City of New York to Implement Largest Intelligent Speed Assistance Program in the World

NEW YORK CITY - Today, NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Louis A. Molina announced that Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology will become a standard safety feature on all non-emergency fleet vehicles making New York City home to the largest ISA program in the world.

"The greatest city in the world must also be the safest city in the world for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Today, as we announce the adoption of Intelligent Speed Assistance technology across our city's fleet of non-emergency vehicles, we are one step closer to realizing that dream," said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. "We were proud to introduce this pioneering safety technology in 2022, and we are even prouder to be adopting it across our fleet today - making New York City the global leader in ISA."

"This expansion of Intelligent Speed Assistance technology reflects our city's unwavering commitment to safety and accountability," said Deputy Mayor of Administration Camille Joseph Varlack. "By setting clear limits and embracing innovation, we're making sure that every city vehicle, and every city driver, operates with New Yorkers' safety as their first priority."

"With ISA as standard on our fleet vehicles, we are setting a new bar for municipal safety, accountability, and innovation," said DCAS Commissioner Louis A. Molina "Our investments in fleet safety delivers on our commitment to protect New Yorkers, support Vision Zero, and make our streets safer for everyone."

All new vehicle orders will include ISA, with the exception of lights-and-sirens emergency vehicles and specialized emergency response trucks such as snowplows. This expansion will impact over 7,000 vehicles across the city fleet, dramatically scaling up the program and cementing the City of New York as the nation's leading implementer of ISA.

ISA is a cutting-edge safety system that limits vehicle acceleration once the vehicle exceeds the local speed limit or a speed threshold set by DCAS. The agency launched its ISA initiative in 2022 and has since steadily expanded the program.

"In 2022, DCAS launched our first pilot of ISA with 50 vehicles, and it has undoubtedly been a success" said DCAS Deputy Commissioner and NYC's Chief Fleet Officer Keith Kerman. "For three years, we have carefully analyzed and monitored results, while growing the initiative to 700 vehicles across 21 agencies, 23 vehicle types, and over six million miles in operation. We are now ready to take the next step: mandate ISA for all new civilian vehicles, an unambiguous commitment to safe driving going forward."

This past July, DCAS installed ISA technology on 200 additional vehicles, bringing the total number equipped to 700. As part of this safety effort, the Administration for Children's Services became the first city agency to adopt ISA across its entire fleet of nearly 100 vehicles.

"ACS is proud to have led the way in this effort by becoming the first city agency to implement ISA across our entire fleet of vehicles. Thank you to Mayor Adams for always putting the safety of New Yorkers first," said Administration for Children's Services Commissioner Jess Dannhauser.

The expansion of ISA builds on a strong foundation of research and collaboration. Since its initial pilot launched in 2022, the program has reflected a 64% reduction in speeding behaviors among vehicles equipped with ISA. Its preliminary success also prompted DCAS and the U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe Center to note in the latest issue of the Safe Fleet Transition Plan (SFTP) that ISA has been elevated from an experimental project to a best practice safety technology for city fleets; designating it as required technology the highest tier under SFTP.

ISA's widespread implementation complements a suite of other fleet safety improvements implemented by DCAS, including telematics, truck side-guards, surround cameras, higher-vision truck designs, automatic braking, and backup cameras. Most recently, DCAS received the esteemed Green Cross Safety Excellence Award from the National Safety Council, recognizing New York City's leadership in fleet safety.

About the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services

The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) makes city government work for all New Yorkers. Our commitment to equity, effectiveness, and sustainability guides our work providing City agencies with the resources and support needed to succeed, including:

• Recruiting, hiring, and training City employees.
• Managing 55 public buildings.
• Acquiring, selling, and leasing City property.
• Purchasing over $1 billion in goods and services for City agencies.
• Overseeing the greenest municipal vehicle fleet in the country.
• Leading the City's efforts to reduce carbon emissions from government operations.

Learn more about DCAS by visiting nyc.gov/dcas and by following us on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and listening to the Inside Citywide podcast.

Contact:Anessa HodgsonAssistant Commissioner, Public [email protected]