Skip to main content

New York City sees reduction in pedestrian and cyclist fatalities

New York City has ended the first six months of 2017 with the fewest traffic fatalities ever measured, according to figures released by Mayor Bill de Blasio. Under the Vision Zero program, as of 30 June, the city had recorded 93 fatalities, the first time ever that fewer than 100 lives had been lost in such a period. The full fiscal year ending 30 June recorded 210 fatalities, 31 fewer than the prior fiscal year. The reductions come as the City is increasing traffic enforcement against dangerous violations
July 21, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
New York City has ended the first six months of 2017 with the fewest traffic fatalities ever measured, according to figures released by Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Under the Vision Zero program, as of 30 June, the city had recorded 93 fatalities, the first time ever that fewer than 100 lives had been lost in such a period.  The full fiscal year ending 30 June recorded 210 fatalities, 31 fewer than the prior fiscal year. The reductions come as the City is increasing traffic enforcement against dangerous violations like speeding and redesigning a record number of streets to make them safer.

The Vision Zero highlights from the first six months of 2017 include declines in year over year traffic fatalities since 2016 in most modes, including among pedestrians, where 47 fatalities were recorded as of 30 June, compared to 63 fatalities in first six months of 2016.

Declines by borough have been largest in Queens, with 23 fatalities in 2017 compared to 32 in 2016, in Manhattan, with 20 in 2017 down from 26 in 2016 and on Staten Island, with five fatalities this year, down from 11 last year.

FY 2017, which concluded on 30 June, was also the City’s safest fiscal year since record-keeping began, with 31 fewer traffic deaths than FY 2016 and over 70 fewer, a 24 per cent decline from FY14, the year Vision Zero was launched.  In contrast, from 2014-2106, according to the 4953 National Safety Council, the country as a whole has seen a 14 percent increase in traffic fatalities.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Florida city extends red light camera program
    August 15, 2014
    The city of Sunrise in Florida has extended its red light camera program, with systems supplied by American Traffic Solutions (ATS), for a further three years. Sunrise began its road safety camera program in August 2011, and currently operates 19 cameras at ten intersections. Progress to date shows drivers are getting the message to stop on red. Since the program began, the average monthly number of violations per camera has decreased 75 per cent and the number of repeat red-light runners stands at a low
  • Mobile phones & driving & the rules of distraction
    January 5, 2024
    Making it illegal to hold your mobile phone while driving is designed to increase road safety, says Adam Hill. Cambridge Mobile Telematics has been looking at the numbers to see if it works
  • Progress on speeding ‘may be hampered by confusion on 20mph limits’
    July 5, 2017
    The percentages of vehicles exceeding the speed limit in free flow conditions on UK roads have declined slightly for most vehicle and road types between 2011 and 2016, according to statistics published by the Department for Transport.
  • Mexico improves road safety with speed enforcement programme
    June 7, 2012
    A programme of road safety education and enforcement in the State of Jalisco in Mexico has reduced speed related fatalities by 40% in nine months Speed enforcement equipment will appear in greater number and visibility around the city of Guadalajara over coming months, as the Mexican State of Jalisco expands its road safety campaign. This comes hot on the heels of an initial programme of traffic speed education and enforcement in Guadalajara, which has yielded remarkable results, reducing speed related fata