Traffic Crashes Killed 51 People in the First Three Months of 2023, Including Vision Zero-Era Record Nine Bike Riders

New York City on pace for one of the deadliest years for bike riders in recorded history.

Queens had the deadliest first quarter since the launch of Vision Zero, with 18 fatalities.

Council District 31 had the most fatalities of any City Council district in the first quarter.

NEW YORK — During the first three months of 2023, traffic crashes killed 51 people, 11% higher than the Vision Zero-era average for the same period, according to a new analysis from Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets. 

This data comes after 2022 saw a record number of children killed in the Vision Zero-era, and 258 New Yorkers lost to traffic violence. As of today, 2023 is on pace to be the deadliest year for traffic violence since 2014.

“As record numbers of New Yorkers are turning to biking, the City must do everything in its power to keep them safe,” said Danny Harris, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “New York City cannot continue to drag its feet and ignore major deadlines to construct safe infrastructure, especially after the City completed only two-thirds of its legally mandated protected bike lanes last year. We know what works: smaller vehicles, slower speeds, protected bike and bus lanes, automated enforcement, and better street design – and we need our leaders to treat this crisis with the urgency it deserves.” 

“Every one of the 51 New Yorkers lost to traffic violence was a vital member of our community, a friend, a neighbor, and a family member,” said Families for Safe Streets member Patricia Morant-Fuller. “My son, Aundrei, was killed by a reckless driver, and we must stop this epidemic. New Yorkers deserve better, and they deserve action before another tragedy. We must pass Sammy’s Law this year, and the city must build a streetscape that puts our most vulnerable road users first.”

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2023:

Queens broke a Vision Zero-Era record for the most fatalities. In the first three months of 2023, 18 people were killed in Queens. This is 33% more fatalities than the average first quarter from 2014 through 2022, and the most first quarter fatalities in the borough since 2013. More than one in three traffic deaths in the city this year have taken place in Queens. 

Nine bike riders were killed in the first quarter, a record under Vision Zero. This is more than the first quarters of 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 combined. Of the nine bike riders, five were killed by SUVs or trucks.

Nine bike riders were killed in the first quarter, a record under Vision Zero. This is more than the first quarters of 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 combined. Seven of the previous nine years had two or fewer bike rider fatalities in the first quarter. Of the nine bike riders, five were killed by SUVs or trucks.

Serious injuries and fatalities increased compared to the first quarter of 2022. The number of serious injuries and fatalities increased by 7.3% compared to the first quarter of 2022, according to DOT data. All modes saw increases in serious injuries but bike riders experienced an alarming 27% increase in locations with bike crashes.

Council District 31 had six deaths, the most fatalities of any City Council district in the first quarter. Council District 31, represented by Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, in southeast Queens has fewer than 2% of all New York City residents, but over 10% of all fatalities this quarter. Council District 31 also has nearly two times the fatality rate per 10,000 residents than even the second-most-dangerous council district. 

This was the safest first quarter on record during the Vision Zero era for pedestrians. As fatalities for other modes increase, this was the safest first quarter for pedestrians since Vision Zero was announced. With political will and leadership, the City can take steps to keep vulnerable users safe, and must take more steps to protect bike riders.

HERE’S WHAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS MUST DO TO ADDRESS THIS CRISIS:

The Adams Administration must comply with the Streets Plan. The Streets Plan is a legal requirement and critical for designing and building safer, slower streets – yet the current administration failed to meet mandated goals in 2022. New York City built only 19.2 out of 30 required miles in 2022, and has built fewer than one mile of the mandated 50 in 2023. The City is also required to build 50 miles of bus lanes in 2023, but has so far built fewer than seven between 2022 and today.

The City Council must pass Intro 417 and Intro 501. Intro 417 would streamline the approval process for bike lane projects, removing barriers to constructing life-saving infrastructure, while Intro 501 would empower New Yorkers to report blocked bus lanes, bike lanes, crosswalks, and more. These two bills, each sponsored by a majority of the City Council, are vital to creating safe streets.

