NYC's New 25 Mile Per Hour Speed Limit Takes Effect


NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - New York City's new 25 mph speed limit is now in effect on most city streets.


Crews will be out Friday putting up new signs to replace those showing higher speed limits.


The new default speed limit applies to all streets where no other limit is posted. Highways and parkways will still have higher limits and school zones will have lower limits.


Mayor Bill de Blasio last month signed a measure reducing the city's default speedlimit from 30 mph to 25 mph. The City Council passed the measure as part of the mayor's 'Vision Zero' plan to reduce traffic deaths.


'When you lower the speed limit from 30 to 25, if there's a collision, you cut in half the chances it will result in a fatality,' said Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.


NYC's New 25 Mile Per Hour Speed Limit Takes Effect

The deaths of pedestrians like 12-year-old Sammy Cohen Eckstein, who was killed by a speeding driver last October, prompted lawmakers and de Blasio to take action.


'I think there's a real consensus in this town that we need to have people drive more carefully, more safely and slower for the protection of our kids, our seniors,' the mayor said.


But some drivers aren't happy with the new speed limit.


'I think it's just a catch 22 to make some more money for the city,' Alberto Rodriguez said.


Many cabbies say slow driving angers passengers, but the alternative $150 ticket may make them think twice.


'Police always follow the cab drivers,' he said.


Others applauded the move.


'They're really fast out here, and they don't pay attention. It's kind of dangerous,' Kassandra Ramirez said.


The DOT commissioner noted that the city's speed limit was 25 mph until the state Legislature increased it 50 years ago.


The city will also be recalibrating its thousands of traffic signals.


For more information about the new speed limit, click here.


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