New York City’s Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) on Wednesday began lowering speed limits following the enactment of Sammy’s Law, starting with a reduction along Prospect Park West in Brooklyn.
The agency installed new 20-mile-per-hour speed limit signs along a 19-block stretch from Grand Army Plaza to Bartel-Pritchard Square, with additional reductions planned citywide, according to a press release.
“A driver’s speed can mean the difference between life and death in a traffic crash, so the speed limit reductions we are making will help protect everyone who shares our busy streets,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez.
He thanked Families for Safe Streets, founded by Amy Cohen Eckstein, whose son Sammy was killed in a traffic incident in 2013, for their advocacy in getting Sammy’s Law passed.
Gary Eckstein, Sammy’s father, spoke at the announcement, marking the 11th anniversary of his son’s death.
“If traffic had been moving more slowly, Sammy and the driver of the van would have had more time to see each other and avoid a collision,” he said.
NYC DOT plans to lower speed limits in 250 locations by the end of 2025, prioritizing areas like schools, Open Streets, and Shared Streets. The reductions will focus on equity, with a particular emphasis on neighborhoods with higher populations of non-white and low-income residents.
“By allowing for lower speed limits, Sammy’s Law affirms New York City’s right and responsibility to keep our streets safe for our neighbors,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “I am particularly grateful that the NYC DOT has chosen one of Brooklyn’s most beloved public spaces as the first location to implement the 20-mile-per-hour speed limit."
