Res. No. 916-A
Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign into law A.4327, which would permit the City of New York to set up a demonstration project involving speed camera enforcement.
By Council Members Van Bramer, Fidler, James, Levin, Arroyo, Chin, Greenfield, Rodriguez, Ferreras, Garodnick, Brewer, Mark-Viverito, Koppell, Lander, Nelson, Koslowitz, Lappin, Dromm, Weprin, Comrie, Richards, Barron and the Public Advocate (Mr. de Blasio)
Whereas, Excessive speeding constitutes a threat to public safety and is one of the major causes of vehicle crashes and deaths on roads and highways; and
Whereas, Although the speed limit within New York City is 30 miles per hour ("mph"), according to Transportation Alternatives, 39% of New York drivers exceed the speed limit; and
Whereas, According to 2008 New York State Department of Motor Vehicle data, speeding causes more fatal crashes in New York City than any other driving behavior and is the number four cause of all New York City vehicular related crashes, fatal and non-fatal; and
Whereas, In 2008, 79 people were killed and 3,793 people were injured as the result of speeding-related crashes in New York City; and
Whereas, If a pedestrian is hit by a car traveling 40 mph or faster, there is a 70% chance that the pedestrian will be killed, while if a car is traveling at 30 mph there is an 80% chance that the pedestrian will live; and
Whereas, The use of speed cameras is an effective enforcement tool that can be a continuous enforcement mechanism 24 hours a day, by taking a photo of the rear end of a speeding vehicle, which captures the license plate color; and
Whereas, Speed cameras are a proven technology having been used in Europe for almost 40 years and in the United States since 1987; and
Whereas, According to a January 1998 article in the British Medical Journal, the number of deaths in a test corridor in London were reduced from 68 to 20, and the number of serious injuries fell by over a quarter, from 813 to 596 after the installation of speed cameras; and
Whereas, In 2007 the National Highway Safety Administration published a study on the use of automatic enforcement systems, which found that the use of speed cameras at certain locations reduced injuries from vehicle crashes by 20% to 25%; and
Whereas, Speed cameras would operate similarly as red light cameras, which according to the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) have decreased injuries by 24% at monitored locations; and
Whereas, Speed cameras could be used in conjunction with School Safety Zones to provide enhanced enforcement of the lower speed limit near schools; and
Whereas, Currently there is a bill pending in the State Assembly, A.4327, which would authorize the City of New York to establish a speed camera enforcement demonstration project; and
Whereas, New York City residents have called upon the NYCDOT to install speed camera in neighborhoods affected by drag racing, in order to combat this problem; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign into law A.4327, which would permit the City of New York to set up a demonstration project involving speed camera enforcement.
NL/lf
LS #1805
3/11/13