Across the nation, 2025 is seeing updated changes to driving and traffic regulations. These changes include revisions to speed limits, stricter enforcement of distracted driving laws, and the introduction of new rules surrounding electric and autonomous vehicles. Local governments are also focusing on pedestrian and cyclist safety, implementing expanded bike lanes and enhanced crosswalk regulations. With an increasing focus on environmental sustainability, many regions are also implementing stricter emissions standards and incentives for electric vehicle adoption.
Speed limit changes for New Yorkers
This year, residents of New York City will see updated changes for speeding limits. The speed limit is changing from 25mph to 20mph for drivers of the Big Apple. The reduction is being applied gradually throughout the city and will only be relevant for specific select locations. However, the new speed limit is set to be implemented throughout the entire city by the end of 2025.
The new changes are being made in lieu of the death of 12-year-old Sammy Cohen Eckstein who was killed by a speeding driver in 2013. Advocates for improved safety regulations for pedestrians have been in the works for the past decade, resulting in this year’s speeding reduction with the approval of Sammy’s Law which allows for New York City to approve its own speeding laws.
Updates in traffic regulations across the tri-state area
New York City is not the only location in the tri-state area seeing updates to improve traffic regulation and driver and pedestrian safety. Connecticut is following in the steps of its New York neighbor and is set to implement nation-wide traffic-enforcement cameras. The cameras are intended to reduce speeding incidents and encourage drivers to slow down in order to avoid receiving a traffic violation fine.
New York City is home to one of the largest automated enforcement programs in the United States, with over 2,000 speed cameras including several mobile units, and red light cameras at 150 intersections. This program has expanded over the past 30 years, typically seeing an initial spike in speeding tickets when new cameras are installed followed by a gradual decline as drivers adapt to the stricter traffic rules. According to city officials, the cameras have led to a roughly 70% reduction in violations with some high-risk areas seeing even more significant decreases in infractions.
Automated driving remains an uncertainty
While policy makers continue to find ways to make the roads safer for pedestrians and drivers alike, one controversial solution which is continuing to receive scrutiny is automated driving systems. Currently championed by Elon Musk, the Tesla CEO has faced criticism for his Autopilot system which he has been developing since 2016.
While Musk’s vision for automated driving systems is to ultimately make driving safer and more efficient, Tesla has consistently been under fire due to vehicle accidents caused by the autonomous Autopilot system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently examining four crashes involving Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature, two of which resulted in fatalities. One of these incidents occurred in April, when a 28-year-old motorcyclist from Seattle was killed after being hit by a Model S while the driver was reportedly distracted by a cellphone.
Alongside its investigation, the agency is also investigating incidents linked to Tesla’s Autopilot being activated on roads where it should not have been used. The ongoing scrutiny of Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems has ignited considerable debate and legal concerns. Although Tesla emphasizes the need for drivers to stay alert and keep their hands on the wheel, the rising number of accidents involving these technologies has prompted serious questions about their safety and dependability. Policy makers have previously attempted to completely ban autonomous driving systems, to which they were unsuccessful.
