Although many drivers may consider speeding to be normal, there are serious and fatal repercussions. In an effort to reduce crashes and save lives, officials in New York City (NYC) are changing speed limits and safety regulations. Drivers in and around the city have experienced a number of new restrictions this year, including new regulations for e-bikes and slower speeds on nearby village roads.
Making streets safer for all users, particularly cyclists and pedestrians, is the obvious objective.
Authorities are aware that—just—asking drivers to “be responsible” is not enough. Despite the fact that speeding is completely avoidable, many people still ignore the laws. As a result, legislators are now encouraging drivers to slow down by enacting stronger legislation, lowering speed limits, and enforcing harsher penalties.
Why speed limits are changing
Many people do not take driving fast that serious while under the influence or using a phone. They believe that exceeding the limit “just a little” is safe, or “that’s never going to happen to me, I’m doing in it consciously.” However, studies reveal that even going just a little faster than you should, can turn a minor accident into a catastrophic one: according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, speeding drivers were responsible for almost one-third of all traffic fatalities in 2023.
Legislators are forced to intervene with stricter rules when drivers fail to take this seriously.
States have responded in two main ways across the nation:
- They have raised the cost of fines and the gravity of the penalties for speeding convictions.
- Certain areas have changed the laws themselves by lowering speed limits.
Even a 5 mph reduction can have a big impact, as shown by recent changes in NYC.
What is changing on NYC streets
Authorities in New York City have been especially busy revising traffic laws this year. An example is the village of Briarcliff Manor, which is located north of the city. The Board of Trustees there passed legislation last year that went into effect in May. The speed limit on the majority of village roads is now 25 mph rather than 30 mph.
Furthermore, on its website, the village said: “Reducing the speed limit from 30 MPH to 25 MPH may seem incremental, but the implications for pedestrian safety are substantial. According to studies referenced in the DTS Provident report, the likelihood of pedestrian survival in a vehicle collision is significantly higher at lower speeds.”
“At 25 MPH, both the reaction time of drivers and the stopping distance required are reduced, allowing for quicker responses to unexpected situations.” They added.
Laws regarding e-bikes were also passed in New York City. Riders are now required to keep their speed under 15 mph. Before this, there were no clear speed limits for e-bike riders. But the new rule was put into effect after a number of e-bike riders ran into with pedestrians.
NYC hopes to make progress in a few areas by the end of this year. Speed limits will once more be lowered in some places, from 25 mph to 20 mph. Following the 2023 death of Sammy Cohen, a child killed by a speeding driver, and ten years of pressure led to this change.
Safer streets for everyone on them, including the environment
NYC takes a more comprehensive approach to road safety than just imposing restrictions or penalties. It is also linked to a wider plan for the future of the city: NYC wants all of its bus fleet to be completely emission-free as part of its “Vision 2040” plan.
The implementation phase has begun after the pilot phase, which started in 2017 and ended in 2021. According to the theory, safer streets should also be cleaner, with less pollution and more environmentally friendly public transportation.