New York:
New York City is slashing its speed limit from 30 to 25 miles (48 to 40 kilometers) per hour next month and has launched a public awareness campaign on road safety.
The current limit was imposed in 1964 but after 50 years, 25 miles per hour will be the maximum speed limit allowed in America's largest city from November 7, unless otherwise advised.
City Hall said it would make New York safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers, and help realize a goal of zero traffic deaths.
"Pedestrians struck by vehicles traveling at 25 mph are half as likely to die as those struck at 30 mph," the city's department of transportation said.
The department has launched a public awareness campaign to educate people about the forthcoming change.
It said high speed was the cause of a quarter of traffic accidents, which killed 178 pedestrians in New York in 2013.
Fines for exceeding the speed limit range from $150 to $600 depending on the severity of the violation and the number of speeding tickets the motorist already has been given.