New York City has a 25 mph default speed limit on most streets, set citywide in November 2014 under the Vision Zero program. School zones and designated slow zones drop to 20 mph, while limited-access highways and parkways such as the FDR Drive and Belt Parkway run 45 to 50 mph. The city runs one of the largest automated speed-camera networks in the country.
New York City speed limits at a glance
| Road type | Limit |
|---|---|
| City streets (default) | 25 mph (40 kph) |
| Residential / school zones | 20 mph (32 kph) |
| Major roads / arterials | 30 mph (48 kph) |
| Highways through the city | 50 mph (80 kph) |
About speed limits in New York City
The 25 mph citywide default replaced the old 30 mph limit in November 2014 as the centerpiece of Mayor de Blasio's Vision Zero road-safety plan. It applies to any street without a posted sign, which is the vast majority of NYC streets. The change was credited with measurable reductions in pedestrian fatalities in the years that followed, and it made New York one of the first big US cities to adopt a 25 mph standard.
Sammy's Law, passed by New York State in 2024, gave the city authority to lower limits below 25 mph, down to 20 mph and even 10 mph on some neighborhood streets. The city began rolling out 20 mph zones under this authority in 2024 and 2025. The law is named after Sammy Cohen Eckstein, a 12-year-old killed by a vehicle in Brooklyn in 2013, and was a long-sought change by street-safety advocates.
School zones are 20 mph when posted and are enforced by automated cameras that, since 2022, operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, rather than only during school hours. NYC's speed-camera program is the largest in the nation, and the cameras issue tickets by mail to the registered vehicle owner with no points added to the license.
Highways and parkways within the city are the exception to the 25 mph rule. The FDR Drive, Belt Parkway, Bronx River Parkway, and similar limited-access roads post 45 to 50 mph. Bridges and tunnels have their own posted limits. Trucks are banned from most parkways entirely, a rule that catches many out-of-town drivers with GPS routing.
Enforcement
NYC runs the largest automated speed-camera program in the United States, with cameras in hundreds of school zones operating 24/7 since 2022. The NYPD also enforces with radar and marked and unmarked cars. Camera tickets are mailed to the registered owner, carry a fine but no license points, and are separate from officer-issued moving violations that do carry points.
Tolerance
Speed cameras in NYC are generally set to trigger at 11 mph or more over the limit, so a school-zone camera on a 25 mph street typically issues at 36 mph and up. This is a program threshold, not a legal allowance: an officer can cite you for any amount over the posted limit, and the camera threshold can change.
Speeding fines in New York City
A speed-camera ticket in NYC is a flat $50 fine with no license points, though unpaid tickets escalate with penalties. Officer-issued speeding tickets are more serious: fines run roughly $90 to $600 depending on how far over the limit, plus 3 to 11 license points and a state surcharge. Six points on a New York license within 18 months adds a Driver Responsibility Assessment fee.
Frequently asked questions
What is the speed limit in New York City?
The default speed limit in NYC is 25 mph on any street without a posted sign, set citywide in 2014. School zones and designated slow zones are 20 mph, and highways and parkways such as the FDR Drive and Belt Parkway run 45 to 50 mph.
What is Sammy's Law in NYC?
Sammy's Law is a 2024 New York State law that gave New York City authority to lower speed limits below 25 mph, down to 20 mph and even 10 mph on some neighborhood streets. The city began rolling out 20 mph zones under this authority in 2024. It is named after Sammy Cohen Eckstein, a child killed in traffic in 2013.
How do NYC speed cameras work?
NYC operates the largest automated speed-camera network in the country, concentrated in school zones and running 24 hours a day since 2022. Cameras generally trigger at 11 mph or more over the limit and mail a flat $50 ticket to the registered vehicle owner. Camera tickets carry no license points, unlike officer-issued tickets.
Are there higher speed limits on NYC highways?
Yes. Limited-access highways and parkways are the exception to the 25 mph rule. The FDR Drive, Belt Parkway, Bronx River Parkway, and similar roads post 45 to 50 mph. Note that trucks are banned from most NYC parkways, a rule that frequently catches drivers following GPS routing.
More New York speed limits
- New York speed limit — statewide interstate, highway, and city limits.
Related tools
- Convert MPH to KPH — convert any speed reading between units.
- Car speed test — verify your speedometer accuracy.
- Live GPS speedometer — see your actual speed in the browser.
- Stopping distance calculator — how far you need to brake from each speed.
- US speed limits overview — federal background and national patterns.