Council
Members Stephen Levin and Ydanis Rodriguez are introducing a resolution
calling on the New York State Legislature to pass legislation that
would lower New York City's speed limits to 20 miles per hour unless
otherwise noted and to give the City Council the authority to impose
different speed limits in the city. New York State law currently sets 30
miles per hour as the speed limit in New York City unless otherwise
noted.
The
chances of survival after being struck by a vehicle increase
dramatically when a vehicle travels at a slower speed. A study conducted
by the United Kingdom Transportation Department found that a pedestrian
has a 45 percent chance of dying if struck by a vehicle traveling at 30
miles per hour, but when the vehicle is traveling at 20 miles per hour
there is only a 5 percent chance of death.
Senator
Martin Dilan and Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell have introduced
legislation in the State Legislature that would allow New York City to
lower the city's speed limit to 20 miles per hour unless otherwise
posted.
Council Member Stephen Levin
said, "The data is conclusive: slower speeds decrease the probability
that someone will be seriously injured or killed in a crash. We have
seen time and time again the pain inflicted on families as the result of
crashes and we as New Yorkers refuse to stand by and let another person
be killed in traffic. By reducing speed limits in New York City we will
save lives and achieve the goals of Vision Zero. I want to thank
Senator Dilan and Assemblyman O'Donnell for introducing this legislation
at the state level and urge their colleagues for their support."
"Speed kills, plain and simple," said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez.
"Whether here or in Albany, we as legislators have a responsibility to
protect the lives of our constituents. Easily avoidable traffic deaths
devastate our city and we must be given the tools to prevent them. When
lives are at stake, death is the price of inaction."
According
to NYPD data, in 2013 alone 268 people - including 168 pedestrians -
were killed in traffic crashes in New York City. Additionally, unsafe
speed was cited as a contributing factor in over 3,000 collisions that
resulted in injuries or fatalities.
Editors Note:
What is needed is more enforcement of the laws that are currently in effect.
More police officers on patrol, and not answers like more cameras to catch offenders because there is no real penalty for the offending driver. It is not the offender who has to pay for the fine from a camera it is the owner of the vehicle.
