new York significant progress has been made in the application of a new scheme Speed control This will change urban circulation at several key points in the city. The local Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) deployed the so-called “regional slow zones” (Regional slow zones)demarcated areas in which the The maximum driving speed was set at 20 miles per hour (32km/h).
The “Regional Slow Zones” strategy consists of: Establish clearly defined geographic zones within high-foot traffic neighborhoodswith the top speed reduced evenly to 20 miles per hour (32 km/h).
As the NYC DOT explained in a statement released last March, these are the areas They were not chosen at random.but they answered it technical criteria related to road safetyPedestrian traffic and clear area boundaries to avoid confusion among drivers.
The implementation of these zones was supported by the evidence supporting them even small reductions in traffic speeds they can have significant consequences in the severity of the accidents.
The process that There was already a first precedent in Manhattanexpanded to the other districts and Full implementation will take place by the end of 2025with the aim of reducing serious injuries and deaths from traffic accidents.
The announcement in March confirmed the creation of new “Regional Slow Zones” in four districts: the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island. Each of these areas has been defined with territorial precision and with a specific history of traffic accidents over the last five years.
City Island, Bronx
The Reduced Speed Zone in the Bronx covers the entirety City island. According to NYC DOT data, there have been five serious injuries recorded in this sector due to traffic accidents in the last five years.
The decision to accept the whole island It responded to its closed geographical configuration and the constant traffic of residents and visitors.
DUMBO, Brooklyn
It’s in Brooklyn “Regional slow zone” was founded in DUMBO, an acronym for Down under the Manhattan Bridge overpass. The scope was limited by:
This sector has recorded one death and ten serious traffic-related injuries in the last five years, reinforcing the priority of the intervention.
Broad Canal, Queens
The designated area was in Queens on Broad Channel, from East Sixth Road to West 22nd Road. According to the official statement, there has been one death and six serious injuries as a result of accidents in this area in the last five years, a history that justifies this widespread speed limit reduction.
New Brighton, Staten Island
The measure was concentrated on Staten Island in New Brightonthe community closest to the ferry terminal. The area was delimited by:
In this case, the NYC DOT has made this clear Speed will be reduced on the bypass roadswith the exception of Richmond Terrace, which will maintain a boundary of 30 miles per hour (48 km/h). There have been no traffic fatalities in the area in the past five years, although there have been 12 serious injuries.
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