A Disturbing Trend: NYC Sees Alarming Rise in Child Pedestrian Fatalities
A recent report from Transportation Alternatives paints a grim picture: over the past three years, more children and teenagers have been killed in traffic accidents in New York City than in any other three-year period since the enactment of Vision Zero in 2014. Under Mayor Adams’s leadership, the number of fatalities has soared, reaching record highs in two of those three years.
Half of these tragic deaths involved children walking or biking, highlighting the vulnerability of these modes of transportation.The report cites several heartbreaking cases, including the deaths of Niyell McCrorey, a high school freshman hit by an SUV in Manhattan, Juraed Umedjon, a 16-year-old cyclist killed by a truck driver in Brooklyn, and 10-year-old Yitty Wertzberger, struck by a reckless driver in Williamsburg.
“The time is now to take action that will save other families from living this nightmare,”
urged one advocate, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) acknowledges the severity of the problem and states it is working to improve safety for children by expanding open streets near schools. However, this program currently encompasses only 71 street segments, a relatively small number compared to the total number of streets near schools.
Transportation Alternatives’ year-end report also revealed several other alarming trends:
- Overall pedestrian fatalities rose by 21% from 100 in 2023 to 121 in 2024.
- A staggering 90% of pedestrians killed at intersections were at crossings without physical daylighting, emphasizing the importance of these safety measures.
- Twenty-five cyclists were killed in 2024, with 85% of these fatalities occurring on streets lacking protected bike infrastructure.
- Council District 19, represented by Vickie Paladino, witnessed the highest number of fatalities with 12 deaths, marking a rate 2.5 times higher than the citywide average.Paladino,a staunch opponent of Vision Zero,has criticized the city’s speed camera program and its efforts to build bike lanes.
These statistics paint a stark picture: urgent action is needed to protect the most vulnerable road users in New York City. Policymakers, city officials, and community members must work together to implement comprehensive solutions that prioritize pedestrian and cyclist safety.
A recent report from Transportation Alternatives paints a grim picture of pedestrian safety in New york City, revealing alarming statistics and highlighting the urgent need for improved infrastructure.
“These numbers are a sobering call to action for everyone who cares about safety in the five boroughs,” stated Ben Furnas, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “Too many pedestrians are still being killed without critical safety improvements, too many people on bikes are still being killed on streets without protected bike lanes, and too many super-speeders are putting all of us at risk while racking up hundreds of tickets.”
While acknowledging the positive trends, Vin Barone, spokesperson for the Department of Transportation, criticized the report for overlooking several crucial aspects.
“This report fails to acknowledge the year-over-year decreases in pedestrian fatalities and new data around indiscriminate daylighting efforts, and also many of the vital efforts NYC DOT is already undertaking to address these trends,” Barone asserted.Despite claims of progress, the data reveals a concerning increase in pedestrian fatalities between 2023 and 2024.DOT attributes 2023’s spike as an outlier, pointing out that 2024’s fatalities were lower compared to 2022 and 2021.
adding complexity to the debate, the DOT’s stance on daylighting, a controversial traffic calming measure, appears contradictory. While acknowledging that 90% of pedestrian fatalities occured at intersections lacking physical daylighting, the agency argues that intersections with daylighting disproportionately experienced fatalities.
“Only about 2 percent of intersections across the city have physical daylighting, the agency said, so, that means that intersections with physical daylighting had proportionately more fatalities than intersections without, the agency claimed,”
Interestingly, the DOT’s own recent report on daylighting admits the inability to ascertain weather a daylighted intersection was obstructed by illegally parked vehicles at the time of a crash.
Could New York City Truly Achieve Zero Roadway Fatalities?
When it comes to road safety, New York City has a complex challenge on its hands. While the Vision Zero initiative has made strides in reducing traffic fatalities, crashes continue to claim lives, leaving many to question whether a truly traffic-free future is attainable.
Advocates are calling for more drastic measures to tackle the issue, echoing calls that have been made throughout the vision zero era. One key demand is for state lawmakers to mandate speed governors for cars driven by repeat offenders. This suggestion has received lukewarm support from the state legislature,which is largely composed of drivers. A 2024 report, however, reveals the potential impact of such a policy – nearly 50 lives could have been saved if drivers with five or more speeding tickets were removed from the roads.
Another contentious proposal is universal daylighting, a method that eliminates parking at intersections to enhance visibility. While a pending City Council bill seeks to implement this city-wide, the Department of Transportation (DOT) remains hesitant.Despite claims that universal daylighting is ineffective, critics argue that the agency’s data supporting this stance is flawed.
