Child & Pedestrian Fatalities Rose in 2024 While 132 Vehicles Received 100+ Safety Camera Tickets, With Two Exceeding 500, New Data from Transportation Alternatives & Families for Safe Streets
Child fatalities rose 33% in 2024, from 12 to 16, tied with 2022 as the worst year for child fatalities under Vision Zero, and double the number of child fatalities in 2018, the safest year under Vision Zero.
Pedestrian fatalities rose 21% in 2024, from 100 to 121. Of those killed at intersections, 90% were killed at intersections without physical daylighting.
While speed safety camera tickets fell overall, at least 132 recidivists received 100 or more speed safety camera tickets in 2024, including two vehicles that received more than 500, with the most reckless vehicle ticketed on average every 16 hours.
NEW YORK — In 2024, traffic crashes killed 253 New Yorkers, or one person every 35 hours, according to a new analysis from Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets. These fatalities included 16 children aged 17 and under and 121 pedestrians, a 33% and 21% increase from 2023, respectively.
This data comes as the speed safety camera program demonstrates remarkable success at changing the behavior of all but the most egregious recidivists and as advocates pressure legislators in Albany to pass legislation that would outfit the vehicles of the most reckless vehicles with automated speed limiters. From the last five months of 2022 – when speed cameras first went 24/7 – through the same period of 2024, speed safety camera violations fell by 30%. However, at least 132 vehicles received 100 or more speed safety camera tickets in 2024, or two tickets every week. Two vehicles received more than 500 speed safety camera tickets, with one New York driver receiving 562 tickets in 2024, or one every 16 hours for the entire year. A driver receives a speeding ticket when a speed camera catches them speeding ten miles per hour or more above the speed limit.
“New York City can only be the best place to raise a family if our streets are safe for everyone,” said Ben Furnas, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “Safe street infrastructure, automated enforcement, and curbing repeated speeders are key to saving lives, and there’s so much more work to do in New York City. Too many pedestrians are still being killed without critical safety improvements, too many people on bikes are still being killed on streets without protected bike lanes, and too many super-speeders are putting all of us at risk while racking up hundreds of tickets. These numbers are a sobering call to action for everyone who cares about safety in the five boroughs. New York City has to implement proven solutions – and we won’t stop fighting until everyone can get home safe.”
“Last June, a truck driver ran over my daughters Jael and Leslie as they walked home from their last day of school. Our 16-year-old Jael was killed, and our 8-year-old Leslie survived with serious physical injuries and the psychological trauma of watching her beloved older sister die in front of her. My family will live with this horrific, previously unthinkable loss and pain for the rest of our lives,” said Families for Safe Streets member Maria Sumba. “The crash that caused it, like so many of the crashes that killed Jael and 253 other remarkable, unique people with families and dreams in New York City in 2024, was preventable. Our elected leaders must realize that their inaction has consequences in the form of dead children, siblings, parents and friends. The time is now to take action that will save other families from living this nightmare.”
Key Takeaways from 2024:
Child fatalities are tied at a record high. Last year, 16 children were killed in traffic crashes, tied with the Vision Zero era record high set in 2022. Half of these children were killed while walking or biking, and 122 children have been killed since Vision Zero launched in 2014. More children were killed in Mayor Adams’ first three years in City Hall than in any other three-year period in the past decade.
Pedestrian fatalities rose. Pedestrian fatalities increased by 21% compared to 2023 – a difference of 21 lives. Traffic crashes killed 121 pedestrians in 2024, up from 100 in 2023.
Fatalities are increasing in low-income neighborhoods of color while falling slightly in white neighborhoods. Compared to the first half of Vision Zero, traffic fatalities in the second half have seen a slight decrease in the top ten whitest council districts – but increased by 12% in the districts with the most Black residents, 34% in districts with the most Latino residents, and 36% in the districts with the lowest incomes. On average, the five deadliest council districts in 2024 are home to 38% more Asian residents and 33% more Hispanic residents than the average district, and the five deadliest council districts for pedestrians are home to 71% more Asian residents than the average district.
