New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a crazy new traffic policy that will dramatically slow down driving across the five boroughs, lowering speed limits to just 15 miles per hour in school zones citywide.

The plan, enabled by the recently passed “Sammy’s Law,” allows the city to reduce speed limits below the state’s traditional minimum. Under the proposal, the city will expand 15 mph “slow zones” to hundreds more areas this year, eventually covering all roughly 2,300 school locations across New York City.

City Hall says the move is about safety. Officials point to data showing that pedestrians struck at lower speeds are significantly less likely to suffer severe injuries or death, making reduced speed limits a potentially life saving measure for children walking near schools.

The rollout will begin with approximately 800 additional school zones in 2026, bringing the total to around 1,300 before expanding further in the coming years.

However, reading the small print and the details tells a different story.

Critics argue that the policy effectively turns large portions of the city into ultra low speed zones, since school zones are widespread and often overlap. Many warn that this could function as a “de facto citywide slowdown,” significantly impacting daily commutes, especially in outer boroughs where residents rely heavily on cars.

Another major point of controversy is enforcement. Reports indicate that the new limits could be enforced 24 hours a day, not just during school hours, raising questions about whether the policy is truly about safety or something else, like another Mamdani money grab.

Round-the-clock enforcement will lead to a surge in automated tickets, placing yet another financial burden on drivers already facing high transportation costs in NYC.

Supporters, however, insist that even one life saved justifies the change, emphasizing that safer streets should take priority over convenience.