New Data Shows Traffic Fatalities 20% Above Pre-Pandemic Levels Through First Nine Months of 2022, Action Needed from City Leaders to Get Vision Zero Back on Track
Crashes killed 188 people during the first nine months of 2022.
16 children were killed in traffic crashes in the first nine months of 2022 — the most of any full year under Vision Zero.
One in four deaths occurred in the Bronx during the first nine months of 2022.
Report comes on the heels of Spatial Equity NYC, which reveals significant inequities in the distribution of public space and its effects on air pollution, crashes, asthma, and more in New York City.
NEW YORK — Traffic crashes continue to rise across New York City, according to new data released today by Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets. Crashes have killed 188 people in New York City — a 27% increase over the same point in 2018, the safest year under Vision Zero.
“Vision Zero works when our leaders scale proven solutions that prevent traffic violence. Mayor Adams’ completion of more than 1,200 intersection safety upgrades is proof that this administration can deliver on its goals,” said Danny Harris, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “Now, we need the Adams administration to demonstrate the same commitment to meet and exceed other requirements, like the NYC Streets Plan, in order to make NYC 25x25 a reality and ensure that no one needs to fear death or injury when crossing the street in New York.”
“No other year under Vision Zero has been as deadly for our children as 2022. My 9-year-old son Cooper Stock deserved to grow up. The 16 children killed this year deserved to grow up. Traffic violence is preventable — and we know that we can achieve Vision Zero with investments in physical street redesigns,” said Families for Safe Streets member Dana Lerner. “With just two months left in 2022, the time is now for Mayor Adams and DOT to finish the requirements of the NYC Streets Plan to make walking, biking, and taking transit safe for everyone.”
Key takeaways from the third quarter of 2022
Hit-and-runs involving critical injury nearly doubled compared to Q2 2022. New York City’s epidemic of hit-and-runs continued into the third quarter. In some years, it would take nine months to reach 30 reported hit-and-runs resulting in death or critical injury. In the third quarter of 2022 alone, there were 30.
Children continue to die in crashes at an alarming rate. Traffic violence killed 16 children under 18 in the first nine months of 2022 — at least 23% higher than any full year under Vision Zero and five more children than were killed in all of 2021. Of those 16 children, 13 were killed by large vehicles, including SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, or buses.
Traffic fatalities in the Bronx continue to set tragic records. In the Bronx, crashes killed 47 people during the first nine months of 2022 — up 31% from the same period in 2021 and 47% above the Vision Zero-era average for the first nine months of the year. In 2014, when Vision Zero began, one of out every seven fatalities in New York City was in the Bronx. During the first nine months of 2022, one in four was. More than two-thirds of these crashes occurred in just five City Council districts in the Bronx (11, 13, 14, 17, and 18), which all have fatality rates well above the citywide average, according to Spatial Equity NYC.
Here’s what the Adams administration and the City Council can do to prevent traffic violence and reach Vision Zero
Fast-track the installation of the NYC Streets Plan requirements. With less than eight weeks left in 2022, Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez must scale up installation of bus and bike lanes in all five boroughs, among other street safety requirements. The City of New York is legally required to build 20 miles of bus lanes and 30 miles of bike lanes in 2022. Implementing the NYC Streets Plan is how New York City can repurpose car space to make streets safe and make NYC 25x25 a reality.
Prioritize street safety investments in areas that have experienced historical disinvestment. In the 10 City Council districts with the most traffic fatalities, 32 percent of residents are Black, compared to 23 percent citywide, according to Spatial Equity NYC. Further, in the 10 City Council districts with the most traffic injuries, 87 percent of residents are people of color, compared to 67 percent citywide. Street safety investments should be prioritized in low-income communities and communities of color.
Convert vehicle-use taxes for passenger cars to a weight-based system. SUVs and pickup trucks are 2.5 to 3x more likely to kill or seriously injure people during a crash than smaller passenger cars because of their size and weight. This change would be consistent with the majority of counties in New York state and reflect the greater impact of heavier cars on road surfaces, crash fatality rates, and carbon emissions.
What others are saying
“The loss of one life to traffic violence is one too many and is a call to action for us to do more to keep our roads safe,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “As we are seeing more traffic fatalities than prior to the pandemic, it is a reminder that dedicated bus and bike lanes, enhancing pedestrian plazas and crosswalks and expediting capital projects can save lives and are a necessity. I want to thank the Administration, Transportation Alternatives and all of the other advocates for their work on this issue and it is clear that there is more that needs to be done to ensure our shared streets are safe for everyone.”
