NEW YORK CITY, NY – According to an online news report from abc7ny.com, speed limits in New York City are being reduced by five MPH on nine of the most unsafe streets, according to in New York City officials. The change is part of New York City’s continuing Vision Zero attempt to decrease fatal pedestrian accidents. According to city officials, the rise in the number of fatal accidents involving motorcycles, trucks, and cars is already higher than in 2019.
Mayor Bill de Blasio stated, “Slower speed limits, speed cameras, and increased enforcement will save lives.”
Polly Trottenberg, the Department of Transportation Commissioner, stated that it looks like drivers are operating their motor vehicles much faster due to the open roads caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Traffic has been reduced due to the lockdown orders.
The following streets will receive the speed limit reduction. The streets that have had their speed limit reduced include:
- Riverside Drive in Manhattan, from 165th Street to 181st Street
- Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, from Grand Army Plaza to Empire Boulevard
- Northern Boulevard in Queens, from 114th Street to Glenwood Street
- Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx, from East 135th Street to Pelham Bay Park
- Shore Parkway Service Road in Brooklyn, from Bay 8th Street to Plumb 3rd Street
- Dahlgren Place in Brooklyn, from 86th Street to 92nd Street
- Targee Street in Staten Island, from West Fingerboard Road to Broad Street
- Webster Avenue in the Bronx, from East 233 Street to East Gun Hill Road
Rockaway Boulevard in Queens from 150th Avenue to 3rd Street will also drop five mph, from 40 to 35.
The new speed limits mentioned will go into force over the next four to six weeks as DOT posts new speed-limit signage. The speed cameras located along these roadways will be programmed to only issue traffic warnings for the first 60 days following the new signage being posted.
The number of traffic violations caught on camera has doubled to about 20,000 tickets per month. New York City is moving ahead with its camera program. The total number of traffic cameras in New York City is about 950 cameras.
The nine streets cover almost 25 miles and are most frequently used by cyclists and pedestrians.
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