While speed safety camera violations continue to fall, recidivist speeding drivers are killing New Yorkers. Violations fell 30% from the last five months of 2022 compared to the last five months of 2024 – but some super speeders continue to collect hundreds of tickets. 132 vehicles received 100 or more speed safety camera tickets in 2024, including two vehicles that received more than 500 tickets. The top violator, a vehicle that received 562 total tickets in 2024, received a ticket roughly every 16 hours. A car registered to Jose Barcia racked up a total of 19 violations, including six school zone speeding tickets in one year, before striking and killing 8-year-old Bayron Palomino Arroyo last year in East Elmhurst, Queens.
More people are being killed and seriously injured on bikes. Cyclist fatalities and serious injuries have increased to 444 in 2023, up 48% since 2018. Over the same time period – the most recent data available – overall bike ridership has increased 22%.
People on bikes are killed on streets without protected bike lanes. Traffic violence killed 25 bike riders in 2024, and 85% were killed on streets without protected bicycle infrastructure. Protected bike lanes reduce cyclist fatalities and serious injuries even while dramatically increasing the number of bikes on the road, but only 2% of streets have one.
Pedestrians are dying at intersections without daylighting. Last year, 90% of all pedestrians killed at intersections were killed at intersections without physical daylighting.
Streets are getting safer for seniors. Senior fatalities continue to fall, with 46 seniors killed in 2024, 27% lower than the Vision Zero era average. 20% fewer older New Yorkers were killed in the latter half than in the first half of the Vision Zero era – a difference of 75 lives saved.
Fatalities in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens were all above the Vision Zero era average. More New Yorkers were also killed in crashes in the Bronx and Manhattan in 2024 than in 2023.
Council District 19 had the most traffic fatalities in 2024, and Council District 1 had the most pedestrian fatalities. Council District 19, represented by Council Member Vickie Paladino, was the deadliest district with 12 fatalities – two-and-a-half times the citywide per-capita fatality rate, and nearly 5% of the city's total traffic fatalities in a single district. Council District 18, represented by Council Member Amanda Farías, is the second deadliest district in New York City with 11 fatalities, more than twice the citywide fatality rate. Council District 1, represented by Council Member Chris Marte, is the most dangerous district for pedestrians, with nearly three times as many pedestrian deaths as the average district. Council District 1 also includes Canal Street, an especially dangerous corridor for senior pedestrians. All eight pedestrians killed on Canal Street in the Vision Zero era have been over 55 years old, and the average age of these victims is 76 years old.
Here’s what our elected officials must do to address this crisis:
Albany must pass intelligent speed assistance for repeat offenders. This legislation would require mandatory intelligent speed assistance technology for repeated speeders to ensure they follow the speed limit. Repeat offenders are an overall small number of drivers that are disproportionately responsible for deaths and serious injuries on our streets, and this bill would prevent repeat offenders from traveling more than 5 mph over the speed limit. 21% of crashes that killed pedestrians in 2022 involved a vehicle that had received six or more speed or red light camera tickets the previous year, and seven lives could have been prevented by removing these cars from the road. One study found that removing cars from the road that received five or more speed or red light camera tickets in 2022 could have saved 47 lives. When ISA technology was implemented in the New York City fleet, hard brake events fell by 36% and vehicles followed the speed limit 99% of the time.
New York City must daylight every intersection, beginning with the city’s deadliest. Repurposing the parking spots closest to an intersection to improve visibility — a practice known as daylighting — is proven to make intersections safer for people walking, biking, and driving. New York State bans parking within 20 feet of intersections — but New York City has overridden this law, allowing parking right up to the crosswalk. This exemption must be repealed, and daylighting must be implemented at every intersection in the five boroughs. DOT should meet the mayor’s promise to daylight 1,000 intersections a year, prioritize implementation at the deadliest intersections for pedestrians, and include physical upgrades, such as curb extensions, pedestrian islands, turn calming, planters, or bike racks.
New York City must accelerate the build-out of a high-quality protected bike lane network. 25 people riding bikes were killed in 2024, after a historic high of 31 killed in 2023. At the same time, the City is falling further behind on legal mandates to build protected bike lanes, and recently failed to announce even a single protected bike lane project that was a mile or longer for more than six months. DOT should adopt the best practices for network connectivity and bike lane quality as articulated in the new Urban Bikeway Design Guidelines from the National Association of City Transportation Officials. In 2024, 85% of the people killed on bikes died on streets without protected bike infrastructure. These projects do more than save lives and protect people on bikes: In New York City, each additional mile of protected bike lanes built results in 1,100 new daily bike trips, and as many as 20% of which replace vehicle trips, resulting in a reduction of between up to 190,000 vehicle miles traveled in automobiles.
