Traffic Fatalities in NYC Remain A Problem Despite Vision Zero Pledge

A pedestrian crossing signal in New York City.

Why do so many pedestrian accidents happen in NYC?

Despite ongoing efforts to dramatically reduce the number of traffic fatalities in New York City, pedestrian accident deaths and other motor vehicle fatalities remain a serious problem in the city, according to officials.

“Traffic deaths are still rising dramatically in much of the country,” a recent NPR story says about efforts to reduce motor vehicle fatalities in New York City and other places around the country.

Understanding NYC’s Vision Zero program

The recent NPR story focused on New York City’s Vision Zero program. In 2014, NYC became the first city in the country to adopt this European-based traffic safety approach, which aims to reduce the number of motor vehicle fatalities to zero, NPR reported.

Since then, many other cities across the country have adopted similar Vision Zero programs. “Still, a decade after Vision Zero arrived in the U.S., its goal seems more elusive than ever,” NPR reported.

Car accident fatalities in NYC

So, how good a job has New York City done in reducing the number of traffic fatalities in recent years since it adopted the Vision Zero program in 2014? Better, but more work still needs to be done, according to New York City officials.

In 2022, there were 255 motor vehicle fatalities in New York City, according to the most recent statistics from the New York City Department of Transportation. That figure is 14.7 percent less than NYC’s motor vehicle accident death toll in 2013, when 299 people died, which is the last year before the implementation of NYC’s Vision Zero program.

Like motor vehicle accidents overall in New York City, pedestrian accident fatalities have decreased since the city adopted its Vision Zero program in 2014. Specifically, according to the NYC Department of Transportation, pedestrian deaths decreased by 35.9 percent between 2013 and 2022 in New York City.

In 2013, a total of 183 pedestrian fatalities were recorded in New York City, according to a NYC Streets Blog about the record-high pedestrian accident death toll at the time. In contrast, there were 118 pedestrian fatalities in New York City in 2022.

Improving roadway safety

In an ongoing effort to continue to reduce the number of motor vehicle accident fatalities in New York City, officials have taken a wide-ranging approach to reducing the number of fatal accidents in the city. Such recent efforts include:

Investing $900 million in city infrastructure improvement projects designed to make New York City a “safer, healthier, and greener city for all New Yorkers,” according to a recent announcement from the City of New York.
Installing speed cameras in New York City aimed at cracking down on speeding drivers.
Building more bike paths in New York City, including a bike lane built on Broadway in Manhattan, recently named the best new bike lane in the US in 2023 by People For Bikes.
Educating drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists in New York City about staying safe on the road during dusk and night hours as part of the city’s “Dusk and Darkness” campaign.

Seeking legal help after an accident

If you were hit by a car while crossing the street in New York City, you might think you don’t even need an attorney to handle your injury claim. Unfortunately, that’s not how many pedestrian injury claims work. You often need a lawyer on your side, demanding the money you rightfully deserve. Otherwise, you might not get the financial compensation you need to pay for medical bills, replacement income, and other accident-related expenses.

Our Bronx car accident lawyers at Giampa Law know what’s at stake. That’s why we want to help. When you have our team on your side, we will work hard to find the evidence you need to build a strong legal case. We also understand the urgency of many NYC pedestrian accident claims. That’s why we won’t waste a second getting to work on your case.

Get the NYC law firm that’s serious about winning your case. Get Giampa Law. Contact us and schedule a free consultation. We handle injury claims throughout New York on a contingency fee basis. That means you only have to pay us if we obtain a financial settlement or verdict for you. It’s that simple.