New York City Experiences Deadliest First Quarter in Vision Zero History, New Data from Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets Shows
Traffic violence has killed a New Yorker every 36 hours this year.
This quarter is tied for the deadliest first quarter for motorists since the start of Vision Zero.
Queens is the first borough to lose 750 people to traffic violence since the onset of Vision Zero.
NEW YORK — During the first three months of 2024, traffic crashes killed 60 people, a Vision Zero-era record, according to a new analysis from Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets.
This data comes after 2023 saw a record number of bike rider fatalities in the Vision Zero era and 260 New Yorkers lost to traffic violence. As of today, 2024 is on pace to be the deadliest year for traffic violence since the onset of Vision Zero.
“Today’s numbers should be a sobering call to action for the Adams administration,” said Danny Harris, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “It is unconscionable that this is the deadliest first quarter under Vision Zero, a whole decade after the program first launched. New Yorkers don't need any more platitudes, they need and deserve real action from their leaders. Every single one of these deaths was preventable, and we need real, tangible improvements on our streets to keep everyone safe. Whether you’re in a car, walking, biking, or taking transit, everyone should be able to survive just traveling throughout the five boroughs.”
“Every single person killed has friends, a family, a community who is mourning their loss,” said Families for Safe Streets Member Margarita Flores, who lost her son to traffic violence in Brooklyn in 2018. “One death is too many – and today we are grieving many more than that.”
Key takeaways from the first quarter of 2024:
This was the deadliest first quarter since the adoption of Vision Zero in 2014. Traffic violence killed 60 New Yorkers in the first three months of 2024, up 50% from the safest first quarter under Vision Zero, 2018. Brooklyn and Queens have particularly suffered, as both boroughs experienced their deadliest first three months in the past decade.
Queens broke another Vision Zero-era record for the most fatalities. Only 27% of New Yorkers live in Queens, but 37% of those killed in traffic in the first three months of 2024 were killed in Queens. On March 12, Natalia Garcia-Valencia was walking when she was struck and killed by a driver – the 750th traffic death in Queens since the adoption of Vision Zero. Queens is the first borough to reach this grim milestone.
Motorist fatalities are tied at a record high. With 26 fatalities, the first quarter of 2024 is the deadliest first quarter for motorists since Vision Zero began in 2014. Traffic violence has killed 63% more motorists this year than the average first quarter under Vision Zero. In New York City, speeding is a major factor in 80% of fatal traffic crashes that kill people in cars.
Large vehicles are killing New Yorkers. The ongoing rise of SUVs and larger vehicles has had deadly consequences for the most vulnerable people on our streets. In the first quarter of 2024, SUVs and other large vehicles killed 79% of New Yorkers killed while walking, biking, or riding mopeds, including 21 pedestrians and four cyclists. Zero pedestrians were killed by cyclists or mopeds.
Cars are killing bike riders on streets without protected bike infrastructure. Traffic violence killed twice as many bike riders during the first three months of 2024 than the average during the Vision Zero era. The number of cyclist fatalities this year is second only to 2023’s record-breaking first quarter, and 2023 went on to become the deadliest year for bike riders since 1999. None of the bike riders killed so far this year were in a protected bike lane, and 83% were biking on streets without any bike safety infrastructure. Based on the City’s own data, only 1.7% of New York Streets have a protected bike lane.
Pedestrians are killed at intersections without physical daylighting. Daylighting – repurposing the parking spots closest to an intersection to improve visibility for drivers, bike riders, and pedestrians – saves lives, but remains underused in New York City. When pedestrians were killed at an intersection, 89% of those intersections had no daylighting measures at all, and 100% of those intersections lacked physical daylighting to stop drivers from parking all the way to the crosswalk.
Here’s what our elected officials must do to address this crisis:
Albany must pass intelligent speed assistance for repeat offenders and reauthorize red light cameras. Intelligent speed assistance 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. 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. Albany must also reauthorize the red light camera program in New York City, to protect pedestrians and bike riders from drivers running red lights.
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 both 2022 and 2023. So far this year, New York City has built just over one mile of the mandated 50 in 2024.
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. This exemption must be repealed, and daylighting must be implemented at every intersection in the five boroughs.
What elected officials are saying:
“One fatality or injury on our streets is far too many, and my heart goes out to all Queens families impacted by traffic violence so far in 2024. But as I said in my State of the Borough address earlier this month, I’m excited about the progress we are making to make our streets safer — from redesigning intersections along Conduit Avenue to allocating $4.5 million toward the construction of bike infrastructure across Queens,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “The reported inclusion of Sammy’s Law in this year’s state budget, meanwhile, is a historic step forward in our fight to keep families safe from reckless drivers and I look forward to working with all our advocates to further address traffic violence.”
“Our roads are shared spaces and should be safe for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “ As we continue to see traffic fatalities in our city, it is a call to action and attention that we must continue to invest in our biking infrastructure and red light cameras that could prevent traffic violence. I want to thank Transportation Alternatives, Families for Safe Streets, and our transportation advocates for supporting important infrastructure investments. Legislation such as Sammy’s Law, and other efforts show how we can work together to keep all New Yorkers safe.”
“Keeping New Yorkers safe from traffic violence is paramount, and the growing rate of fatalities from crashes in the first quarter of 2024 is concerning," said New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. "This is not the type of record our city should be setting, and we must not reverse the important progress made over the past decade to become a safer city. The Council will continue to prioritize actions that make our streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists alike. We remain committed to working with our partners in government and all stakeholders to advance these shared goals."
“Since Vision Zero began, there have been 750 deaths in Queens, including 57 in my district alone. As our borough breaks the record for most Vision Zero-era fatalities, it is clear that the Administration must comply with the legal requirements of the Streets Plan and implement more daylighting to ensure that we are creating safer streets and reducing senseless traffic violence,” said Council Member Julie Won. “I will continue to advocate for necessary street redesigns, traffic calming measures, and protected bike lanes to make our streets safer for the people who use them every day.”
What advocates are saying:
"New Yorkers killed in traffic crashes are as gone from our communities as if they were victims of gun violence or 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 all levels of government and keep us safe by investing in transit, walking, and biking."
“As essential workers who rely on bikes to perform one of the most dangerous jobs in the city, New York's deliveristas know too well the deadly consequences that result from our city’s lack of protective infrastructure for riders,” said Ligia Guallpa, Executive Director of Worker's Justice Project (WJP). “WJP applauds the efforts of Transportation Alternatives to advocate for streets that can keep pace with our city’s evolution toward micromobility while protecting workers and saving lives. It's time for New York City to comply with the Streets Plan.”
“Transportation Alternative’s latest research showing the deadliest first quarter since the adoption of Vision Zero in 2014 is jarring and must be understood in the context in which it occurred. The increase in mopeds and electric Citibikes has introduced new and unexpected dynamics on the city’s streets. DOT must adapt for these new modes as they continue the quest to make our streets safer for all users” said Tiffany-Ann Taylor, Vice President for Transportation at RPA. “As long-time advocates for road safety, we know which tactics work to protect pedestrians and cyclists from harm. Continued investment and prioritization of bicycle lane infrastructure that properly protects cyclists is essential to improving the public health of vulnerable roadway users and something that we have long called for, especially in Queens, where cyclists of color face increased risks. What we need from our elected leaders now is the continued commitment and political courage to do what is right. We are heartened by the passage of ‘Sammy’s Law’ and are looking forward to seeing how the DOT leverages this important new tool.”
