NYC speed cameras now operate 24/7
Image courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr
As of Monday, New York City’s system of 2,000 speed cameras is now operating 24 hours a day for the first time. Previously the cameras were authorized by the state to operate only on weekdays between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., missing “59 percent of traffic fatalities” that occurred when the cameras were inactive, according to Mayor Eric Adams’ office. The activation of the round-the-clock cameras aims to reduce speeding and prevent dangerous driving. Drivers going more than 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit will be fined $50.
In June, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill that extended the city’s speed camera program, authorizing the surveillance system to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week through July 2025.
Over the course of July, the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT), NYPD, and other agencies within the city’s Vision Zero Task Force conducted a public awareness campaign to update drivers on the impending change to the camera system.
The city’s 2,000 cameras operate within 750 school zones. In the school zones where speed cameras are installed, there was an 8 percent decline in crashes and a 20 percent decline in crashes involving children, according to Gothamist.
“Traffic safety is public safety, and today marks the start of a new chapter for traffic safety in our city,” Adams said in a statement. “This is a promise made and promise kept: Together with Deputy Mayor Joshi, Commissioner Rodriguez, and advocates, we fought to get this done in Albany. We must ensure that everyone can share the street space safely, and 24/7 speed cameras will protect our city and save lives.”
In April, the city made a historic $904 million investment in the “NYC Streets Plan” in an effort to address the city’s traffic violence crisis. The money will be put towards the creation of 250 miles of bike lanes, 150 miles of protected bus lanes, and one million feet of pedestrian space. The Streets Plan also calls for a crackdown on dangerous vehicles and drivers to reduce the number of traffic incidents.
“Speeding kills. With cameras on 24/7, New York City gains an important lifesaving tool against this reality,” Meera Joshi, Deputy Mayor for Operations, said. “On behalf of all road users, I want to extend deep gratitude for all those who fought tirelessly for this important advancement in roadway safety.”
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