I believe that cameras at intersections can be a deterrent to speeders, and I’d support increased installation of cameras at lights to catch people who speed and run red lights. I think enforcement by the NYPD is also critical in cutting down on the number of accidents, and to do that we need to make sure we have enough manpower on the police force to catch dangerous drivers. I think the 30 miles-per-hour speed limit is appropriate for most parts of the city, but I do think the speed limit in residential areas needs to be lowered, and I think the installation of speed bumps in those areas should be a priority.

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We are implementing a large number of safety improvements to reduce motorist crashes and pedestrian fatalities. In April, the State passed legislation permitting the installation of 50 more red light cameras – which automatically take photographs of vehicles that go through red lights, including close-ups of the license plates – bringing the total number of city cameras to 150. We will continue to seek authority to install more red light cameras, as well as use “dummy” cameras to encourage drivers not to speed through red lights.

In addition, we continue to increase the number of Speed Boards in the city. We installed 4 separate Speed Boards last year in Queens and Staten Island, are currently pursuing State legislation for speed cameras to expand automated safety enforcement. City DOT is also improving signal strategies by expanding tests of pedestrian countdown signals and implementing signal patterns to increase pedestrian crossing time and discourage speeding.

I believe our record on traffic safety shows that the current speed limits in New York City are safe, but our traffic safety programs are frequently making important improvements to rectify possible areas of danger. For example, we recently changed our evaluation criteria for speed reducers (speed bumps) to lower the speed threshold a street has to meet to be considered for speed reducers. We will constantly monitor and study traffic patterns and fatalities and reassess our speed limits and traffic laws.

Speed kills, as countless safety ad campaigns have pointed out for years. Currently, speeders get a free pass on New York City’s streets, as Transportation Alternative’s study, Executive Order, amply illustrates. Your report offers an extensive blueprint for reducing automobile crashes, injuries, and deaths and an ambitious but achievable timeline for doing this.

As Mayor, I will ensure that speeders no longer get a free pass on our City’s streets. Among other initiatives, my administration will:

* Support the innovative use of technology, including speed cameras (and decoy cameras) to penalize speeders;
* Conduct public-education campaigns targeting all drivers, including those in New Jersey and the New York suburbs;
* Promote street designs that will encourage drivers to drive more slowly and safely; and
* Make the enforcement of speeding rules a major priority for the NYPD and, as appropriate, its traffic agents.