NEW YORK, Nov 8 — New York reduced speed limits on most roads from 30mph to 25mph (48.2kph to 40.2kph) yesterday in an effort to cut down the number of traffic accidents, transport officials said.

Some zones, particularly around schools, will have a lower limit still, while major arteries will retain the previous speed restriction of 48kph, the Department of Transportation said.

The old limit had been in place since 1964. 

The move, which came into effect immediately, was part of the city’s bid to “eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries,” it said. 

“By getting New York drivers to slow down, we will prevent crashes, protect New Yorkers from injury and save lives.”

About a quarter of all traffic accidents in New York are caused by speeding, the traffic department said. 

The new law is part of the Vision Zero action plan introduced by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio to slash the number of road accidents. 

Traffic fatalities in New York have fallen drastically in recent decades, from 701 in 1990.

But some 4,000 people are seriously injured and more than 250 people are still killed in traffic accidents in America’s largest city each year, according to Vision Zero. 

De Blasio said New Yorkers would be offered a period of flexibility to get used to the new limit. — AFP