https://www.google.com/search?q=vehicular+manslaughter+ny&sa...
Did you even look up that “fact” before asserting it as your incontrovertible truth?
Source: https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2014/01/31/nypd-16059-pedestrian...
Of the 96 cases covered of a pedestrian being killed by a motorvehicle that didn't involve a DUI, a police chase, or premeditated murder, only a single one was charged with vehicular homicide. So yeah, it's been bad for a while. The most drivers used to get was a small fine and a moving violation and then go about their lives. Heck, I watched a woman get killed by a cab maybe 15 years ago and nothing happened to the driver at all.
A law finally passed in 2014 to address the legal precedent after a 9 year old walking with his dad in a cross walk with the light was run down by a cab and the drive got a small fine and a minor traffic infraction. Here are some details: https://www.citylab.com/equity/2014/10/the-outrageous-unjust...
In my original post, I should have said more than a few years ago rather than in the last few years, but I can't edit it now.