Khan announces bipartisan bill to expand life-saving speed enforcement across Pennsylvania
Rep. Tarik Khan April 9, 2026 | 1:57 PM
PHILADELPHIA, April 9 — State Rep. Tarik Khan, D-Phila., today announced bipartisan legislation that would allow municipalities across Pennsylvania to use automated speed enforcement on dangerous roadways, building on the proven success of the program in Philadelphia.
Khan was joined by fellow legislators, advocates, and families at a news conference on Henry Avenue, a corridor in his legislative district that has seen multiple fatal crashes in recent years.
“People in my community are tired of seeing cars flying through our neighborhoods. On Henry Avenue alone, we’ve lost too many people, including Kevin Saint Clare and Sam Ozer. These are tragedies that did not have to happen, and people expect their leaders to act,” Khan said.
“We need to slow folks down and make sure people are driving the speed limit. In Pennsylvania, about 1,200 people die every year in auto crashes, and roughly 400 of those deaths are tied to speeding. We know what works. On Roosevelt Boulevard, automated speed enforcement reduced speeding by 95%, cut pedestrian crashes in half, and reduced fatal and serious crashes by more than 20%,” he added.
“If we expand this tool across the commonwealth, we could save dozens, even close to 100 lives every year.”
State Rep. Ed Nielson, D-Phila., chair of the PA House Transportation Committee, noted, “With a staggering 95% decrease in speeding, we have seen a drastic drop in fatal vehicle crashes. The success of automated speed enforcement along Roosevelt Boulevard speaks for itself. We know it works and should let other municipalities decide whether to implement the program.”
State Rep. Napoleon Nelson, D-Montgomery, emphasized the broad benefits of the legislation.
“This is really common sense. It’s a fair and equitable way to reduce traffic fatalities while making sure we are using law enforcement resources responsibly,” Nelson said. “This bill makes sense for everyone — drivers, law enforcement officers, pedestrians, cyclists, and anyone using our transportation system. It’s the right legislation at the right moment.”
Community members and advocates also shared the real-life impact of traffic violence.
“I was born here. I went to school here, and after living in other cities, I moved back to Philadelphia,” said Suzanne Hagner, a community safety advocate with Philadelphia Bike Action. “Within my first few years back, four people were killed on the Henry Avenue stretch near Wissahickon. There was no outrage. There is nothing sadder than seeing balloons and stuffed animals at the site of a crash.”
Sid Ozer, father of Sam Ozer, spoke about his son’s life and the devastating impact of speeding.
“Samuel Ozer was an amazing kid. He was accepted into six engineering schools, competed at the World Robotics Championships, and loved biking and the outdoors,” Ozer said. “On Father’s Day 2020, while riding home from work, he was struck and killed on Henry Avenue. Speed makes a difference. Speed kills. We are here to make sure other families don’t have to go through this.”
Mindy Maslin, Sam’s mother, underscored the importance of changing driver behavior.
“Nobody likes the idea of getting a ticket,” Maslin said. “But when you think about it, it could be your mother, your father, your child. That’s what makes people slow down.”
Bob Previdi, a volunteer with Families for Safe Streets, highlighted the role of speed in crash outcomes.
“Speed kills. One in 10 people die when they are hit by a car at 20 mph. At 40 mph, nine out of 10 die,” Previdi said. “Slowing down, especially in a dense city like Philadelphia and its suburbs, is critical. It’s the speed. By getting these cameras on roads like Henry, Stenton, and Chelten, we can make our communities much safer.”
In 2018, the General Assembly authorized automated speed enforcement on Roosevelt Boulevard, once one of the most dangerous roads in the country. Since then, speeding violations have dropped by 95%, fatal and serious injury crashes have decreased by 21%, and pedestrian crashes have been reduced by nearly 50%.
Despite these results, current law limits the use of automated speed enforcement primarily to Philadelphia.
Khan’s bipartisan proposal would allow municipalities statewide, through local ordinances, to implement automated speed enforcement on high-risk corridors. The bill includes safeguards to ensure transparency and fairness, requiring municipalities to demonstrate a documented speeding or crash problem, conduct an engineering and traffic study, and provide opportunities for public input before installation.
“These systems are about changing behavior and saving lives,” Khan said. “They target only the most dangerous speeding and allow law enforcement to focus on more serious public safety priorities.”
Khan emphasized that violations would not add points to a driver’s license or impact insurance rates.
“We know what works. Now it’s time to act.”