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Schenectady has seen a decrease in car crashes since lowering its speed limit from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour on March 1. The decision, aimed at enhancing road safety, has already shown positive results, with preliminary data indicating fewer accidents on city streets. This change follows Albany's similar move in January, which also led to a reduction in traffic accidents.
The Schenectady City Council approved the speed limit reduction in January, making the city the second in the Capital Region to adopt the 25 mph limit. Law enforcement initially allowed a grace period for drivers to adjust but has since started enforcing the new limit more strictly.
Other communities, including Saratoga Springs, Scotia, and Ballston Spa, are considering implementing similar measures. The success in Schenectady and Albany may influence these decisions.
In Albany, the speed limit change is part of a broader safety initiative. Since the adjustment, there has been a notable drop in crashes, with 743 incidents reported between January 1 and March 18, compared to 889 during the same period in 2024. The city has also installed school zone cameras to further encourage safe driving, resulting in over 10,000 speeding violations recorded shortly after installation.
The positive impact of these measures is being closely monitored, and the hope is that other cities will see similar benefits if they choose to lower their speed limits.