New York City’s traffic fatalities have reached a troubling high in the first quarter of 2024, with 60 deaths marking the deadliest start to a year since the implementation of Vision Zero a decade ago. This spike in traffic-related deaths represents a significant regression in the city’s efforts to improve road safety.
Vision Zero, launched in 2014, aimed to eliminate traffic fatalities through infrastructure improvements and safety programs. However, recent data reveals a stark reversal from earlier successes. “It is unconscionable that this is the deadliest first quarter under Vision Zero, a whole decade after the program first launched,” said Danny Harris, executive director of Transportation Alternatives. “New Yorkers don’t need any more platitudes, they need and deserve real action from their leaders.”
The analysis by Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets shows a 50% increase in deaths compared to the safest first quarter recorded in 2018. Queens notably experienced the brunt of this surge, becoming the first borough to surpass 750 traffic deaths since Vision Zero’s inception. This includes the tragic incident on March 12, when Natalia Garcia-Valencia was struck and killed by a driver, marking a grim milestone for the borough.
Large vehicles, such as SUVs, played a significant role in these fatalities, involved in 79% of the incidents that killed pedestrians and cyclists. “The ongoing rise of SUVs and larger vehicles has had deadly consequences for the most vulnerable people on our streets,” Harris noted.
Despite these challenges, not all news is bleak. The city has made strides in certain areas, such as increasing protected bicycle lanes and implementing daylighting at intersections to enhance visibility. The recent passage of Sammy’s Law, which allows New York City to lower speed limits to 20 mph on most streets, represents a potentially transformative measure to curb speed-related accidents.
Yet, as traffic fatalities rise, advocates stress the urgency of more comprehensive actions. Council Member Julie Won emphasized the need for adherence to the Streets Plan, stating, “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.”
Critics argue that the city’s slow pace in rolling out new bike lanes and other safety measures is insufficient. According to city data, only 1.7% of New York streets have a protected bike lane, and pedestrian fatalities occur predominantly at intersections lacking adequate daylighting.
Looking ahead, the city faces a crucial juncture. The Adams administration is urged to fulfill its commitments under the Streets Plan and bolster efforts to protect all road users. “Every single person killed has friends, a family, a community who is mourning their loss,” lamented Margarita Flores of Families for Safe Streets. “One death is too many – and today we are grieving many more than that.”
As New York City continues to navigate its road safety challenges, the call for tangible, effective solutions remains loud and clear, resonating with those who seek a safer, more navigable city for all.
