By Jeff Lipton
The Woodmere couple have crusaded for protective measures in taxicabs and livery vehicles to ensure the safety of other children.
As a result, Gov. George Pataki has signed into law a measure requiring that safety restraints in taxicabs and livery vehicles be clearly visible, properly maintained and easily accessible for passengers.
The measure, named Adam's Law after the popular teenager, will also require the posting of a notice inside these vehicles, informing passengers that the seat belts are available and recommended for use.
The Woodmere teen, who was not wearing a safety belt, and five friends were on their way to a camp reunion at about 9 p.m. on Oct. 28, 2000, when the driver lost control and struck a guardrail on the Northern Boulevard exit ramp in Bayside, Queens. The vehicle overturned and Barsel was killed instantly, officials said. Another teen was seriously injured in the accident, but survived. The driver of the cab was not charged, officials said.
Rhonda Barsel, a health and phys. ed. teacher at Lawrence Middle School, said the measure is a first step in protecting our community with a mandated seat belt law in these vehicles. We want to make cab drivers more responsible for making sure our kids buckle up, she said.
After the death of their son, the Barsels founded Parents Against Irresponsible Drivers (PAID) to raise awareness about the possibly negligent and illegal practices of some taxicab and livery companies.
I'm really happy [about the law], because we are able to protect against other families' going through the same tragedy my family has gone through, Mrs. Barsel said.
Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Beach), the law's sponsor, said he worked many hours with Adam's parents on a seat belt bill to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again. The bill was introduced at the request of the Barsels.
This new law will protect people when they are being transported by taxis and limousines, said Weisenberg. I am confident that if the safety measures that this law requires had been in place, Adam Barsel would still be with us today.
It has been a privilege to work with Adam's family and witness their hard work and dedication in implementing these protections so that other families in New York state do not have to endure the endless pain and suffering that comes with losing a child, Weisenberg added. I shared their pain with these people and I gave my word that I would get something done, and I got it passed in the Assembly, he said.
Governor Pataki said the incident highlighted the need to raise awareness and educate people in the importance of wearing a seat belt when traveling in a taxi or livery vehicle. Seat belts are proven life-savers, and smart initiatives like our Buckle-Up New York' campaign have helped save countless lives by increasing seat belt usage to record levels, Pataki said. This important public-safety measure will encourage more passengers to wear their seat belts so that we can help to prevent needless tragedies like the one that took the life of young Adam Barsel.
State Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), who also sponsored the bill, applauded the governor for signing the measure into law. It's a fact, seat belts save lives, Skelos said. By ensuring that all taxicabs are equipped with properly functioning safety restraints and promoting their use, I am hopeful that future tragedies, like the one that claimed the life of Adam Barsel, are prevented.
Raymond P. Martinez, commissioner of the state Department of Motor Vehicles, said New York has one of the highest seat belt compliance rates in the country. We continue to have a zero-tolerance policy for violators, and Adam's Law' is just another step to ensure that our roadways remain among the safest in the nation, he said.
Rhonda Barsel said she has mixed emotions about the law's being named after her son, because it evokes terrible memories of the accident, yet it is a way to keep Adam's memory alive in a very positive way. It's part of the healing process, she said. She has managed to cope with the tragedy, which is approaching its third anniversary, by having such a supportive community and family, Mrs. Barsel said.
