New York City Eclipses 200 Traffic Deaths in 2020

Statements from safe streets advocacy groups Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets

Statement of Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris: 

“At least 200 people have died in traffic crashes on New York City streets to date in 2020, with 70 days remaining in the year. This is shaping up to be the deadliest year for traffic violence during Mayor de Blasio’s tenure. If the rate of death on our streets continues unchanged through the remainder of the year, we will see 243 total deaths in 2020. Sadly, we know that the fatality rate tends to spike between Halloween and the end of Daylight Saving Time in early November. 

Up to this date last year, 188 New Yorkers were killed in crashes, while 175 were killed during the same period in 2018 — the lowest total during the Vision Zero era.  

New York City traffic deaths, January 1 through October 21: 

Year Traffic Deaths 

2014 212

2015 193

2016 185

2017 183

2018 175

2019 188

2020 200

 As New York City experiences growing levels of traffic violence, Mayor de Blasio has slashed the budgets for his Vision Zero and Green Wave programs, and delayed the implementation of the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program and Streets Master Plan, critical tools to accelerate our path toward eliminating traffic deaths. Moreover, the mayor’s Surface Transportation Advisory Council provided recommendations in June to help the city use its streets as a pathway to recovery and to avoid growing traffic violence. To date, the mayor has ignored these recommendations.

Mayor de Blasio led the nation by bringing Vision Zero to New York City. As deaths and serious injuries are reaching historic highs, he must do more to champion his signature program, and ensure that all New Yorkers can access our streets without fear of death or serious injury. These deaths were preventable, and Mayor de Blasio must invest in proven solutions that prioritize human life over the convenience of drivers. 

Statement of Families for Safe Streets co-founder Amy Cohen:

 “Every crash is preventable, but only if city leaders take responsibility for safety on their streets—and take it seriously. What does it say about our city’s leaders when the death toll has risen to such a high level, even though traffic was essentially shut down for almost three months?

Any time someone dies as a result of a traffic crash, we expect our leaders to understand why and fix the problem. They need to be asking what could have prevented this tragedy? What could have prevented families like mine from such unimaginable grief? And what can prevent the next family from going through the same heartbreak?

While we mourn for those who have died, we continue to fight so that not another life is lost. As deaths are increasing, we need Mayor de Blasio to fight even harder with us for Vision Zero. As families who know first hand the impact of traffic violence, we will never rest until we have eliminated this preventable carnage on our streets.”