Drivers in New York face some of the nation’s busiest and most congested roads. The large number of pedestrians, taxi cabs, buses, bicycles, passenger cars, trucks and more that must share the roads can create unique challenges for drivers of any vehicle type. The City of New York has been implementing many changes designed to slow drivers down over time and that trend is expected to continue for several years.
Part of the mayor’s Vision Zero plan to curb speeding and related accidents includes a drop in the speed limit on many streets in the five boroughs from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour. That change officially went into effect in early November in many areas. Streets with no posted speed limit will feature the new 25 miles per hour limit. The speed limit on streets that have existing 30 miles per hour signs will not change until the posted signs are replaced.
So far, 89 new speed limit signs have been received to place at various entry points to the city. The Holland Tunnel is one such example. By the end of 2015, an additional 3,000 new signs heralding the 25 miles per hour speed limit will be received and installed. Many drivers are concerned about an increase in the number of tickets issued but reports indicate that for the moment, there are no plans for an immediate rush to issue summons.
Even without a formal program to give more citations for speeding, drivers should be aware of the speed limit change. Such tickets can add points to driving licenses and lead to even more severe consequences. Talking to an attorney may be wise if a ticket is received.
Source: The New York Times, “25 M.P.H. Speed Limit Takes Effect in New York,” Benjamin Mueller, November 7, 2014