Traffic Deaths Spike for Young People on NYC’s Streets, a report shows

By Yehudit Garmaise

The percentage of New Yorkers under 18 who have been killed in car crashes tragically stands at its highest level since Vision Zero was launched in 2014 to eliminate deadly car crashes.

Transportation Alternatives, which provided the new report, said that traffic violence this year has killed 12 young New Yorkers, which is a rate that is twice as high as the average in the last eight years since Vision Zero began.

In addition, the number of Brooklynites who have died while riding bikes, e-bikes, and scooters have more than tripled when compared to deaths reported during the first six months of 2021, reported Transportation Alternatives.

Crashes killed seven people on bikes, e-bikes, or scooters in Brooklyn in the first half of this year, which is more than three times more than had occurred by the middle of 2021.

In addition, hit-and-runs citywide have seen a 129% increase in the second quarter of 2022 compared with the same period before the pandemic.

To make jumpstart progress in combating traffic violence, Danny Harris, the executive director of Transportation Alternative, wants to reduce not only the number of cars on New York City streets, but he wants to shrink the spaces that the city provides to cars.

Mayor Adams has previously challenged NYC leaders to repurpose 25% of the space on streets that is currently used by cars into space that can be safely used by pedestrians and cyclists who would like to use wider sidewalks, more bike lanes, and greener spaces. 

Harris argued that dedicating less space to cars will mean that fewer people will choose to own cars, and as a result, traffic violence will decrease.

Harris urged Mayor Adams and Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez to reclaim open driving space from parked cars that create drivers’ blind spots near intersections in a process called “daylighting.” Harris also advocated for the DOT to redesign streetscapes and provide more busways. The advocate for NY pedestrians also looks forward to August 1, when speed safety cameras will begin to operate 24/7.

“Helping shift New Yorkers out of cars and into other, safer, reliable transportation alternatives will reduce the number of cars on the road and reduce the risks for every road user and create a safer, healthier city,” Harris said.