Site visitors-related deaths have plummeted within the Huge Apple through the first quarter of the yr, new metropolis knowledge launched Wednesday exhibits.
The variety of vehicular fatalities dropped citywide regardless of the latest surprising case of an alleged velocity demon who mowed down and killed a 32-year-old mother and her two daughters in Brooklyn on March 29.
There have been 41 site visitors deaths through the first three months of 2025 — 24 fewer than the 65 deaths reported final yr — and the bottom quantity since 2018, when there have been 40 fatalities — the town Division of Transportation stated.
It’s the second lowest variety of deaths in a primary quarter since 1990, when there have been additionally 40 fatalities, the DOT stated.
The company tracks site visitors deaths involving pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and occupants of motor autos — all of which noticed declines from January by means of March.
The DOT attributed the drop to beefed-up “Zero Vision” initiatives began underneath former Mayor Invoice de Blasio and continued underneath present Mayor Eric Adams. After taking workplace, Adams devoted $900 million in capital and working funding over 5 years to handle site visitors security, officers stated.
“In order to make New York City the best place to raise a family, we need to be safer at every level — including on our streets,” Adams stated.
“Our administration’s investments in intersection safety improvements, treating traffic violence as the serious crime that it is, and our expanding automated camera enforcement are all helping ensure we’re leading the way toward a safer future for all New Yorkers — whether they are pedestrians, cyclists, or motorists.”
However Hizzoner additionally acknowledged the horrific Ocean Parkway crash by which 35-year-old wigmaker Miriam Yarimi has been charged with manslaughter for the deaths of 32-year-old Natasha Saada and her two daughters, 8-year-old Diana and 5-year-old Debra. A 3rd sibling, 4-year-old Philip, stays in vital situation at an space hospital.
“There is more work to do, as evidenced by this past weekend’s tragic crash in Brooklyn, because one life lost to traffic violence is one life too many, but our administration remains committed to reducing traffic violence as much as any other form of violence,” Adams stated.
Nonetheless, the town is seeing the return of the early successes of Imaginative and prescient Zero after a spike in site visitors deaths through the pandemic years, the DOT stated.
Through the first quarter of 2013, the yr earlier than the site visitors security program launched, there have been practically 70% extra site visitors fatalities – 70 throughout the town.
In 1990, there have been 166 site visitors fatalities within the first quarter of the yr.
There have been 57 fatalities in 2022 and 53 in 2023 — up from 42 in 2021 and 43 in 2020.
Site visitors accidents additionally declined through the first quarter of 2025 in comparison with final yr — from 9,599 by means of March 12, 2024 to 7,936 site visitors accidents by means of the identical time interval this yr.
There have been drops in accidents throughout the board amongst pedestrians, cyclists, motorized vehicle drivers and occupants, DOT stated.
“Every New Yorker deserves safe streets, and thanks to historic investments in better street designs, expanded educational efforts, and focused traffic enforcement, our streets are safer than ever,” DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez stated.
“Thoughtful street design isn’t just about movement; it’s about making sure everyone gets home safely. That is what inspires NYC DOT’s work each and every day, because one traffic death is one too many.”
The enhancements embrace the creation of 1.5 million sq. ft of recent pedestrian area over three years — together with 350,000 sq. ft of area final yr — separating pedestrians from vehicular site visitors.
As well as, transportation officers say they upgraded security enhancements at a document 5,765 intersection enhancements over the previous three years, together with upgrades at 2,688 intersections final yr.
In the meantime, the town added 87.5 miles of recent bike lanes and upgraded 20 miles of motorbike lanes with security buildings to separate the lanes from vehicular site visitors.
Growth of velocity cameras and pink mild cameras — backed by fines — helped scale back rushing, DOT officers stated.
The Adams administration persuaded the state Legislature to develop the velocity digital camera program to function 24/7, which has helped scale back rushing and site visitors deaths through the in a single day hours, officers stated.
However the velocity program will expire at yr’s finish except Albany renews this system.
Likewise, the enlargement of pink mild cameras from 150 to 600 intersections final yr — a quadrupling of this system — has had a measurable impression on enhancing site visitors security whereas slicing deaths, the DOT reported.
