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According to the Department of Transportation Commissioner, “the chances of a person being killed is cut in half when you reduce the speed limit of the moving vehicle from 30 to 25.”

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/08/09/gov-cuomo-signs-bill-...

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And then we have the other side of the argument which says that speed limits have a small impact on how people drive http://priceonomics.com/is-every-speed-limit-too-low/

The blurb incorrectly cites a real fact. It is the impact speed, not the speed limit, which makes a difference.

Yep. The flaw in the plan is right there in the quote from a NYC resident: “We live right up by 96th and people are getting killed left and right by cars going too fast". Lowering the speed limit from 30 to 25 has no effect on people who ignore speed limits and drive too fast.

Is this because the accidents are avoided or turn non-fatal?

This factoid relates the mortality rate for an accident at the given speed. It doesn't assume more or fewer collisions.

Wow, really? Sounds like an incredibly dishonest way to twist a simple statistic into suiting your agenda.

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