New York City passes law to reduce city speed limit to 25 mph

NEW YORK, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- In an attempt to save lives, the New York City Council has voted to to reduce the city's speed to 25 mph.

"It's not every day that we get to save lives around here -- and that's what we're doing today," Councilman and bill-sponsor David Greenfield told CBS New York.

"Speed is the No. 1 contributing factor in an accident. This is actually going to prevent accidents because if you drive slower you're less likely to get into an accident, less likely to get in a serious accident, less likely to kill somebody."

Despite passing the council by 45-4, enough votes to require only Mayor Bill de Blasio's signature to become law, not everyone on city council thinks the new speed limit is a positive step.

Republican Councilmen Vincent Ignizio voted against the measure, criticizing it as a "one-size-fits-all" law that is not appropriate for his Staten Island constituents.

"I have places in my district where 25 mph is not something you're going to see a lot of people doing," Ignizio said. "I think the focus should be on areas where the speed limit needs to be lowered and not this wholesale approach, which, in my view, is about ticket revenue."

The 25 mph speed limit will take effect Nov. 7.