Albany must pass the full SAFE Streets Act. Leaders in Albany must pass the full SAFE Streets Act, a package of six life-saving bills, this session. This package includes Sammy’s Law, which would allow New York City to set lower, safer speed limits. It also includes legislation to require complete street design elements in projects.

WHAT ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE SAYING:

“Not even halfway through 2023, New York City is on pace for one of the deadliest years for bike riders in recent history. We know what needs to be done to prevent traffic violence and call on the Adams Administration and Department of Transportation to expedite proven solutions, especially swift implementation of a truly protected network of bike lanes,” said Council Member Lincoln Restler.

“As the Council Member representing the Manhattan precinct with the highest amount of injuries from traffic violence, it is critical that we support safe infrastructure for bike riders, pedestrians and drivers. We must implement traffic calming measures and redesigns at certain intersections with the highest traffic incidents for pedestrian safety. Daily there are approximately 900,000 New Yorkers riding their bikes, and the number of cyclists is only rising. Investing in safe streets can be the difference between life and death so we must take action for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers now,” said Council Member Julie Menin.

“Year after year, our City has paid lip service to Vision Zero but done nothing to make it a reality. It’s horrifying that in 2023 alone, 51 people have already died due to traffic violence,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “Our City must prioritize common sense transit solutions to traffic violence to ensure we’re actually making our way toward Vision Zero.”

“It is extremely disheartening to learn that this year more cyclists were fatally injured while riding throughout NYC. Traffic deaths are preventable and we need to do everything we can to keep our neighbors safe with increased safety infrastructure and re-evaluating the current truck routes that put our communities at risk. Thank you Transportation Alternatives for your leadership and advocacy on this issue. I look forward to continuing to work together to get more protected bike lanes and safety infrastructure in Council District 18 and citywide,” said Council Member Amanda Farías.

“Traffic fatalities and injuries are still too common, despite efforts by government and communities to make streets safer. Given record fatalities in the first quarter of this year, we must dramatically speed up street redesigns and use all of the tools at our disposal to continue to bring safer streets to New York City, including but not limited to piloting and implementing new technology and shared street designs, pedestrianizing open spaces, and increasing bus and bike lane networks,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera.

“The rising number of traffic incidents is alarming, and we must find alternative solutions to curb these accidents. I recently introduced legislation, Int 1028, which will require the Department of Transportation to report on the number of accidents involving electric bikes and scooters, the cause of the accidents, and more,” said Council Member Marjorie Velázquez. “As ridership continues to grow among bicyclists around the city, we must identify viable solutions, and this is the first step.”

“"I have serious concerns about DOT's lack of progress on the NYC Streets Plan. I pressed the commissioner at a February oversight hearing about the agency's failure to meet legally mandated safety benchmarks and I followed up with questions in two detailed letters to DOT. I am dismayed by DOT's apparent disregard for the Streets Plan and lack of transparency with the City Council. I made a commitment to hold DOT accountable for street safety improvements and that has not changed,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer.

WHAT ADVOCATES ARE SAYING:

“While it’s clear that the Mayor and the Department of Transportation care deeply about eliminating traffic deaths, we have to do better as a city. We must accelerate implementation of the Streets Plan, especially key traffic-calming design elements like curb extensions and protected bike lanes, and it’s imperative that we pursue technological interventions like intelligent speed assistance to prevent dangerous driving before it happens. We’re grateful to Transportation Alternatives for shining a spotlight on street safety, and are committed to working with them and city officials to revitalize Vision Zero,” said Eric McClure, Executive Director of StreetsPAC.

"New York City’s streets are on trend to be more deadly than they’ve been in a decade. And that’s no accident; our inaction has caused this tragic state of affairs. When will our city allocate the resources needed to truly protect New Yorkers' lives? It's far past time for the Mayor’s office and DOT to put the city’s full investment behind proven safety measures and doggedly work to dismantle our deadly obsession with driving," said Chelsea Dowell, Director of Communications at Open Plans.