for the drivers. Talk to them about that. We’re very serious about Vision Zero, we’re very committed to it. We’re going to keep moving forward on it.”
The NYPD has defended its drivers, saying they are highly trained and “at certain times, under certain conditions, this training may include the use of techniques such as maintaining speed with the general flow of traffic [and] to safely keep two or more police vehicles together.”