Police Patrol Upped In New York State For Speed Awareness Week: NYS

NEW YORK — Starting Sunday is Speed Awareness Week, in which law enforcement across the state will increase to target people who are driving at unsafe speeds, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office.

In 2021, 353 fatal crashes – an 11 percent increase from the year prior — were attributed to unsafe speeds and resulted in the death of 389 people, including bicyclists, pedestrians and of course drivers, according to data from the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research at the University of Albany’s Rockefeller College.

During last year’s awareness week, 23,087 people received tickets for speeding and 32,170 received traffic law violations, which also included impaired and distracted driving, according to Hochul’s Office.

"There are countless risks and tragic consequences to speeding, and I want all New Yorkers to be mindful of the speed limits in your area," Hochul said in a statement. "This enforcement campaign will be crucial not only to catch speeders but also to encourage all drivers to maintain safe speeds on our roadways, and I encourage all New Yorkers to take your time and get to your destination safely."

There will be a “Speed Catches Up With You” public service announcement that will air on broadcast and cable networks statewide highlighting the penalty for speeding and the state Department of Transportation will have variable message signs alerting motorists to the dangers of speeding, such as the potential for loss of vehicle control, reduce effectiveness of occupant protection equipment, an increased degree of crash severity, increased fuel consumption cost and an increased stopping distance for drivers perceiving a danger.

“It is more important now than ever that police agencies focus their efforts on traffic enforcement,” New York State Association of Chiefs of Police Executive Director Patrick Phelan said in a prepared statement. “With traffic fatalities on the rise, proper traffic enforcement measures can and will save lives.”

Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder said he was proud to support the campaign.

“GTSC is proud to support this enforcement campaign, once again, to not only raise awareness about the dangers of speeding but ensure the safety of all those traveling on New York's roadways,” Schroeder said in a statement.