42.4 F
New York
Friday, March 29, 2024

NYC Activates Vehicle Speed Cameras 24/7 as Road Fatalities Rise  

Related Articles

-Advertisement-

Must read

By: Hadassa Kalatizadeh

As of Monday, New York City streets will have speed cameras running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

As reported by the NY Post, there are now more than 2,000 locations throughout the five boroughs where the speed cameras are active around the clock.  The full-time cameras were introduced after state lawmakers reached an agreement to renew the program, which was set to expire at the end of June. This now allows tickets to be issued based on 24/7 surveillance.  Previously, the speed cameras were only operational weekdays between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., despite the fact that about 59 percent of traffic fatalities occur outside those hours, as per officials.

Supporters for the measure say, speed cameras decrease speeding by 72 percent, and reduce traffic related injuries by 14 percent in the locations that they monitor.  Oscar Hernandez, 61, a resident of Hamilton Heights in Upper Manhattan told The Post on Sunday that he welcomes the move.  “You leave your car parked, you find the bumper in the street,” he said, noting the surge in drag-racing and crashes in his neighborhood.  “Study after study shows that speed cameras reduce speeding, prevent crashes, and save lives. 24/7 speed cameras will get vision zero back on track. 24/7 speed cameras will ensure no more families need to experience the pain we’ve all felt at Families for Safe Streets”, said Monique Williams of Families for Safe Streets at a press conference announcing the measure on Monday.

“This is a new chapter in traffic safety in our city. Speed cameras begin operating 24/7 days a week, seven days a week in New York City,” Mayor Eric Adams said in a press release.  He thanked Senator Brad Hoylman and Senator Andrew Gounardes for working to get the measure passed in Albany, as well as Gov. Kathy Hochul and commissioner of the Department of Transportation Ydanis Rodriguez for their efforts.

“This is something we talked about over and over again throughout the years. And this is a significant moment for us and for the advocates, Families for Safe Streets,” the mayor said. “They took their pain and turned it into purpose. They stated that they want to do everything possible to prevent other families of experiencing the pains that they experience. And as of 10:00 PM tonight, we will have 24/7 speed cameras will be the reality in New York City. A common sense action is now moving into place,” Mayor Adams said Monday.  “This is a major victory for New Yorkers. Traffic safety is public safety.”   He added, “A city that never sleeps deserves a camera system that won’t take a nap. 24/7 we are going to monitor those who are speeding in this city.”

At the press conference, Senator Gounardes said, “My grandmother lost her 12 year old daughter to a car crash some 60-odd-5 years ago. I wasn’t even a thought, but the pain of that loss, as any of the families here will tell you, lingers forever. It’s impacted my family.”

Not everyone was excited about the measure though.  Veteran city cab driver Louis Cont said impatient passengers often push taxi drivers to hit the gas, and aren’t concerned with speeding tickets he may face.  “I think it’s not right because the passengers, after 10 p.m., they say, ‘Oh, go, go quickly, quickly!’ ” he said. “The passenger may complain, ‘Hey, why are you going so slow?’ I say, ‘Listen, we have many cameras.’ They don’t care about the cameras.”

balance of natureDonate

Latest article

- Advertisement -