This new speed limit has just taken effect in New York City, meaning you may have to retime your morning routine if you use this type of transport. Keeping the roads safe is a continuous priority for all lawmakers and legislators, and changes to speed limits are a fairly common response when drivers continue to break speeding laws, thereby endangering the lives of others. Across the country, there have been significant updates to speeding laws, not just pertaining to the speed limit itself but also associated convictions for breaking these laws.
Changes to the speed limit and speeding convictions nationally
Throughout this year, the country has seen significant changes to driving and road traffic safety legislation as a means to put an end to speeding. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding drivers were the source of nearly one-third of all driving-related fatalities on the road in 2023. As such, reducing incidences of speeding must remain a top priority nationally.
In order to stamp out this practice, various changes and interventions have been implemented, ranging from higher speeding fines to relying on the assistance of automated camera technology. Others have looked at implementing interventions that do not rely on raising speeding fines in order to provide more equitable convictions, which do not unfairly burden low-income drivers.
One such intervention, which has recently been considered by lawmakers in Arizona, is the use of speed-limiting devices to be installed in convicted drivers’ vehicles. These devices prevent drivers from driving over the speed limit and have been suggested as an alternative to suspending licenses for repeated speeding offences. Should the intervention be approved, drivers would have to cover the costs to install the device as well as pay a daily fee of an estimated $4 per day that the device is in operation.
New speed limit changes for drivers of this vehicle
Recently, in an official statement from the Mayor of New York, October saw the implementation of a need speed limit change, but it’s not for vehicle drivers. Going forward, drivers of e-bikes will be limited to 15mph on city streets:
“This new 15 miles-per-hour speed limit for e-bikes is about keeping New Yorkers safe while continuing to keep our city moving,” said Mayor Eric Adams in a statement. “As more New Yorkers turn to e-bikes and e-scooters to get around our city, New Yorkers have asked us to set clear, consistent rules to address this issue and protect everyone.”
Previously, e-bikes did not have a limit on how fast they were permitted to be driven. Now, if you use an e-bike as a mode of transport, you will have to factor in the need for speed limit changes in your daily commute. The new speed limit also applies to all e-scooters and pedal-assist commercial bicycles.
New York continues to make the roads a safer place
New York City has seen a variety of changes to its speed limits throughout this year. In a landmark victory, the City was permitted to lower its speed limit from 25mph to 20mph thanks to the passing of Sammy’s Law. First initiated in 2013 after the death of twelve-year-old Sammy Cohen, who was killed by a speeding driver, the passing of the legislation was a significant milestone for the City, as it allows local authorities to approve their own speeding laws.
These changes to the speeding requirements for all road users using a variety of transportation modes are all intended to reduce the number of fatalities on the road. Unlike other driving offences, speeding is often not seen as a risk if it is not considered ‘excessive speeding.’ However, it is well known that the risk of serious injury is directly correlated with increases in speed, meaning that any increase in speed poses a risk to others, reiterating the necessity to reduce this behavior.
