As the year draws to a close, New York City sees a slight decrease in traffic fatalities, a shift in the trend of rising numbers since pre-pandemic times. A report by Gothamist mentions there were 247 traffic deaths in the city up to December 22, marking a 4% decrease when compared to last year's figures at the same time. However, these numbers still exceed the 215 fatalities recorded in 2019. Mayor Eric Adams, in response to the ongoing safety issues, pledged to daylight at 1,000 intersections but the goal seems far from being met, with the Department of Transportation on track to daylight 1,000 "locations" instead of specific intersections.
Amid such initiatives, NY1 highlights a particularly disconcerting aspect of the city's traffic safety statistics. While the overall traffic deaths witnessed a decline, pedestrian fatalities, including those of children, have unfortunately increased. In fact, the number of pedestrian deaths has risen to at least 112 this year, surpassing the 95 total from 2023. Notably, this uptick includes the deaths of 16 children, a figure that has caused uproar amongst safety advocates.
Alexa Sledge, director of communications for street safety advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, pointed to the protective benefits of new bike lanes and other traffic calming measures, commenting, "Traffic calming measures like this, which might seem to only be good for bikes, are actually good for every single person using the street," according to NY1. The city has enacted some street redesigns and implemented new pedestrian space, and yet, despite these efforts, it still remains a battleground of competing interests between safety and urban infrastructure.
The city's actions have included reducing speed limits in certain areas to 20 mph, following Sammy’s Law that allows such adjustments across the five boroughs. However, for it to be citywide, the City Council would need to enact its own law. Sledge scrutinized the current measures as insufficient, stating "This crosswalk is pretty long, and we could make it substantially shorter by having bump-outs for pedestrians, and we’re not doing that here." That said, in a statement, the Department of Transportation emphasized their commitment to street safety, citing record numbers of protected bike lanes and improved visibility at many intersections, as per report by NY1.
In remembrance of those lost, including 7-year-old Kamari Hughes and 49-year-old Felix Mendez, the statistics offer a detailed view of the situation. While some progress has been made, pedestrian safety remains a significant challenge on New York City's streets. The introduction of new regulations and safety measures is ongoing, with results that vary as efforts continue.