New York City must implement Sammy’s Law to the fullest extent possible. Sammy’s Law gave the City of New York the power to lower speed limits to 20 mph on streets across the five boroughs. While some speed limit reductions are underway, Mayor Adams must direct DOT to quickly expand the scope of speed limit reductions. Less than 1% of eligible street-miles are scheduled to see speed limit reductions under Sammy's Law in 2025. Higher speeds kill; in 2024, 98% of fatalities occurred on streets with speed limits of 25 mph or higher. Last year, 88% of pedestrian fatalities occurred on Sammy’s Law-eligible streets.
New York City should realize the promise of the congestion relief zone by embracing pedestrianized streets and pedestrian infrastructure. With congestion pricing now in effect, streets that were previously filled with traffic and honking can be returned to New Yorkers. Council District 1, which makes up much of the lower third of the congestion relief zone and where 79% of households are car-free, was also the deadliest district for pedestrians in 2024. Taking full advantage of this generational opportunity for Manhattan’s streets through pedestrianization and other pedestrian infrastructure is key to enhancing safety, livability, and economic growth across the congestion relief zone. Pedestrianized streets can accompany other changes across Manhattan to improve the bike lane network, speed up buses and surface transit, and invest in new high-quality public spaces.
New York City should fully fund, staff, and strengthen its ability to build and manage safe streets. DOT needs to be fully funded and staffed to deliver the full ambitions of the Streets Plan, including safe streets citywide, a high-quality bike lane network, and streets that provide frequent and reliable bus transit. This means adequate resources for the department to maximize its ability to deliver proven street safety upgrades that include new curbs and concrete rather than just temporary materials. It also means adequate staffing – DOT's 10% vacancy rate is more than double the average rate among city agencies. New York City should also reform project delivery at the Department of Design and Construction to accelerate critical capital work. The City should also invest in greater capacity for – and a stronger willingness to use – towing and vehicle seizure and relocation in order to remedy dangerous conditions on sidewalks, in bike lanes, and in bus lanes.
The City Council or Albany must regulate the same-day delivery app industry. New Yorkers are clamoring for comprehensive solutions to improve the safety of sidewalks and bike lanes while also addressing the myriad challenges wrought by the delivery app industry. Delivery work remains the deadliest occupation in New York City, but some members of the City Council are focused on punishing individual workers instead of demanding higher standards from the apps. The City Council must pass extensive legislation aimed at the companies profiting from dangerous working conditions to professionalize delivery work, offer safe operating equipment and proper training, and ban unsafe routes, impossible timeframes, and retaliatory deactivation for following the law and riding safely. This legislation should be complemented with improved infrastructure for bike riders and pedestrians.
What elected officials are saying:
“Mayor Adams has abandoned Vision Zero, and as a result drivers are killing more pedestrians and children, especially in communities of color,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “The Adams Administration has failed to install new bike lanes, bus lanes, intersection daylighting and allowed my former Council bill--the Reckless Driver Accountability Act--to expire with nothing to replace it despite data by the Center for Justice Innovation finding that an education-based program can reduce recidivism. We need a Vision Zero reset that prioritizes public safety, better infrastructure, and proven tools for reducing crashes.”
“The numbers don’t lie – this city is moving in the wrong direction when it comes to street safety and protecting the lives of New Yorkers from traffic violence,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “These increases in pedestrian fatalities, and especially child fatalities, are heartbreaking. I am hopeful that we can build on the momentum of recent street safety wins – such as Sammy’s Law and the Congestion Relief Zone – and implement the evidence-backed measures we know can keep our neighbors safe.”
"The increases in child and pedestrian fatalities noted in the report should be of great concern to all of us," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. "The entire report underscores the critical need to improve street safety in our city. I'm proud to have allocated more than $8 million to intersection redesigns, bike lanes, and other street safety improvement projects across Queens since I took office as Borough President, and I will continue to work to make our borough's streets safe for all who use them."
“While we see slight improvements in some areas, the growing disparities in traffic safety are a call to action that we cannot ignore. Together, we must continue to push for systemic change, prioritizing the safety and well-being of every New Yorker. I want to thank Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets for their tireless advocacy in ensuring our streets are safe for all,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson.
