The city DOT is also calling on the state to renew the speed camera program before it expires on July 1.
NEW YORK CITY — New York City Department of Transportation, advocates and elected officials are calling for the state to renew the city’s speed camera program and to pass ‘Super Speeders’ legislation that would install speed limiters in the vehicles of the most dangerous drivers on city streets.
The proposed bill, sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, would install speed limiters for drivers who accumulate 11 or more points on their record over two years, or those who received at least six speed or red-light camera tickets in a year.
Drivers would need to be able to prove they’ve installed the device on their vehicle, or else they could have their license revoked, according to Gothamist.
“While we know most drivers stop speeding after their first or second ticket, an extremely reckless few continue to endanger themselves and everyone around them. That’s why we are working with our colleagues in Albany to pass ‘Super Speeders’ legislation,” Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said.
Gounardes added the facts are that “speeding kills, and speed cameras save lives.”
The city DOT is also calling on the state to renew the speed camera program before it expires on July 1.
New York City operates roughly 2,200 speed cameras in 750 school zones. Locations with speed cameras installed in 2023 saw a dramatic, nearly 30 percent, reduction in severe injury crashes after one year compared to nearby locations.
If renewed, the program would continue for the next five years.
Vehicles that receive more than 20 speed camera violations are five times as likely to be involved in a fatal or severe injury crash. Vehicles with 30 or more speed camera violations are over 50 times as likely to be involved in a fatal or severe injury crash, officials said.
“New York City’s school zone speed camera program has been incredibly successful in slowing motorists down and drastically reducing injuries and deaths in the streets around our schools,” State Assemblymember Deborah Glick said. “The focus of this life-saving program is making motorists mindful of their speed in these sensitive areas where children, faculty, and other community members are at risk, and every measured metric – from decreased crashes to low recidivism – confirms their success. I will ensure that this critical program is renewed so that these cameras can continue to keep dangerous drivers on notice that reckless driving will not be tolerated.”
CREDIT: David Lucas Patch Staff
