The city’s speed cameras could shut off next month if state lawmakers fail to reauthorize the program.
New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez joined elected officials and families of crash victims this week to urge lawmakers to extend the speed camera program before it expires on July 1.
They are also calling for the passage of legislation targeting chronic “super speeders.”
“Speed cameras keep all New Yorkers safe on our streets by changing driver behavior and deterring speeding from happening in the first place,” Rodriguez said in a statement.
City data shows severe traffic injuries dropped nearly 30% at locations where cameras were recently installed, and one camera in Manhattan — at the corner of West 66th Street and Amsterdam Avenue — led to a 75% reduction in speeding since it was installed in 2022, according to the DOT.
The program, which operates around 2,200 speed cameras in 750 school zones, requires periodic legislative approval and without it, the DOT must shut the cameras off at the start of July. The bill before both houses of the Legislature would renew the program for five years.
Alongside the renewal push, the DOT is advocating for legislation that would require the most dangerous drivers to have speed-limiting technology installed in their vehicles. Drives who accumulate 11 or more points on their driving record during a two-year period, or those who receive six speed camera tickets during a 12-month period would be required to install the devices.
The “Stop Super Speeders” bill, sponsored by state Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Brooklyn Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, targets drivers with high numbers of speed camera violations.
“I have seen so many neighbors and friends mowed down by super speeders,” Gallagher said. “So what my super speeders bill says is that if you are one of the people who seem to be unable to re-train yourself to drive at a lower speed, we will give you interlock technology that will slow you down.”
The city is piloting the technology, known as “intelligent speed assist,” in its municipal fleet and said it has “virtually eliminated speeding among fleet vehicle drivers.”