New Data from Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets Shows Vision Zero Works, Should Be Expanded; Congestion Pricing Has Made Streets Safer
Pedestrian fatalities remain high in Brooklyn, where the Adams administration has stalled and reversed several street safety projects.
In the first half of 2025, there were 90 fatalities in NYC — a difference of 19 more lives saved than the Vision Zero average.
Fatalities in the congestion relief zone are down 40% from this time last year, and not a single motorist has been killed in the zone.
NEW YORK — During the first six months of 2025, traffic crashes killed 90 people, according to new analysis from Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets. This was the second-safest first six months on record, behind only 2018, and has been especially safe for those driving and traveling in cars. Nevertheless, so far in 2025, a New Yorker has been killed every two days.
This decline in fatalities can likely be at least partially explained by the onset of congestion pricing and investments in street safety infrastructure across New York City. However, in neighborhoods and boroughs where Vision Zero work has stalled, traffic crashes killed dozens of New Yorkers in the first six months of 2025 alone.
“When we invest in it, Vision Zero works,” said Ben Furnas, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “It makes New York City safer for everyone who lives here — regardless of whether you’re walking, biking, or traveling in a car. This new data should be a call to action for all our elected leaders: Vision Zero is saving lives, and it’s time to invest more in these successes instead of moving backward. New York City can’t afford to rip up proven safety improvements like the Bedford Avenue bike lane or stall on critical infrastructure like the 34th Street busway — and decisions like these will mean more crashes, deaths, and serious injuries. Looking forward, the City can and should deepen its commitment to slower speeds, safer street design, and an unflinching focus on saving lives.”
“Two years ago, my husband, Adam, rode his bike to pick up some groceries and never came back home. No one should have to experience what my family has,” said Frédérique Uster-Hug, a member of Families for Safe Streets. “My husband was hit and killed by a truck driver just a block from Bedford Avenue, where this administration is working to rip up a major street safety project. Mayor Adams can take steps today that will save lives tomorrow, next week, and for years to come — but he needs to focus on safety, not political games. This data shows that Vision Zero works, but we need a mayor who’s interested in saving lives instead of delaying, watering down, and even removing critical infrastructure.”
Key takeaways from the first half of 2025:
The first six months of 2025 have been nearly as safe as the safest year on record. While not quite as safe as 2018, when 87 people were killed in the first six months, so far 2025 is the second-safest year since 1910. If 2025 were in line with Vision Zero-era averages, 19 more New Yorkers would have been killed in the first six months. Fatalities dropped in the Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Queens.
Traffic violence is killing fewer New Yorkers in the congestion relief zone. Since the January 5 launch, not a single driver, passenger, moped rider, or motorcyclist has died in a crash in the zone. Pedestrian fatalities have also fallen; in the first six months of last year, cars and trucks killed twice as many pedestrians in the zone as they have this year. Overall fatalities in the zone are down 15% from the Vision Zero-era average and 40% from this time last year. Brooklyn remains especially deadly. Compared to the Vision Zero-era average, 24% more pedestrians and 11% more motorists were killed this year in New York City’s most populous borough. More than two-thirds of the traffic deaths in Brooklyn this year were New Yorkers killed while walking. Of the six children killed in 2025, four were killed by cars in Brooklyn. Brooklyn is the only borough with more fatalities in 2025 than its pre-pandemic average, and for the first time in the Vision Zero era, Brooklyn is the most dangerous borough per capita, 12% more deadly than the city’s average. Fatalities remain high where the Adams administration has stalled or reversed street safety projects; five New Yorkers have been killed on Flatbush Avenue since a redesign was first presented in 2022.
Pedestrians are being killed on streets the City knows are dangerous. Every four years, DOT designates the city’s Vision Zero Priority Corridors, streets that have proven to be repeatedly dangerous and are selected due to their high fatality and serious injury rates. 42% of pedestrians killed in 2025 were killed on priority corridors that have remained on the list since the designation’s creation in 2015. Vision Zero Priority Corridors make up just 9% of New York’s street mileage, but more than half of all pedestrians killed so far this year have been killed on these streets.
Pedestrians are being killed on streets that are eligible for Sammy’s Law speed reductions. 81% of fatalities — and 91% of pedestrian fatalities — this year took place on streets which may be eligible for Sammy’s Law speed limit reductions. The Adams administration has enacted speed limit reductions on less than 1% of eligible streets, and many slow zones are only a block or two long, and only slowed for a few hours each week.
