NY Speed Awareness Week Nets 51K+ Tickets

NEW YORK — The recent Speed Awareness Week in New York netted more than 51,000 tickets. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday the results of the enforcement effort that ran from Aug. 6 through Aug. 12.

Law enforcement agencies throughout the state issued 21,428 tickets for speeding during the week, with officers also issuing 30,273 tickets for other vehicle and traffic law violations, such as impaired and distracted driving.

"Speeding can have grave consequences and lead to avoidable and needless tragedy," Cuomo said in a news release.

"We have zero tolerance for reckless driving in New York and make no mistake: dangerous drivers will be caught and will be held accountable," he said.

The violations and number of tickets were:

• Speeding: 21,428
• Other violation: 26,141
• Seatbelt violation: 1,984
• Impaired driving: 995
• Distracted driving: 662
• Move over law violation: 491
• Total: 51,701

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 September. According to research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers who speed are also more likely to commit other traffic violations.

This year, speeding appears to be on the rise in New York State. Preliminary data from the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research at the University at Albany's Rockefeller College shows that unsafe speed was a contributing factor in 34 percent of all fatal crashes from January to May this year, compared to 30 percent of fatal crashes during the same period in 2019.

SEE ALSO: Third Of NYers Killed In Crashes Not Wearing Seat Belts: Report

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