>> Chicago drivers might soon have to ease up on the gas.

A city council committee earlier today approved an ordinance that would lower the default speed limit to 25 miles an hour from the current 30 supporters say it would have major safety benefits cutting down on deaths in significant injuries.

But critics are raising questions about over inforcement ticket revenue and why this move is important.

Now our Nic Bloomberg was at today's hearing and joins us now with more.

Nic will bring us a pedestrian struck by a driver going 25 miles an hour.

>> Is half as likely to die versus being struck at 30 miles an hour.

Slower speeds.

Also reduce the likelihood of serious injuries.

And we should also note black and Latino Chicagoans people over 70 all more likely to die in a fatal traffic crash.

Those are just some of the reasons that supporters of this measure say it is time to slow down cities, including Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Seattle.

They've already made this move on some or all of their streets.

The measure is being sponsored by Alderman Daniel Espada, who says traffic calming efforts like lower speed limits have curbed fatal crashes in his ward for nearly 2 years.

It's a combination of >> infrastructure and education and policy.

The first ward for only on the streets in Houston, the highest numbers of Christians.

They really need to have dramatic infrastructure improvements.

Warlord posted speed limits of 20 25 miles per were oftentimes both.

Was spotted, says the goal is not increase ticket revenue.

It's making sure people get home safely.

>> He added he had hour-long meeting with the Seabees deputy chief patrol who assured him it won't change anything in the way officers currently enforce traffic laws.

But Alderman Jason Ervin pushed back pretty sharply questioning why this should be a priority for the council right now.

Which earned him a response from the committee's vice chair Ruth crews.

>> When you're dealing with homelessness.

Violence.

Lack economic opportunity.

A plethora of issues.

I'm sorry, reducing the speed limit is not the number one issue.

our community is looking at it.

>> Well, there's and there's a lot of different virgin matters and I But we're talking about this committee would just be in the committee of the Mission.

Traffic Safety does are the issues are important to this committee?

>> The measure passed the committee on an 8 to 5 vote but was spotted says he won't call it for a full city council vote at tomorrow's meeting.

So alders have more time to understand the goals and impact of the plan.

Brand is he told us he plans to call it sometime before the end of the year.

And if we do, the committee also took up a couple of other measures to date.

Also that those that's right.

They also okay to pilot program that would allow residents to submit complaints to 3, 1, one along with photo evidence of drivers illegally blocking a bus or bike lane.

Those complaints would trigger a city review.

And if city agrees they would results in a warning or citation, depending on the circumstances, Spada says you can complain right now to 3, 1, 1, but it doesn't trigger any immediate action and that enforcing lane violations is not the best use of time.

They also approved a resolution calling for the creation of a group to examine the city's traffic ticketing structure.

Right now, the burden of tickets falls disproportionately on people of color and people with lower incomes.

Some of the ideas for reform includes sending drivers educational information along with a warning on their first offense, charging fines based on income level or using speed camera revenue to overhaul streets in ways that help slow down traffic aren't trying to slow him down.

Nick Lambert,