Vision Zero: Pedestrian Fatalities Reach Record Lows As the Mamdani Administration Doubles Down on Traffic Safety

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2026
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Vision Zero: Pedestrian Fatalities Reach Record Lows As the Mamdani Administration Doubles Down on Traffic Safety

Pedestrian fatalities reach lowest level since 1910, except for outlier year of 2020 during height of Covid-19 Pandemic

Overall traffic fatalities at second-lowest level since 1910, trending down in 2026

Vision Zero Reimagined, the Mamdani Administration's new 10-year action plan for street safety, builds on proven safety interventions

NEW YORK - New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today announced that traffic deaths have reached historic lows over the first three quarters of 2026. The first nine months of the year have seen the second fewest traffic deaths since the city started tracking data in 1910. Pedestrian fatalities are at an all-time low except for the outlier year of 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

While tremendous progress has been made, the Mamdani administration is committing to Vision Zero through its new Vision Zero Reimagined action plan because there is more work to be done and victims of traffic violence deserve to be honored not only in memory but in action.

"Traffic deaths are not inevitable; they are preventable tragedies. While traffic fatalities are at record lows this year, we won't let up because one fatality is one too many," said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. "This administration is doubling down on safety through its new Vision Zero Reimagined action plan and is using all available tools to protect everyone who shares our streets."

This year is on track to be one of the safest on record since New York City began documenting traffic fatalities in 1910. Charts credit: NYC DOT

To date, this is the second safest year on record on our streets, with overall traffic deaths down nearly 28% since Vision Zero's launch and steadily declining throughout this year. There have been 67 pedestrian fatalities so far this year, down 15% from the same point in 2025. Fatalities among motor vehicle occupants are at 21, a record low as well, down from 24 in 2025.

Fatalities among e-bike and stand-up scooter users, however, have increased, underscoring the urgency behind the administration's action to remove dangerous and illegal devices from city streets, improve micromobility infrastructure, expand safety education and address unsafe practices by third-party delivery app companies.

NYC DOT's decades-long initiative to redesign the most dangerous streets across the five boroughs has shown that building safer streets works to keep more New Yorkers safe while traveling. Building on this success, the Mamdani administration is committed to expanding the deployment of proven safety interventions as outlined in Vision Zero Reimagined.

Year-to-date traffic fatalities by mode, through September 30. Credit: NYC DOT

Designing a Safer New York City

Vision Zero Reimagined pairs bold ideas with practical fixes, including dramatically expanding street safety projects through time-tested design strategies. NYC DOT uses both quick build and capital construction to implement safety redesigns on Vision Zero priority corridors across the city.

Cyclists and pedestrians travel on the recently expanded protected bike lane and 'super sidewalk' on Ninth Avenue in Manhattan. Credit: NYC DOT

Ninth Avenue, Manhattan

The 2026 redesign of Ninth Avenue from West 34th to 50th streets in Manhattan added nine feet of extra pedestrian space - known as a 'super sidewalk' - with new pedestrian islands at corners as well as widening the existing protected bicycle lane from five to nine feet. The new design creates shorter and safer pedestrian crossings that feature hardened daylighting, a wider protected bike lane to accommodate safe passing for micromobility riders, and a new curbside bus lane to simplify and speed up bus movements along the corridor.

Curbside protected bike lanes and painted pedestrian islands shorten crossing distances and clarify traffic movements on 31st Street in Astoria, Queens. Credit: NYC DOT

31st Street, Queens

The comprehensive redesign of 31st Street includes curbside protected bike lanes, painted pedestrian islands to shorten pedestrian crossings, hardened daylighting, and upgraded roadway markings and turn calming that enhance safety by improving roadway organization and predictability under the elevated train tracks.

A cyclist rides in the parking-protected bike lane on Bailey Avenue in the Bronx. Credit: NYC DOT

Bailey Avenue and Sedgwick Avenue, the Bronx

On Bailey and Sedgwick Avenues, a 2026 safety redesign has added hardened daylighting, painted curb extensions, and pedestrian islands to create shorter and safer crossings, a two-way protected bike lane to clarify traffic movements and enhance visibility with dedicated space for micromobility riders, and a new median and turning bays to encourage safer driving speeds. The redesigns are part of NYC DOT's Harlem River Greenway corridor.

"The downward trend in traffic fatalities is encouraging, but our work is not done until we reach zero," said Director of the Mayor's Office of Operations Annie Levers. "Our Vision Zero Reimagined action plan gives us a clear path forward, from redesigning dangerous streets and advancing proven safety measures to strengthening coordination across City agencies. We will continue using every tool available to protect New Yorkers and save lives."

"Safety is a fundamental priority for the TLC, and our dedicated, professional drivers are ambassadors for this critical Vision Zero mission," said TLC Chair and Commissioner Midori Valdivia. "Our revamped education course has prepared licensees - who perform almost one million trips a day - to face various challenges in real time, and Vision Zero's record progress ensures dignity across our transportation system."

"Keeping our streets safe requires teamwork. The NYC Business Integrity Commission is proud to work alongside NYC DOT and our Vision Zero partners to deliver on safer streets for all," said NYC Business Integrity Commissioner & Chair Asim Rehman. "Improving traffic safety in the trade waste industry is integral to BIC's mission, and we will continue educating carting companies and enforcing safety regulations to protect all road users."

"Traffic fatalities are at a historic low, and this progress shows what is possible when we make safety a priority across city government," said DCAS Commissioner Yume Kitasei. "At DCAS, we are doing our part by making our municipal fleet safer and expanding technologies like pedestrian alerts, intelligent speed assistance, and surround cameras. And the work doesn't stop here - Vision Zero Reimagined builds on these efforts, and we will continue working to make our streets safer."