New York City has a new speed limit. Starting Friday, all vehicles plying majority of the streets in the city will have to adhere to the new 25-mph limit.
The change in New York's speed limit from 30 to 25mph was signed into law last month by Mayor Bill de Blasio. It was passed as a measure to reduce traffic deaths as part of de Blasio's Vision Zero plan. At the new speed, risks of death in a crash are cut by half.
"I think there's a real consensus in this town that we need to have people drive more carefully, more safely, and slower for the protection of our kids, our seniors," said de Blasio.
However, not all New Yorkers are pleased. Some believe it's just a new scheme for the city to earn more money, while some think it will get in the way of their work, most especially the cabbies.
Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg clarifies that the new speed limit is not about handing out tickets. Rather, it's about saving lives. She adds that speed limit signs will be going up at key gateways to the city, as well as areas where a lot of speeding accidents occur.
The new speed limit will be in effect in all streets in New York City where another limit is not posted. Parkways and highways will still allow higher speeds while school zones will still implement speeds lower than 25 mph.
To inform all drivers of the new speed limit, the city is running print, online, and radio ads and posting on electronic traffic displays as well as handing out flyers.
Anyone who goes over the limit by up to 10 mph is looking at fines between $45 and $150. Those going beyond the limit by 10 to 30 mph will have to pay up between $90 and $300, as well as 15 days of jail time. Go more than 30 mph over the speed limit and expect to pay between $180 and $600 in fines and spend up to 30 days in jail.
"Speeding kills more New Yorkers than drunk driving and cellphone use at the wheel put together. "If the NYPD enforces it properly and consistently, the new speed limit can help the city cut the number of yearly pedestrian fatalities in half, and prevent thousands of injuries," said Paul Steely White of Transportation Alternatives.
