Press Release - 09-02-2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, September 2, 2021
GOVERNOR’S TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF STATEWIDE SPEEDING ENFORCEMENT CAMPAIGN
23,087 Speeding Tickets Issued Statewide During Speed Awareness Week
37,746 Tickets Issued for Other Vehicle and Traffic Law Violations
The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) today announced that law enforcement agencies across the state issued 23,087 tickets for speeding during Speed Awareness Week, which ran from July 31 to August 8. During that time, officers also issued 37,746 tickets for other vehicle and traffic law violations, such as impaired and distracted driving.
“New York has zero tolerance for reckless driving behaviors, such as speeding, that needlessly put all those sharing the road at risk,” DMV Commissioner and GTSC Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder said. “As the enforcement campaign showed, dangerous drivers will be caught and held accountable. I thank all law enforcement officers for their hard work ensuring safety on our roads.”
This high-visibility equitable enforcement campaign is supported by the GTSC to stop speeding and prevent avoidable crashes caused by unsafe speed. The following tickets were issued during this year's campaign:
| Violation | Number of Tickets |
|---|---|
| Speeding | 23,087 |
| Impaired Driving | 1,380 |
| Distracted Driving | 1,185 |
| Move Over Law | 652 |
| Seatbelt | 2,359 |
| Other Violations | 32,170 |
| Total | 60,833 |
Speed Week is held each August when fatal crashes involving unsafe speed are typically more prevalent. Data shows that most fatal crashes where speed is a contributing factor occur between June and October. According to research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers who speed are also more likely to commit other traffic violations.
Last year, there was an alarming rise in fatal crashes where speed was a contributing factor. According to preliminary data from the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research at the University at Albany's Rockefeller College, unsafe speed was a contributing factor in 314 fatal crashes in 2020, compared to 230 fatal crashes in 2019 -- a 36 percent increase. The 314 fatal crashes last year resulted in 365 deaths including drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
About GTSC
Combined with education and enforcement campaigns, GTSC coordinates various traffic safety activities throughout the year, and supports ongoing initiatives to improve pedestrian, motorcycle and bicycle safety. The GTSC also sponsors critical training for law enforcement, provides resources for teen drivers and their parents, and promotes seatbelt use statewide. For more information about traffic safety in New York State, please visit the GTSC website at https://trafficsafety.ny.gov/.