By Bill Parry
The speed-camera expansion movement is gaining momentum.
City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) introduced a resolution supporting the Every School Speed Safety Camera Act, legislation in the state Assembly that would allow the city to deploy more speed cameras and use them 24 hours a day. The state currently only allows speed cameras at 140 schools, leaving students at the remaining 1,800 schools unprotected.
Since the 140 cameras were installed in city school zones in 2014, 945,000 speed violation tickets were issued by September 2015. City Department of Transportation statistics show that at first each camera issued an average of 192 violations per day. By September 2015 the number decreased to an average of 69 summonses per day, or a 60 percent drop.
“Speed cameras are a simple, effective way to save lives and make our streets safer,” Van Bramer said. “We’re calling on Albany to step up and do the right thing. By allowing New York City to install speed cameras at every school, we can slow cars down and keep our children safe.”
The proposed speed cameras would be installed outside of city schools and would operate 24 hours per day. If a camera detects a car driving more than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit, it will take a photo of the car’s license plate and the driver will receive a $50 ticket.
“Now that we have proof that this key Vision Zero tool is saving lives, it’s time for state lawmakers to lift the restrictions on our automated enforcement program and protect city schools,” Families for Safe Streets founder Sofia Russo said.
In using measures from New York and other U.S. cities, Transportation Alternatives estimates that expanding the speed camera program could prevent 2,500 crashes per year, saving up to 100 lives and preventing nearly 1,400 serious injuries. Research also shows that the cameras cause drivers to speed less over time, leading to fewer tickets and less revenue.
“Majority Leader Van Bramer is once again showing true Vision Zero leadership by sending a powerful message to Albany lawmakers, that now is the time to act on this life-saving legislation,” Transportation Alternative Executive Director Paul Steely White said. “We have more than a million public school students across the five boroughs, but right now we only have 140 speed cameras to protect them. And those cameras are only allowed to be turned on during school hours, even though many of the crashes that kill and injure people happen during evening and weekend hours, when many young people use school playgrounds and ball fields.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
