On Monday, NYC Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Rodriguez was joined by elected officials and traffic safety advocates in a concerted effort to renew the city’s speed camera program and advocate for the Stop Super Speeders legislation. This critical bill seeks to mandate speed limiters in the vehicles of drivers with a history of repeat traffic violations.
The press conference took place at an intersection on the Upper West Side, where Rodriguez, joined by advocates and legislators, called upon Albany lawmakers to reauthorize the existing speed camera program while urging for the passage of the speed-limiting bill. Commissioner Rodriguez underscored the importance of speed in accidents, stating, “In a collision, the speed of your vehicle often can be the deciding factor between life and death.”
He elaborated, highlighting that a vehicle traveling at 30 miles per hour is twice as likely to result in a pedestrian fatality compared to a speed of 25 miles per hour. Rodriguez deemed the speed camera initiative “one of the best tools” in preventing such tragic outcomes, citing a 30% drop in severe injuries from collisions in areas where speed cameras were operational in 2023.
Despite this progress, Rodriguez emphasized the need for further action: “It’s a good number, but we want to eradicate it completely.” He cautioned that if state legislators do not take action to reauthorize the speed camera program this month, the city would be compelled to turn off the cameras by July 1.
In tandem with these efforts, the Stop Super Speeders legislation aims to enhance accountability among reckless drivers by limiting their vehicle speeds through technology. The legislation mandates the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices in the cars of drivers accumulating 11 or more points on their driving record within a 24-month timeframe.
Points associated with traffic violations include offenses such as texting while driving, failing to stop for a school bus, and running red lights. Drivers can also be subjected to this requirement if they accumulate six speed camera or red-light tickets in a 12-month period.
Currently, the city is piloting the speed-limiting technology within its municipal fleet, but details regarding which specific vehicles are equipped with the limiters remain unclear. Brooklyn Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, who sponsors the bill in the Assembly, stated, “I sponsor the speed limiter bill in the Assembly because we know that 20% of all fatalities from vehicle crashes are caused by just 1.5% of drivers.”
Co-sponsoring the legislation is Brooklyn State Senator Andrew Gounardes, who echoed Gallagher’s sentiments and expressed support for the speed camera initiative. He asserted, “No New Yorker should fear for their life while traveling on our streets,” affirming that the speed camera program is effective due to marked decreases in speed where cameras are present.
The DOT is aiming to renew the speed camera program for an additional five years, and the Stop Super Speeders bill now awaits passage through the relevant committees in both the state legislature’s Assembly and Senate.
Families affected by traffic accidents and safety advocates shared their voices in support of the initiatives. A representative from Families for Safe Streets, Joe, recounted the pain of losing a loved one in a collision involving a driver with 46 speed violations within a single year. “Driving in NYS is a privilege,” he stated, advocating that those who repeatedly violate traffic laws should face restrictions that enhance road safety.
Transportation Alternatives’ executive director, Ben Furnas, also voiced his support for both the speed camera program and the proposed speed-limiting measures. The combined efforts aim to foster a safer environment for pedestrians and motorists alike, while pushing for legislative actions to support these essential safety measures.
image source from：https://www.amny.com/nyc-transit/nyc-dot-speed-cameras-limiters-bad-drivers/