“The safety of all New Yorkers is paramount to the social fabric of our city, which is why it’s so disheartening to know that our streets have become increasingly more dangerous since the start of the pandemic. If we’re going to have honest discussions about safety in New York City, we must come to terms with the fact that cars injure more people than all forms of crime combined. Making Vision Zero a reality requires building high-quality infrastructure, comprehensive street safety policies, and following through on the commitments of the NYC Streets Plan and programs like Dangerous Vehicle Abatement and Open Streets,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander.
“Every traffic death is preventable, and it’s heartbreaking and infuriating that even more New Yorkers are being killed by cars than before the pandemic,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “Implementing 24/7 speed cameras will protect countless pedestrians, bikers, and other drivers, but it’s time to do more to redesign our streets to protect our neighbors. We must take steps now to save lives in the future.”
“We can’t call ourselves a city of walkers without ensuring the safety of the people and families who fill our streets,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “In the face of a climate crisis, New Yorkers are striving to make better transportation decisions – opting to walk, bike, or take public transit over driving cars that congest our streets and pollute our air. We have a responsibility to do everything in our power to facilitate this and guarantee safe streets that put people first. With this stunning report, Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets are reminding us of the work we have ahead to get Vision Zero back on track and turn the tide on these rising traffic fatalities.”
"It is simply unacceptable that traffic deaths not only haven't fallen to pre-pandemic levels, but also increased since then. This somber report shows us just how much work we have left to do to put an end to traffic violence in our city," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. "I'm committed to working with DOT, safety advocates and all our community stakeholders to ensure that our streets are safe for all who use them — whether they're driving, bicycling or walking. It’s what all New Yorkers deserve."
“Traffic fatalities and injuries are still too common, despite efforts by government and communities to make streets safer. New York City has an opportunity to lead in safe streets for all — pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike. 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.
“I’m incredibly concerned by the increase in traffic fatalities represented in the latest report from Transportation Alternatives. Not only is the city moving in the wrong direction regarding our Vision Zero initiative, but we also know that this increase in fatalities is disproportionately felt by Black and Brown communities. We must do better in priorizing street safety investments in these marginalized communities that have seen decades of disinvestment and neglect, and I’ll be working with my colleagues on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to ensure that we do,” said Council Member Farah N. Louis.
"As a Bronxite and longtime transit equity advocate, I know how deep the divestment and disenfranchisement of our borough goes. We cannot continue to divest and ignore the very real problems in our Black and Brown communities. This data shows why it is crucial that my colleagues in government and I continue to prioritize street safety investments and greater access to multi-modal transit hubs in my district and around the borough. The Bronx continues to have one of the highest rates of traffic fatalities in the City, with more than two-thirds of the crashes in 2022 occurring in our borough. This is not only a huge tragedy, but an unacceptable pattern that must come to an end. We have to do more. I look forward to working with Transportation Alternatives and my colleagues to ensure we keep Bronxites safe,” said Council Member Amanda Farías.
“We are experiencing a spike in deadly traffic violence in 2022 that has killed 188 of our neighbors. We know what needs to be done to prevent traffic violence and call on the Adams Administration and Department of Transportation to expedite implementation of these proven solutions,” said Council Member Lincoln Restler.
"These numbers show that New York City is not doing enough to stem the rising wave of traffic violence. Our streets and sidewalks are still designed to cater to vehicles, especially in marginalized areas, and it has created a deadly environment. Everyone needs to do their part - the Mayor, department leaders, local officials, community board members, drivers - to reverse this public health crisis. We need swift action and collaboration to create bold street redesigns, reliable transit options, and accessible pedestrian spaces,” said Sara Lind, Chief Strategy Officer at Open Plans.
"Public transit riders need to be safe walking to and from subway stations and bus stops, as well as while waiting and on board," said Riders Alliance Policy & Communications Director Danny Pearlstein. "Tragically, traffic fatalities are still 20% above what they were before the pandemic -- that's not something New Yorkers can accept as part of our new normal. Just as riders want safety in transit, we want it on our streets and we urge Mayor Eric Adams to put aside NIMBYism, cut through bureaucracy, and expedite the NYC Streets Plan to make safe and equitable streets a reality as quickly as possible."
