Gov. Hochul signs off on allowing NYC to lower speed limit to 20 mph

Teen, 14, shot at Brooklyn park: NYPD

Man repeatedly stabbed in attempted carjacking: NYPD

Man fatally stabbed at Lower East Side hotel: NYPD

April Varner releases new single

Video

Wine and spirits that are eco-friendly

Video

Preview: ‘Hell’s Kitchen’

Dispelling TikTok remedies

Aries Spears on his current standup tour 

Preview: ‘Going Home with Tyler Cameron’

Knicks fans are excited with the NBA playoffs underway

Video

Moose on the Loose: Rangers face Capitals in playoffs

NY SportsNation Nightly: The 2024 NFL draft

New York Islanders fans treated to free playoff tickets

Moose on the Loose: Knicks-76ers meet in playoffs

Tips to design a multifunctional outdoor space for …

Spring season must-haves that will leave you looking …

You Auto Know: Tips to prevent catalytic converter …

Con Edison’s rewilding program brings native species …

Foster Parents Changing Lives in New York

by: Erin Pflaumer, Video credit: Eliecer Marte

Posted: Apr 22, 2024 / 10:31 AM EDT

Updated: Apr 22, 2024 / 10:33 AM EDT

Editor’s note: The video above aired on April 21, 2024.

NEW YORK (PIX11) – Gov. Kathy Hochul signed off on a portion of the state budget on Monday that includes Sammy’s Law, which allows New York City to lower its speed limit to 20 mph from 25 mph.

The bill is named after 12-year-old Sammy Cohen Eckstein, who was killed in Park Slope by a speeding car while trying to grab a soccer ball in the street in 2013. Over 100 more children have since been killed in traffic collisions in New York City, according to city crash data.

“He was killed in front of our apartment building. We have a crisis on our roads. Nearly every single day in New York City, someone like my son is killed,” said Amy Cohen, Sammy’s mother and the co-founder of Families for Safe Streets.

The law would not apply to streets with three or more lanes in one direction.

New York City’s speed limit has been 25 mph for the past 10 years. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio had persuaded lawmakers to drop the speed limit from 30 mph.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found pedestrians face a 10% risk of death when hit by a car traveling 23 miles per hour.

In recent months, there have been several incidents of children being killed by cars driving in New York City. A 10-year-old girl died last week after being hit in a Brooklyn crosswalk by a driver who crossed a solid yellow line to make a left turn, according to authorities.

An 8-year-old boy also died in Queens back in March after a pickup truck driver failed to yield while turning left, police said.

Washington, D.C. and Seattle also both have 20 mph speed limits, with the two cities citing pedestrian safety.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

Suggest a Correction

Submit

Δ

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

If you’re looking for a new dehumidifier, there are a few things you should consider before making a purchase.

Walmart is offering big savings on flash deals for outdoor toys.

Still looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift? Find the perfect one for your mother figure this Mother’s Day with these top picks from Amazon.