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Speed cameras cut traffic deaths

By Peter Beadle

Speed enforcement cameras save lives and are an essential tool in New York City’s effort to reach “Vision Zero” by eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries. The use of speed cameras has been authorized near city schools because statistics show that the deterrent helps reduce the number of crashes by as much as 27 percent and the number of serious injuries and deaths by up to 40 percent. But Bob Friedrich ignores these facts in his recent Op-ed, “Speed Cameras Masquerading as Mayor’s New Cash Cow,” choosing instead to recycle the tired and incorrect accusation that speed cameras are nothing more than a revenue-generating scheme.

Friedrich employs a twisted logic. By claiming that speed cameras are a “cash cow,” he acknowledges that there are in fact a large number of people who regularly exceed the speed limit by more than 10 mph, thereby indirectly admitting that the city has a speeding problem. The city would make little money, and few people would feel threatened by these cameras, if more drivers were complying with the law. Friedrich fails to grasp this fact and instead attempts to make readers sympathize with the speeders and view them as “victims” of a nefarious government scheme. However, these drivers are breaking the law and placing us all in danger, our children in particular.

If you are speeding you deserve the ticket. Next time you will drive slower and we will all be safer for it.

Further, notwithstanding Mr. Friedrich’s claim that “[m]ost serious accidents are caused by drinking or road rage recklessness,” the truth is that road-rage incidents account for just 3.5 percent of collisions and alcohol is responsible for 11.2 percent, whereas, speeding is the No. 1 killer on our streets, killing more New Yorkers than drunk driving and cell phone use at the wheel combined.

DOT statistics show that a pedestrian hit by a car going 40 mph is four times more likely to die than a person struck at 30 mph, while a pedestrian hit at 20 mph has a 98 percent chance of surviving. That’s a huge incentive for decreasing speed limits and then doing everything possible to ensure that people obey those limits. How many lives is Friedrich willing to risk so that he and other critics of these cameras can avoid the inconvenience of a $50 ticket?

During a recent trip to England I got to see firsthand how the widespread placement of speed cameras affected my behavior and that of other drivers, ensuring that we slowed down when directed. In fact, even where there were no signs indicating the presence of a camera, I and other drivers made sure to follow the posted speed limits. We need more cameras as they are the single best way to change driver behavior and make our streets safer.

Peter W. Beadle

Member CB 6

Rego Park