"Too many preventable traffic deaths are met with a shrug instead of action," said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. "That's why I fought to expand life-saving speed and red-light cameras across the city. But as this powerful report makes clear, we need to do more. Repeat serial speeders—some of whom have racked up hundreds of violations—put lives at risk no matter how many tickets they receive. That's why I've introduced legislation requiring speed limiters in the vehicles of repeatedly reckless drivers. This proven technology, along with improved street design and universal daylighting, will have an outside impact on saving lives and keeping our streets safe."
"2024 has proved to be an alarming year for traffic safety in New York City, with more deaths and devastating disparities impacting our most vulnerable communities," said State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud. "This report sheds light on the dangers of the inequities that put low-income neighborhoods of color at greater risk. It's time for action—stronger legislation, improved infrastructure, and a commitment to making every intersection safer for all New Yorkers."
“It is critical we crack down on aggressive driving to keep New Yorkers safe on the road. To help slow down repeat speeders, I will be introducing a new Assembly bill soon that will tackle aggressive driving head-on and also combat the increase in accidents and fatalities caused by drivers who are high behind the wheel. There is no reason to put innocent bystanders, pedestrians or other drivers in danger for the sake of speeding or driving recklessly,” said Assembly Member Keith P. Brown.
Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz said, "I thank Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets for their comprehensive report documenting the much-too-high incidence of child and pedestrian fatalities, which rose in 2024. One thing which is striking is their data showing that there were 132 vehicles that received a hundred or more speed safety camera tickets in 2024, including two vehicles that received more than five hundred. That is alarming and frankly, disgusting. While we can’t know necessarily who was driving those vehicles, or whether the same person for each of those vehicles was responsible for the infractions, one thing we do know is that if those vehicles were removed there would be potentially hundreds of fewer violations. It is clear that a very disproportionate percentage of violations are committed by a small population of motorists and, therefore, we must take significant action to address those people in particular."
Assembly Member Emily Gallagher said, “It’s been more than a decade since Vision Zero was launched, and the fact that fatalities are continuing to rise represents a failure of policy and leadership. We know what creates safer streets—daylighting intersections, building bike lanes, and reducing/enforcing speed limits. Committing to these changes and investing in safe streets are a requisite part of building a livable city. I will continue to fight alongside advocates and my community for a city where people can get where they need to go safely—regardless of their race, income level, or neighborhood.”
“We have made meaningful progress in making New York City's streets safer, but this report shows that we have much more work ahead of us before needless suffering and loss is ended on our streets. I am proud to have been the legislative sponsor of New York City's school zone speed camera program and we must not let this life saving program lapse this year. There are many other bills we must prioritize to slow traffic down and provide support for survivors and family members of those involved in automobile crashes, including my Crash Victim Bill of Rights. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Legislature and the advocates that have taken personal pain and loss and use it as a force for positive change,” said Assembly Member Deborah J. Glick.
"The epidemic of traffic violence has reached unfathomable levels across New York City. Child fatality numbers are reaching record highs, while a vehicle crash kills one New Yorker every 35 hours---many of which are due to drivers who speed again and again. My district is no stranger to this, as our neighbor Amanda Servedio, a bicyclist was killed on her bicycle during a high-speed police chase in October last year," said Assembly Member Zohran K. Mamdani. "The tragic numbers in this report are a natural outcome of this City's leaders failing to treat this as the crisis it is. We know what measures work to save lives. We must change our streetscape to prioritize the safety of New Yorkers and ensure that New Yorkers can get to their destination, whether by foot, bicycle, or car.”
“While it is encouraging that Vision Zero has made verifiable progress in a few areas — such as the lower rate of pedestrian fatalities among seniors and a slight overall decrease in some districts--this report underscores in urgent, heartrending detail the ground yet to be covered,” said Assembly Member Rebecca A. Seawright of the Upper East Side, Yorkville and Roosevelt Island. “It is unacceptable that child fatalities are at a record high. It is distressing that city-wide fatalities increased and unconscionable that those killed were disproportionately from communities of color. We join with the courageous survivor advocates of FSS in furthering common sense, life-saving solutions that will protect all New Yorkers, especially children, and bring us the safe, walkable city that we deserve.”
"Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe crossing the street, but too many preventable tragedies occur at poorly designed intersections. My universal daylighting bill is a simple solution that saves lives by improving visibility at intersections. Right now, New York City has an exemption to the state’s universal daylighting law and it’s time to change that. I’m grateful to Transportation Alternatives for releasing their report to underscore several common-sense measures to make our streets safer," said Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon.
“Our transportation system causes a devastating public health crisis that ruins lives and destroys families simply because our streets are designed only for cars. How many children have to die before we implement the needed safety improvements on our streets? Child fatalities rose 33% last year to tie the 2022 record high. Twenty-five bike riders were killed in that same time period. Deaths from traffic violence are a policy choice, period. This report makes clear that we can’t waste any more time stalling critical legislation that will keep our children and communities safe,” said Assembly Member Claire Valdez.
“We can’t afford to be going backwards in the fight for street safety for all. There is absolutely nothing more important in local government than making sure our constituents are safe on our streets and sidewalks. Losing ground on child and pedestrian fatalities is not a reality to accept, but a sign that we have much more work to do. Through interconnected changes to street redesign, bike and pedestrian infrastructure upgrades, enforcement, and safe driving culture in our city, we must reverse course and move towards a true Vision Zero, where our communities no longer have to grieve these deaths,” said Council Member Justin Brannan.
“Every traffic-related death is preventable. We may call them “accidents,” but they are deliberate failures of urban planning and design. While nothing will bring back the lives taken from us by traffic violence in 2024, we can honor their memory by heeding the recommendations in this report in 2025 and building a city where traffic violence and injuries are a thing of the past, said Council Member Tiffany Cabán.
“Speeding remains one of the most preventable causes of traffic deaths, and we’re encouraged to see measures like speed cameras beginning to reduce dangerous driving behaviors. However, this report highlights the urgent need to address chronic repeat offenders and design safer streets for all. Every life lost is a tragedy, and we have the tools to prevent it,” said Council Member Jen Gutiérrez.
“We cannot afford to wait for another tragedy, another injury, or another life lost to traffic violence before we take action to make our streets safer,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “The statistics are harrowing: child and pedestrian fatalities are rising at an alarming rate, with 90% of these deaths occurring at intersections without proper daylighting. I urge our city to prioritize hardened universal daylighting with physical barriers at the deadliest intersections to deter vehicles from speeding and taking widened turns. I’m proud to be among the first elected officials to champion universal daylighting across all intersections in New York City. We must act boldly to prevent further loss of life because every second we wait, lives are at risk.”
"2024 has been an incredibly tragic year for children and pedestrians, with fatalities rising at an alarming rate, especially in low-income neighborhoods of color. Meanwhile, reckless drivers—some with over 500 speed camera tickets—continue to pose a grave threat to our communities. In my district, we've seen what transformative impact reimagining our streets has on street safety through the 34th Ave Open Street Paseo Park in my district. We must continue to prioritize safer streets and invest in upgrading infrastructure to protect pedestrians and ensure that no family suffers the preventable loss of a loved one," said Council Member Shekar Krishnan.
What advocates are saying:
"New Yorkers lost in traffic crashes are missed as much as victims of gun violence or those hit by a train," said Riders Alliance Policy & Communications Director Danny Pearlstein. "Crash deaths are preventable and go on because of a political failure to implement proven policies. We demand that our leaders lead at every level of government and invest in safe and affordable ways to get around."
"It’s unacceptable that New York City’s streets are only becoming more dangerous and deadly, especially for children. We already know that the solutions are to crack down on repeated reckless driving and design streets that make it harder to drive recklessly to begin with. This data should be wake up call; lives are at stake and our elected officials have the power, and responsibility, to change that. No more playing politics or inciting culture wars; we need bold, decisive action to make our streets safe for everyone," said Sara Lind, Co-Executive Director at Open Plans.
“We could live in a world where not a single child is hit by a car on New York City streets. Every death and injury from traffic violence is a policy choice. Our leaders can and must do better,” said Lauren Phillips, co-founder, Kids Over Cars.
"TA has done a great job calling attention to the problem of repeat offenders, and the disproportionate danger they pose, said Rachel Weinberger, Peter Herman Chair for Transportation at Regional Plan Association (RPA). “The next turn of legislative advocacy should focus on the criminalization of these reckless endangerers.”
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