Drivers in New York City will have to ease up on the gas pedal starting next month.
Mayor de Blasio signed legislation Monday that lowers the speed limit to 25 mph from 30 mph on all streets where a maximum speed is not posted.
The change is part of de Blasio's "Vision Zero" program to cut down on traffic deaths.
According to the administration, excessive speed contributes to 25 percent of roadway fatalities on city streets and is the leading cause of crashes. Reducing the speed limit to 25 mph doubles the likelihood of a pedestrian surviving a crash, the administration says.
Currently, about 95 percent of city streets have speed limits of 30 mph or higher. Beginning Nov. 7, 90 percent of city streets will have a speed limit of 25 mph or lower. Up to 3,000 new speed limit signs will be installed over the next year, and the city says it will prioritize signing at all entry points to the city.
The city is running radio, print and online ads, as well as handing out flyers and posting electronic traffic displays, to inform drivers of the looming change, which the City Council approved earlier this month.
"Lowering the speed limit will save lives. This is a major step toward achieving Vision Zero, and it depends on every New Yorker taking personal responsibility and putting the lives of their neighbors first,” de Blasio said.
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The reduced speed limit is one of 63 initiatives the administration is undertaking as part of the "Vision Zero" plan.
