This year, 2025, has been full of changes in regulations related to road safety throughout the United States. Modifications have been made regarding speeding, both by changing speed limits and installing surveillance cameras, with the aim of reducing the number of accidents caused by these factors, thanks to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). New York has not been an exception, as it also changed its speed limit with the Sammy Law, reducing it from 25 mph to 20 mph.
Additionally, the speed limit for e-bikes, e-scooters, and electric bicycles has recently been adjusted, which will not be allowed to exceed 15 mph in the city. The city’s mayor, Eric Adams, has defended this change, arguing the need to establish clear regulations for this type of vehicle, which are increasingly used by New Yorkers, and which can also pose a road safety problem if the rules are not followed.
Changes in speed limits
Due to the apparent tendency of drivers not to respect speed limits, engaging in reckless driving above the limits and putting at risk not only their own safety but also that of other drivers on the road, lawmakers and legal drafters have been forced to make modifications to the existing regulations. These changes have affected the entire country, which has not only seen alterations in speed limits but also changes in the consequences for failing to comply with the laws. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate that one-third of road-related deaths in 2023 were associated with speeding. Therefore, in light of this scenario, authorities have considered reducing this figure a national priority.
Measures to combat violation of road laws
Authorities have been forced to modify laws related to road safety. This includes everything from increasing fines for speeding to implementing automated camera technology on the roads. With the aim of ensuring that penalties are fair and correspond to each individual’s income, alternatives have also been considered, as happened in Arizona. There, the use of devices to limit the speed of drivers’ vehicles was proposed. In this way, they would not be able to exceed the speed set by the device, and they would also have to cover not only the installation costs but also pay a daily fee of $4 per day for the device’s operation.
Changes in New York City
New York City has also experienced changes related to speed limits. Specifically, thanks to the approval of Sammy’s Law, which first came into effect in 2013, the speed limit has been reduced from 25 mph to 20 mph. This law was promoted following the murder of a 12-year-old boy, Sammy Cohen, by a speeding driver. In addition to the speed limit modification for vehicles on the road, a speed limit for electric bicycles and e-scooters has also been approved.
This new initiative, supported by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, prompted the following statements: “This new 15 miles per hour speed limit for electric bikes aims to keep New Yorkers safe while continuing to keep our city moving. As more New Yorkers turn to bicycles and electric scooters to get around our city, New Yorkers have asked us to establish clear and consistent rules to address this issue and protect everyone”. This new regulation responds to the citizens’ need to establish measures that regulate all vehicles that may endanger the safety and integrity of other citizens.
