Crash course: New academic research show NYC speed cameras reduced collisions by 14%

According to a new study from researchers at C2SMARTER – NYU Tandon’s US Department of Transportation Tier 1 University Transportation Center – NYC's speed cameras reduced traffic crashes by 14% and speeding violations by 75%. Lead researcher Jingqin Gao, Assistant Director of Research at C2SMARTER, noted cameras typically reach "strong effectiveness" within six months of installation. "What makes our study different [from NYC DOT research] is that we tracked each camera location over an extended period, rather than just looking at overall numbers,” said Gao. “This approach revealed that different neighborhoods respond differently to speed cameras, and driver behavior changes gradually rather than overnight."