Traffic violence is killing fewer motorists. 28 motorists were killed in crashes during the first half of 2025, 33% below the Vision Zero average. Motorist fatalities have halved in the Bronx and Manhattan; driver and passenger deaths have fallen steadily in the first half of the last five years, with a nearly 50% drop in the last year alone.
Every older New Yorker killed in traffic was killed by a car or truck. 23 older New Yorkers were killed in the first half of the year, tied for the second-safest first half of the year on record. Of these 23 older New Yorkers, 20 were pedestrians, one was on a bike, and two were in cars. Zero older New Yorkers were killed by bike riders.
Here’s what our elected officials must do to address this crisis:
Stop stalling and ripping out Vision Zero street safety improvements in Brooklyn. The Adams administration is currently stalling street safety improvements throughout Brooklyn from Third Avenue in Sunset Park to Ashland Place & Navy Street in Fort Greene. The Adams administration is also working to rip up safety improvements on Bedford Avenue in Bed-Stuy. The City announced plans to build a center-running bus lane through several Brooklyn neighborhoods on Flatbush Avenue, but the corridor remains unchanged.
New York City must daylight every intersection. 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. City Council must pass Intro 1138 – a bill with bipartisan and majority support that would bring universal daylighting to the five boroughs. The City agrees that hardened daylighting prevents crashes at intersections, and in the first six months of 2025, 56% of all fatalities and 62% of pedestrian fatalities occurred at intersections.
Widely implement Sammy’s Law by lowering speed limits to 20 mph. The passage of Sammy’s Law at the State level gave New York City the authority to lower speed limits to 20 mph. A pedestrian hit by a car going 20 mph is six times less likely to die than someone hit by a car going 30 mph. However, the Adams administration has only taken this opportunity to slow speeds to a safe level on under 2% of streets citywide, and just 1% of streets in Brooklyn — despite several Community Boards overwhelmingly demanding Sammy’s Law. Community Board 1 in Brooklyn called on DOT to implement a 20 mph speed limit back in February, but nothing has moved forward.
What elected officials are saying:
“This report shows both that Vision Zero works and that it’s time for the City to work more towards Vision Zero in Brooklyn,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “I am outraged by the number of traffic fatalities in our borough compared to the other four boroughs. If the City wants to show that it cares about the lives of Brooklyn’s pedestrians, they need to stop stalling on major street safety projects and start seriously implementing lifesaving policies like daylighting intersections and engineering our streets to encourage drivers to comply with 20 mph speed limits, per Sammy’s Law. I thank Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets for this detailed report and look forward to fighting for street safety improvements together.”
"Just a few months in, this report demonstrates Congestion Pricing is already a resounding success. Congestion is down, safety is up, and New York City is thriving. New Yorkers deserve a safe transportation network across all modes of travel, and we can continue to deliver it by following the science on street design and transportation policy," said Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris.
"Too many lives have been stolen away on New York City streets from traffic violence, and this new data proves that our city is moving in the right direction with the implementation of new policies like Sammy’s Law. Fatalities are down, and we can continue that trend only if we double down on what works by lowering speed limits, and expanding traffic calming measures across the city, and especially in neighborhoods already known to be dangerous," said State Senator John Liu, Member of the Transportation Committee.
“Vision Zero has been an investment in the safety of our city and has led to a drop in traffic accidents and fatalities since new safety improvements have been implemented. But there’s still room for improvement. In line with our Western Queens Street Safety Plan, I urge the city to implement universal daylighting, expand Sammy’s Law to cover more streets, and move forward with busway and street redesign projects to increase protections on pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike,” said State Senator Kristen Gonzalez.
"Brooklynites deserve to get home safely, without fearing that they might be killed while crossing the street. Sammy's Law gives New York City the power to lower the speed limit to a safe speed of 20 mph. It's past time for City Hall to actually use that power and save lives,” said State Senator Julia Salazar.
“This report confirms what we already know: smart street design saves lives, and traffic violence is a policy choice. The good news is fatalities in the congestion relief zone are down 40 percent, but the fact that any lives are still being lost is a direct result of political inaction. Pedestrian deaths remain egregiously high in neighborhoods where the Adams administration has stalled or rolled back critical safety projects. New Yorkers deserve safe streets and bold action from our leaders,” said Assemblymember Claire Valdez.
“The analysis is clear, when you implement data driven strategies to reduce traffic violence, you are able to save lives. I'm encouraged by the citywide reduction in fatalities, but Brooklyn's lack of improvement is deeply concerning,” said Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes. “The borough you live in should not dictate whether life saving improvements are made to your streets. As we continue to see more Vision Zero initiatives progress, I remain committed to seeing the full implementation of street safety projects in Brooklyn. Safer streets for pedestrians are a right, not a luxury.”
