Vision Zero: Traffic Deaths Continued to Decline in Third Quarter Amidst One of the Safest Years in New York City History

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 2, 2025 Contact: (212) 839-4850, [email protected]

Vision Zero: Traffic Deaths Continued to Decline in Third Quarter Amidst One of the Safest Years in New York City History

Traffic Fatalities Continued Downward Trend In Third Quarter of 2025, With 18 Percent Decline From Same Period Last Year

NYC DOT Releases New Data Showing Sharp Declines in Injuries Following Transformative Street Redesigns in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens

NEW YORK - New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced traffic deaths reached near-record lows through the first three quarters of 2025, with traffic fatalities down 18 percent compared to the first nine months of last year. NYC DOT data released today highlighted that positive 2025 safety trends continued through the third quarter with across-the-board declines in traffic deaths involving pedestrians as well as riders or occupants of traditional bikes, e-bikes, stand-up scooters, mopeds, motorcycles, cars, and SUVs. There have been 159 traffic fatalities through 2025, which is down 18 percent from the 194 traffic deaths recorded at this point in 2024 and the third fewest number of fatalities ever recorded in the first nine months of a year.

NYC DOT has detailed work with its Vision Zero agencies on a variety of initiatives to reduce traffic fatalities, including transformative street safety projects, the creation of a record amount of protected bike infrastructure, newly pedestrianized street space, and a variety of educational and targeted enforcement efforts.

NYC DOT cited the following highlights:

• An 18 percent decrease in the overall number of traffic fatalities, the third-fewest traffic fatalities ever recorded three-quarters through a year.
• Leading the decline is the drop in deaths among drivers and occupants of motor vehicles - at 25, there was a 37.5 percent decline from 40 deaths in 2024.
• The city continues to see declines in deaths among e-bike, motorcycle and other riders of motorized two wheeled vehicles. Among this group of motorized two-wheelers, there were 51 deaths through the nine months of the year, a decline of 15 percent from 60 fatalities in 2024.
• So far in 2025, three cyclists riding a traditional non-electric bicycle have been killed, a record low. (While small, those fatalities numbered 5 in the first three-quarters of 2024 and 7 in 2023 - and were as high as 18 fatalities in the first nine months of 2019).
• Pedestrian fatalities have also declined 10 percent from 2024 - from 89 to 80 deaths.

Vision Zero is a data-driven program, putting forth solutions based on research demonstrating their effectiveness. NYC DOT today shared several data-driven street safety projects that have yielded incredible safety results, contributing to safer streets and the data we see today:

The redesigned Schermerhorn Street, with one-way vehicle traffic and two-way bike traffic has led to a dramatic reduction in pedestrian injuries while cycling use has surged. Credit: NYC DOT

Schermerhorn Street protected two-way bike lane: In 2022, NYC DOT completed a redesign of Schermerhorn street in Downtown Brooklyn, from Clinton Street to Flatbush Avenue. The project converted a two-way street with traditional bike lanes into a one-way street with a parking-protected two-way bike lane. The redesign has led to a reduction in injuries for pedestrians by 31 percent, motor vehicle occupants by 16 percent-all while cycling volumes increased by nearly 30 percent.

The redesigned White Plains Road, which brought protected bike lanes, bus boarding islands and a 41 percent reduction in injuries involving motor vehicle occupants. Credit: NYC DOT

White Plains Road Protected Bike Lanes and Road Diet: In 2022, NYC DOT added parking protected bike lanes and bus boarding islands to White Plains Road, from East 214 Street to East 226 Street - in the Williamsbridge section of the Bronx. The project represented the first protected bike lanes with bus boarding islands installed under an elevated subway line and delivered a 41 percent decrease in motor vehicle occupant injuries and total crash injuries by 10 percent.

The redesigned Queens Boulevard Phase IV added protected bike lanes, new pedestrian space, and improved slip lanes for added safety. Pedestrian injuries dropped 45 percent after the redesign.

Queens Boulevard Protected Bike Lanes, Pedestrian, and Slip Lane Improvements: In 2021, NYC DOT completed the fourth phase of its Queens Boulevard transformation, between Yellowstone Boulevard and Union Turnpike in Forest Hills. The project added protected bike lanes, new pedestrian paths, and redesigned slip lanes, reducing pedestrian injuries by 45 percent and total crash injuries by 20 percent.