The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced on September 16 that the speed limit on some major District streets have dropped to 25 miles per hour (MPH) from the current 30 MPH.
The change comes as part of DC Mayor Muriel Bowser‘s Vision Zero traffic safety program.
“DDOT joins peer cities including New York City and Seattle by reducing the speed limit in key corridors because we know reducing speed by even five miles per hour makes a big difference in avoiding crashes and serious injury,” DDOT Director Everett Lott said in a statement.
Press Release: DDOT Advances Vision Zero by Lowering Speed Limit to 25 MPH in Key DC Corridors. Read more here: https://t.co/6CXnef1Uti.
— DDOT DC (@DDOTDC) September 16, 2022
DDOT’s updated speed limit will first apply to Connecticut Avenue NW and New York Avenue NE, and will later include North Capitol Street/Blair Road NW — from Harewood Road to Van Buren Street — and Wheeler Road SE — from Wahler Place to Southern Avenue.
“Reducing the speed limit from 30 MPH to 25 MPH helps decrease the frequency and severity of crashes,” according to DDOT, which added that fatality is 70 percent more likely for pedestrians if they are hit by a vehicle traveling at 30 MPH compared to 25 MPH.