Anyone who's driven in Manhattan at rush-hour knows the thrill of standing still in bumper-to-bumper taxi and bus traffic, fumes and all. So it's hard not to laugh when you hear that NYC is creating Slow Zones and they're doing it on purpose.

Cynics might also tell you that a 'slow zone' would actually increase your speed.

But NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg says his city's latest traffic innovation is an absolute necessity for the city to lower the frequency and severity of crashes, injuries and fatalities. And, he recognizes that it will reduce cut-through traffic and noise in residential neighborhoods too.

Bloomberg said the slow zones are part of an “assault on the number one traffic killer: speeding.” So it's reasonable to expect a crackdown and greater enforcement in the 'slow zone' areas. If the speed limit is 20 mph, it should be easy for (another cash cow to beef up) and police officers to identify and ticket speeding vehicles in these areas.

And, the Slow Zones are now present in all five boroughs. In the Bronx, they're in these neighborhoods: Claremont, Eden, Baychester, Eastchester Bay and Riverdale. Also Brooklyn's Boerum Hill; Staten Island's New Brighton/St. George, Dongan Hills and Rosebank and Manhattan's Inwood. In Queens they're in Corona, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights/East Elmhurst and Auburndale.

The New York Post reported that the slow zones will reduce 30 mph zones to 20 mph; pepper areas with speed bumps;and,be open to any community leader who is fed up with accidents and whose neighborhoods have a high concentration of schools and senior centers.

Of course, it's always a safe move to say your latest attempt at traffic enforcement is all in the name of public safety... but, what do you think? Is this just another money grab to generate revenue? Or should major metropolitan areas consider doing the same thing to reduce the severity and frequency of traffic crashes and motorist and pedestrian fatalities?