A new city program will help riders figure out what commuter vans aren’t playing by the rules, as part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s “Vision Zero” plan to end traffic deaths.
Many illegal van operators drive recklessly, and none goes through proper safety inspections, officials said Thursday.
“They’re often observed speeding and making unsafe lane changes,” said Jessica Taylor, an assistant general counsel at the Taxi and Limousine Commission. “Even driving on the sidewalk or the wrong way in traffic to avoid enforcement.”
In a new pilot program, legit vans will have distinctive TLC decals on them, similar to yellow and green cabs, so riders can recognize them easily.
“This will allow legal commuter vans to carry branding much like yellow taxis and borough taxis so passengers can easily identify them for the safe, legal transportation they provide,” said TLC Commissioner Meera Joshi.
The agency will also work more closely with the NYPD on taking illegal vans off the road.
Between July last year and the end of June this year, cops seized 637 unlicensed vans.
The pilot program will also look at the experiences of licensed commuter van drivers, and study how many commuter van services there are.
The city’s almost 500 licensed commuter vans have insurance, and their drivers are vetted by the Taxi and Limousine Commission.
They are often found on streets like York Avenue on the Upper East Side and Main Street in Flushing, where there aren’t enough transit options for residents.