With the cooperation of the DOT and the UN, Mayor Bloomberg launched the city’s first "slow zone." Already at the top when it comes to driving safety, the state of New York surprises when it comes to their plans of making the streets even safer.

They have acknowledged that speeding has become a problem on their roads and have decided to do something about it. The first “slow zone” is located in the Claremont section of the Bronx. Joined by DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, they have effectively lowered the current speed limit in the Claremont section from 30 to 20 mph.

It was also an opportunity for DOT Commissioner Sadik-Khan to reintroduce the "That's Why It's 30" PSAs, noting that a person struck at 30 mph will have an 80% chance of survival compared to a person struck at 40 mph, which will have only a 30% chance of survival.

Mayor Bloomberg has mentioned that this is only some of the first policies to be enacted in a multi-pronged program to reduce deaths caused by speeding.

Sadik-Khan pointed out that the city has a goal of reducing traffic fatalities by 50 percent by the year 2030.

The announcement made last week coincides with the United Nations’ campaign, "A Decade of Action for Road Safety," which aims to reduce traffic fatalities in 120 countries by safety/awareness campaigns. Secretary Ban also praised Mayor Bloomberg for donating $125 million to improve worldwide road and traffic safety.

Their message is this: every vehicular collision is preventable, and it's up to the people, the motorists, the pedestrians and the cyclists to know their part in keeping lives safe from harm on the roads.

Labels: driving safety, new york city slow zone