After driver killed Natasha Saada and her daughters, calls grow for speed limiters bill

New York City elected officials intensified calls yesterday for Albany to pass the "Stop Super Speeders" bill following a deadly crash in Brooklyn. The legislation, which has stalled in the state capital for years, would require "speed limiter" technology on vehicles of drivers with repeated speeding violations. The push comes as traffic deaths in the city have surpassed gun deaths for the second consecutive year, according to recent data.

The renewed effort follows a tragic incident over the weekend, where a driver with a suspended license struck and killed Natasha Saada and her two daughters crossing a street in Brooklyn. A fourth victim, the woman’s son, remains in critical condition.

Miraim Yarimi, the driver who strcuk Natsha Saada and her daughters, killing them, had an abysmal driving record.

As reported by the NY Post, "[She] racked up over 93 traffic violations on [her designer license plate] “WIGM8KER” including 20 speeding tickets, with more than $10,000 in fines, according to the online records site “How’s My Driving.” Those violations include a ticket for speeding through a school zone in Brooklyn on March 16 ... Since August 2023, her Audi has received 20 speed-camera tickets and five red-light tickets, as well as dozens of parking infractions."

Brooklyn Assembly member Emily Gallagher, a co-sponsor of the bill, said, "A lot of what gets a bill prioritized comes from a movement and people fighting for it."

Gallagher joined state Sen. Andrew Gounardes, another sponsor, and city Comptroller Brad Lander at a press conference on Monday outside Borough Hall in Downtown Brooklyn. Alongside members of Families for Safe Streets, they urged immediate action. The bill targets drivers with 11 or more license points in 24 months or six speed or red-light camera tickets in a year, mandating intelligent speed assistance technology. "It’s not enough to mourn these preventable tragedies. We must act," Gounardes said, noting the driver in the recent crash had numerous violations.

The proposal mirrors the stalled Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Act, which sought safety courses for repeat offenders, and aligns with existing state laws requiring ignition interlock devices for drunk driving convictions.

YWN contributed to this article.