New York imposes city-wide 25mph speed limit in bid to cut road deaths

 
Crash: Police officers investigate a taxi that jumped a curb and hit several pedestrians including a British tourist in New York
REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
Daniel Bates10 October 2014

New York has lowered its speed limit to 25mph as part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s bold plan to reduce the number of road deaths to zero.

The city’s council said the maximum speed would come down from 30mph because it would saves dozens of lives each year. The limit comes into force on November 7 and was passed with an overwhelming majority of 44-4.

Mr de Blasio brushed aside critics who said it would slow down commutes in areas poorly served by public transport. He said: “There is no question this will save lives. Speeding on our streets is taking the lives of our children and our neighbours.”

Last year 178 cyclists and pedestrians were killed by cars across the whole of New York, a city of 8.4 million people. Supporters of the new law had wanted to reduce the limit to 20mph but 25mph was agreed as a compromise after the taxi industry complained. Even at 25mph, however, a driver’s stopping distance is improved by 45 feet. Backers also argued that the measure reduces the chance of a pedestrian accident being fatal by between 10 and 20 per cent. New York city councilman David Greenfield, who sponsored the law, said: “If you drive slower you’re less likely to get into an accident, less likely to get in a serious accident, less likely to kill somebody.”

The traffic lights at 12,700 intersections that are set to ensure cars travel smoothly at 30mph will now have to be reconfigured and thousands of 30mph signs will have to be replaced. Mr de Blasio has also overseen a controversial crackdown on jaywalking that could see tourists being hit with a £150 fine.

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