For the first time in over a century, New York City has recorded its safest year on the roads. The city ended 2025 with just 205 deaths from car accidents, which is the lowest number since record-keeping began in 1910. That’s a 19 percent drop from 2024, and a 31 percent decline since the launch of Vision Zero in 2014. The New York City Department of Transportation made the announcement. It marks a historic achievement in the city’s ongoing battle to make its streets safer for everyone.
“No New Yorker should lose their life while walking, driving, or biking in our city,” said Julia Kerson, the Deputy Mayor of Operations. “Vision Zero has shown that the choices we make—how we design our streets and how we enforce traffic laws—save lives. Last year was the safest year on record, with the fewest traffic deaths since records began in 1910. But one life lost is one too many. That’s why the Mamdani administration will double down on street redesigns, protected bike lanes, and protected bus lanes that make our streets safer and better for everyone.”
How much have traffic fatalities reduced in NYC?
The data tells a compelling story. In 2025, New York City saw 205 traffic fatalities, down from 253 in 2024. This decline wasn’t just citywide; it was felt across nearly every borough and every major travel mode. The Bronx and Queens led the city’s historic drop in traffic deaths, but every borough and travel mode saw progress.
By borough:
- The Bronx: 39% decline (54 deaths in 2024 → 33 in 2025)
- Queens: 23% decline (74 → 57)
- Manhattan: 11% decline (44 → 39)
- Brooklyn: 9% decline (69 → 63)
- Staten Island: Flat (12 → 13)
By travel mode:
- Motor vehicle occupants: 40% decline
- Motorcyclists: 32% decline
- Pedestrians: 9% decline (122 → 111)
- Child fatalities: 63% decline (16 → 6)
What is working with Vision Zero?
The success of 2025 didn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of years of targeted efforts under Vision Zero, the city’s ambitious plan to eliminate traffic deaths. Since its launch in 2014, Vision Zero has focused on redesigning streets, expanding space for pedestrians and cyclists, and cracking down on dangerous driving behaviors.
One of the most visible changes has been the dramatic expansion of protected bike lanes and pedestrian spaces. Over the past decade, the city has built more than 100 miles of protected bike lanes and installed nearly 2 million square feet of pedestrian space. Studies have shown that protected bike lanes reduce deaths and serious injuries for all road users by 18.1 percent.
Enforcement has also played a key role in increasing safety. The city has expanded automated enforcement, including speed cameras, which have been shown to reduce deadly speeding by over 90 percent. Locations with speed cameras saw 14 percent fewer injuries and fatalities compared to areas without them. In 2022, the city successfully advocated for 24/7 operation of speed cameras, leading to a significant decline in deadly overnight and weekend crashes.
Another major focus has been the crackdown on “ghost cars”. These are vehicles using unauthorized or fake temporary tags. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of these vehicles surged, and crash statistics showed they were far more likely to be involved in deadly collisions. Through a regional law enforcement task force, the NYPD and other agencies have seized more than 100,000 illegal motorized vehicles and ghost cars since 2022.
The NYPD has also increased high-visibility enforcement on the city’s most dangerous corridors, known as High Crash Priority Corridors. By focusing resources on these areas, the department has helped achieve significant reductions in injuries and fatalities.
What success have the Bronx and Queens seen?
The Bronx and Queens, which saw the sharpest declines in traffic deaths, have been the focus of major street improvement projects. These boroughs, which had historically received fewer street redesigns, benefited from new plazas, dedicated bus lanes, and protected bike lanes. All of these have been shown to reduce traffic crashes and make streets safer for everyone.
The Bronx saw major street safety upgrades in 2025, with new bus lanes, protected bike lanes, and greenway projects designed to protect pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders:
- New Bus Lanes: University Avenue, Gun Hill Road, E.L. Grant Highway
- Capital Projects: Pelham Parkway upgrades, Westchester Avenue improvements near Pelham Bay Park
- Protected Bike Lanes: Four new miles on Bronxdale Avenue, Hunts Point Avenue, Soundview Avenue
- Greenway Expansion: Construction started on the Bronx Harlem River Greenway for safer riverfront travel
Queens made big strides in street safety and micro-mobility in 2025, with new bike lanes, e-scooter expansion, and redesigned corridors:
- E-Scooter Expansion: First-ever service launched in Eastern Queens
- Protected Bike Lanes (2023): 2.5 miles added on 11th Street, Jackson Avenue, and 44th Drive in Long Island City
- Queens Boulevard Redesign: The final phase added protected bike lanes in Sunnyside and Long Island City, and it transformed the once-notorious “Boulevard of Death”
- 31st Avenue Bike Boulevard (2025): First phase completed, adding over 26,000 sq ft of new pedestrian space
What does the future hold for traffic safety in NYC?
While 2025’s numbers are cause for celebration, city officials are quick to point out that the work is far from over. “One life lost is one too many,” Kerson emphasized. The Mamdani administration has pledged to continue investing in street redesigns, protected bike lanes, and bus lanes to make the city’s streets safer for everyone.
The city’s progress is undeniable, but challenges remain. Staten Island, for example, saw little improvement in 2025, and pedestrians and cyclists still face risks on many streets. However, with continued investment in infrastructure, enforcement, and community engagement, New York City is closer than ever to achieving its ultimate goal: zero traffic deaths.
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