In a bid to lessen the number of accidents and road traffic deaths in New York City, a speed limit of 25mph has been imposed on Broadway this month. Previously, the speed limit along the 8.3 mile stretch of road between Columbus Circle on 59th Street and 220th Street was the same as in the rest of NYC – 30 miles per hour.
This area of Broadway alone, which is part of Mayor de Blasio’s Vision Zero pedestrian safety initiative, and is now being referred to as an arterial slow zone by the DoT, has seen 22 pedestrian deaths since 2008, with four occurring within a two block area this year. During the first 10 weeks of this year, 27 pedestrians – including a nine year old child, who was hit by a yellow cab – were killed by vehicles in NYC.
In 2012, the most current year for statistical records from the DMV, there were 10,925 pedestrian/motor vehicle accidents in the city, resulting in 150 pedestrian deaths, plus 10,809 pedestrians sustaining injuries. According to NYPD data, between 2011 and 2013, there have been 465 pedestrian deaths in the city; statistics suggest that the number of fatalities is rising every year. Of particular concern is that the number of children being killed by vehicles has almost doubled during this period.
During the next few months, the plan is to create more arterial slow zones – 27 in total. 14 have already been created during the past four months, across the five boroughs, including Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn and the Grand Concourse in the Bronx. Also in the Bronx, the lower speed limit is in effect along Jerome Avenue between East 161st Street and Bainbridge Avenue. The next arterial slow zones will be between Amsterdam Avenue and Harlem, along Park Avenue on the Upper East Side, Sixth Avenue between Franklin St. and Central Park, and Brooklyn’s Flatbush Avenue.
In June, State Legislature approved a plan for a city-wide speed reduction down to 25mph. This will be effective 90 days after Governor Cuomo signs the bill in September, giving the city’s lawmakers the power to change speed limits. In the meantime, the city will be instituting an educational campaign aimed at raising driver awareness of the new law.
According to the transportation committee, more speed cameras are to be installed throughout the city, and will no longer be restricted to school zones. It’s hoped that the current speed camera limitation cap will be removed too; Albany however, has already raised the cap from 20 to 140. Radar gun training for precinct officers will come into effect too.
If you or someone you know has been injured in New York City in a pedestrian/motor vehicle accident, you will need to speak to New York personal injury attorneys as soon as possible. Our expert auto accident lawyers at Antin, Ehrlich, and Epstein LLP will determine whether you are eligible for compensation. Contact us today on 917-730-7151 to schedule a free, no obligation, consultation.