“This report points to the obvious — we must invest in Vision Zero because it works. According to the report, 2025 is the second safest year on record since 1910. With the institution of congestion pricing zones, we saw a drop in fatalities in those areas. Vision Zero is attainable and we need to move with expediency to save more lives in high traffic areas. As a victim of a crash last year, I know first hand how important it is to prioritize traffic calming measures, protect New Yorkers, and support safe streets,” said Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas.
“Transportation Alternatives’ report is a powerful reminder that when we prioritize street safety, we save lives. A 40% drop in fatalities in the congestion relief zone is not just a statistic—it’s proof that bold, data-driven policy works. We must build on this progress, expand these life-saving strategies across the city, and ensure that every neighborhood, regardless of zip code, benefits from safer streets,” said Assemblymember Rev. Dr. Al Taylor.
“These numbers illustrate something we have known for a long time — safer streets save lives. The dramatic drop in fatalities within the congestion relief zone proves that bold action works,” said Assemblymember Micah Lasher. “Every New Yorker deserves safe streets and sidewalks, which means we need a consistent, citywide commitment to Vision Zero. Thank you to Transportation Alternatives for continuing to shine a light on where progress is being made and where we must continue to search for solutions.”
"This new data makes clear what we’ve long known — when we prioritize people over traffic and invest in proven street safety measures, lives are saved. I applaud the progress we’re seeing in the congestion relief zone, and I stand with advocates across the city in demanding the same urgency and action in every borough. We cannot afford to delay street safety. Every life lost is one too man,” said Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos.
“Cities should be built to prioritize people, not cars,” said Assemblymember Tony Simone. “Vision zero won’t be achieved if all politicians do is treat it like an empty talking point. Peer cities are achieving vision zero. We know the tools that work. In the congestion relief zone, fatalities are down 40% from this time last year. We must ensure automatic safety improvements are implemented across our city to shrink the deadly disparities we are seeing in places like Brooklyn. Everyone deserves a safe neighborhood!"
“The progress we’re seeing in the relief zone is powerful proof that congestion pricing works. Fewer traffic deaths, safer streets — this is what smart transportation policy can achieve. At the same time, we know that far too many intersections across the city remain dangerous, including in my district. I’m proud that the City Council passed legislation to expand daylighting to improve visibility for everyone. We must continue building on what works, with evidence-driven solutions that save lives and make every neighborhood safer. Thank you to Transportation Alternatives for your analysis and advocacy,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer.
"The decline in fatalities citywide is encouraging - and I am especially grateful for the safety benefits realized by the congestion relief zone. We need to make bold street safety interventions like daylighting, citywide implementation of Sammy's Law, and a network of truly protected bike lanes to save lives and prevent serious injuries,” said Council Member Lincoln Restler.
“Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe on the streets in their community and around the city. The new Vision Zero report shows that when we design our streets with equity and proven safety measures in mind, we save lives. We must build on the progress that has been made by implementing policies like Sammy’s Law and expand tools like daylighting to make our intersections safer and lower driving speeds to protect pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike. Our city’s streets should work for everyone, and we have the solutions to make that a reality,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera (D-02).
“These numbers show what we’ve long known to be true: when we prioritize people over cars, lives are saved,” said Council Member Erik Bottcher. “A 40% drop in fatalities in the congestion relief zone, and not a single motorist killed, is powerful evidence that pedestrian-centered street safety policies work. The numbers highlighted are a testament to what’s possible when we take action. But we must do more. I am proud to co-sponsor the Council’s daylighting legislation to prohibit vehicles from parking or standing within 20 feet of a crosswalk . New Yorkers in the congestion zone and in every borough deserve safe streets.”
What advocates are saying:
"These numbers show how quickly a city can be transformed into a safer place for everyone and should serve as a mandate, to every decision maker, to lead with integrity and vision. In under a year, congestion pricing has dramatically improved the experience of our streets and saved the lives of pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. Yet indecision and delays in Brooklyn continue to endanger New Yorkers. It’s clear: every delay perpetuates a deadly status quo but, fortunately, we know exactly which tools to use to fix this," said Sara Lind, Co-Executive Director at Open Plans.
"Congestion relief and Vision Zero are saving lives on New York's streets," said Riders Alliance Policy & Communications Director Danny Pearlstein. "Crash deaths are preventable and all we need is political will to protect our family members, friends and neighbors from reckless and distracted driving. Our leaders at every level of government must invest in safe and affordable ways for everyone to get around."
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