If you drive in New York City and you tend to be heavy on the gas, it is time to slow down. Beginning on August 1, 2022, NYC speed cameras will operate 24/7. Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriquez and NYPD Deputy Chief Michael Pilecki officially announced the launch date in July during a meeting at East Houston Street and First Avenue on the Lower East Side. Previously, the cameras had operated between 6:00am and 10:00pm.
The first reaction from many drivers in our industry is one of disgust. Here we go again! Another attempt to get more money out of us. However, let us look at this objectively for a few moments. The data suggests that a substantial portion of speeding accidents occur overnight, especially due to drunk drivers. While our industry’s drivers certainly are not drinking and driving, the fact is that they risk an accident just because someone else is and may crash into them. By having cameras on 24/7 the city is sending a clear message that there is no acceptable time for speeding. Over the last 12 months at least 73 New Yorkers have died in speed related traffic collisions and hundreds have been injured. This includes cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers themselves.
Families for Safe Streets, an organization that raises awareness of those killed by traffic accidents, was pleased with the news. However, the organization also recognized what brought us to this point and lamented the agony and sadness left behind when a loved one is killed.
For every death, loved ones are left struggling to understand the senseless act that caused it. The emotional pain lingers on long after the funeral is held and, in many cases, the economic toll is significant, especially if the person who is killed or injured is the breadwinner for the family.
“One New Yorker in critical condition, one visitor that is hurt by a reckless driver is one too many,” said Commissioner Rodriguez. ”The street doesn’t belong to drivers; the street is a common area that belongs to us all.”
I took the time to get reactions from some drivers in our industry and most of them understood the need for this change but were concerned about a number of things. There was concern that many locations for the cameras seem to be in minority neighborhoods. There were also concerns that some camera locations did not have warning signs. Another popular concern was that the tickets came too long after the occurrence and more time was needed to pay.
So let me add my two cents here: I do not know the logic behind the selection of the locations for the cameras. I would hazard a guess, however, that they are going up in areas that had high numbers of speeders in the past. After all, speeding tends to cross racial lines. Indeed, I would dare to suggest that age is more a factor than race. Data would suggest that the 17-27 age group is prone to speeding, no matter their ethnic background. With regards to warning signs, why advertise the location of the cameras? If you are obeying the speed limit, why does that matter?
I have received a few of the camera tickets, and at $50 a pop, it caused me to adjust my driving habits. As far as timing goes, they always arrived in the mail at least 30 days prior to the due date, at least in my experience.
Let me end with an anecdotal story… Many of our drivers have experienced what is perhaps best described as “a passenger from hell.” You know the one – they arrive late for the pickup but still expect you to get to the destination on time. As you do your best to navigate traffic, they yell at you to drive faster, and in some cases use profane language. Years ago, I had to deal with a situation where the passenger became so irate that he punched the headrest, slamming it into the head of the driver, knocking him out cold! Luckily, they were at a traffic light. This resulted in a lawsuit. Think of the time and money lost due to this series of unnecessary events. Imagine how tragic this incident could have been. The fact is, sometimes we are tempted to speed to get to a destination on time. Sometimes it is the customer who is pushing us, and we try to oblige, breaking the law in the process. My simple advice to you is this: DON’T DO IT. It’s better to arrive late, but alive and unharmed.
Until we meet again, be well!
Donovan Wilson is a transportation professional with over 20 years’ experience in the industry. Having worked on both the car service and the corporate side, he is keenly aware of what it takes to succeed in the transportation industry. As a corporate travel manager, he was able to maintain strong relationships with his company’s transportation suppliers while ensuring they paid a fair price for service.
