Chicago Could Join Other Cities in Lowering Speed Limits

Chicago could lower speed limits on most city streets from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour if a proposal by Alderperson Daniel La Spata is passed by the full city council. According to an article by NBC Chicago, “City Council members cited statistics that pedestrians have a 90% chance of surviving being struck by a vehicle traveling 20 miles per hour, compared to a 60% chance if they’re struck by a vehicle traveling 30 miles per hour.”

According to the article, “Members of the City Council cited studies showing that reductions in speed limits in other cities, including New York and Seattle, helped to reduce traffic crashes and fatalities after they were passed.”

The effort is part of the city’s Vision Zero plan to eliminate traffic deaths and follows other cities that have reduced speed limits, which limits the chance of serious injury or death during car-pedestrian collisions. In Seattle, where a similar law was passed, there was a 17 percent drop in the chance of an injury crash in the central city, while in New York City a reduced speed limit led to a 39 percent reduction in crashes.