There’s also a push to lower the city’s speed limit to 20 miles per hour across the board. While the city gained the power to set its own speed limits last year, the DOT has only announced a limited number of streets were the limit will be reduced.
Transportation advocates also emphasize the need for more protected bike lanes and pedestrianized areas. One glaring example is Marte’s district, where 79% of residents don’t own cars but experience tragically high pedestrian fatality rates.
Adding fuel to the fire is the perilous nature of delivery work. As the Transport Alternatives (TA) report states, “Delivery work remains the deadliest occupation in New York City.” The report criticizes some City Council members for focusing on penalizing individual workers rather than demanding higher standards from the delivery app companies. The TA report calls for legislation that would “professionalize delivery work, offer safe operating equipment and proper training, and ban unsafe routes, impossible timeframes, and retaliatory deactivation for following the law and riding safely.”
The DOT acknowledges the need for action beyond fines and fees against repeat offenders. The agency supports measures such as giving the DMV the authority to suspend registrations of vehicles accumulating five or more red light camera violations within a year. They also support installing speed governors on cars driven by repeat offenders.
However, the DOT remains unconvinced about universal daylighting. “Other street safety treatments have greater benefits, on average,” the agency states, adding that while daylighting remains a valuable tool, it should be deployed strategically rather than universally.
What role can city planning and urban design play in enhancing pedestrian safety?
Safe Streets, Safe City: An Interview with New York Transportation Experts
New York City’s streets conjure images of vibrant energy and bustling life.Yet, for many, they can also be a source of fear and danger.
With recent reports highlighting the ongoing struggles surrounding pedestrian and cyclist safety, we spoke to two experts, Maria Rodriguez, a seasoned traffic engineer with the Department of Transportation, and Javier Lopez, a passionate advocate for pedestrian rights at the nonprofit transportation Alternatives.
Maria rodriguez, Department of Transportation
Archyde: new York City has made strides with its Vision Zero initiative. What are some of the key successes and the most significant challenges you’re facing?
Maria Rodriguez: We’ve seen encouraging progress. Fatalities have declined significantly since Vision Zero began. We’ve also made great strides in expanding protected bike lanes and implementing speed-calming measures. Though, the challenge is to understand the unique needs of each neighborhood and tailor safety interventions accordingly.
Archyde: There’s been much discussion about daylighting as a solution to improve intersection safety. What’s the DOT’s stance on this, and what data informs your approach?
Maria Rodriguez: Daylighting is a valuable tool, but our data indicates it’s not a silver bullet.While 90% of pedestrian fatalities occur at intersections lacking physical daylighting, those with daylighting also experience a disproportionately high number of fatalities. We need to be strategic about where we implement these measures, focusing on areas with the greatest impact.
Archyde: What are some of the most promising solutions the DOT is exploring to further reduce traffic fatalities?
Maria Rodriguez: We’re constantly exploring innovative solutions. Speed governors for repeat offenders,expanding our red light camera program,and promoting a shift towards public transportation are all crucial steps. It’s a multi-pronged approach that requires collaboration with all stakeholders.
Javier Lopez, Transportation Alternatives
Archyde: You’ve been a strong advocate for pedestrian safety.What are some of your top concerns regarding current traffic conditions in New York City?
Javier Lopez: The lack of universally protected bike lanes and prioritizing vehicular traffic over pedestrian needs is a major concern. We need to create streets that prioritize safety for everyone, not just drivers.
Archyde: How effective are current penalties for traffic violations in deterring dangerous driving?
Javier Lopez: Fines alone aren’t enough. We need stricter enforcement and more robust consequences. Speed governors for repeat offenders could be a game changer,as they directly address the root cause of many accidents.
Archyde: What role can city planning and urban design play in enhancing pedestrian safety?
Javier Lopez: Implementing more pedestrian-friendly design features, like widened sidewalks, more crosswalks, and speed bumps, is crucial. We also need to reduce the amount of traffic congestion through smarter traffic management systems and incentives for using public transportation.
Archyde: With the increasing number of delivery app-based vehicles on the road, what additional measures do you think are necessary to ensure the safety of both workers and pedestrians?
Javier lopez: We need to hold delivery companies accountable for creating safer working conditions for their drivers. This includes providing safe operating equipment, enforcing reasonable delivery timelines, and prohibiting unsafe delivery routes.
The Road Ahead
As New York City continues to grapple with the complex challenge of road safety, it’s clear that a multifaceted approach is required.
Whether it’s smarter infrastructure, stricter enforcement, or a cultural shift towards prioritizing pedestrian and cyclist safety, the city must continue to push for progress. What solutions do you believe will be most effective in making New York City’s streets truly safe for everyone?
