Are Speeding Cameras Making New York City Streets Safer?

Speeding cameras are the bane of many drivers’ existence. Forcing you to quickly hit the brakes lest the camera catch you going over the posted speed limit, these cameras are notorious in New York City. What drivers may not know, however, is that speeding cameras may actually be cutting down on violations and making the streets safer.

Speeding cameras are most popular in school zones where the speed limit is usually 25 miles per hour or below. It is tempting for drivers to speed through these areas, but doing so puts the lives of many pedestrians in serious danger. Law enforcement in New York City set up numerous cameras to cause drivers to think twice about pushing the limits in school zones.

The Impact of Speeding Cameras on Street Safety

One study done by WYNC Radio noted that speed cameras are indeed minimizing traffic injuries and reducing the problem of speeding on the streets. The research showed that in areas with cameras, there were 13 percent fewer collisions in just four months compared to the same period a year earlier.

Currently, the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) only appears to be using 51 cameras throughout the city. The department is allowed a total of 140 cameras in operation at one time. Even with such a small number of cameras in action, they seem to be getting the job done.

Speeding is reported as the number one cause of deadly traffic accidents in NYC. According to state laws, tickets are only issued if the driver is over the speed limit by 11 miles per hour or more. Ticket fines are minimal and don’t cause points to go on a driver’s record.

Talk has surfaced that points to turning the cameras in school zones off during the summer. Others, however, say that doing so would cause the campaign to only become less successful. Whether the city will make full use of their 140 cameras has yet to be decided, but one official said that the cameras should be installed all at one time, rather than periodically throughout the year.

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