Today, Assembly Member O’Donnell introduced A8478, a bill to reduce the official speed limit in New York City to 20 miles per hour except where the City Council determines otherwise. He explained:

Last week, two tragedies in my district emphasized for me the overwhelming need to change traffic laws and prevent traffic fatalities in New York City. Already this year, in just over two weeks, there have been seven pedestrian deaths due to traffic accidents, including the death of a child. That horrific fact is why today I introduced A8478, which changes the New York City administrative code to set the city’s official speed limit at 20 miles per hour except where the City Council determines a different speed limit is appropriate. Studies have shown that pedestrians hit at speeds of 20 and lower have a dramatically higher chance of surviving an accident than those hit at speeds of 30 and above. I hope my bill will change the devastating rate of traffic deaths in the city, and contribute to Mayor de Blasio’s “Vision Zero” plan to prevent unsafe driving and end traffic fatalities.

Assembly Member Daniel O’Donnell is a long-term supporter of traffic safety measures. Most recently, he was a co-sponsor of A4327, a bill that established a speed camera pilot program to prevent speeding outside schools in New York City. It was signed into law on July 31, 2013.