There has been a record number of traffic crashes and deaths in New York City so far in 2024, claiming the lives of 193 people and leaving 2,338 seriously injured, according to a recent study.
The study, released by Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets on Monday, also found that there was a 20% increase in serious injuries in Brooklyn when compared to 2022, according to a press release.
These statistic surpass numbers seen in eight of the past 10 years, the study found.
The data reveals that 909 New Yorkers were seriously injured in the past quarter. Serious injuries, according to the New York City Department of Transportation include permanent disabilities, organ loss or fetal loss.
“The status quo is killing and seriously injuring our neighbors, and Mayor Adams and our city’s leaders are failing to protect New Yorkers in all five boroughs from deadly traffic violence,” said Elizabeth Adams, interim co-executive director at Transportation Alternatives.
Brooklyn resident Joann Perahia, whose 29-year-old son Philipe Haussmann was killed in Bushwick by a box truck on Aug. 20, said the city failed to implement safe street design strategies to prevent injuries and fatalities.
"My son should be with us today. He is not because of our city's failure to prioritize safe street design in our city," said Perahia, a member of Families for Safe Streets.
Of the 88 pedestrian fatalities in New York this year, 88% occurred at intersections lacking daylighting, which restricts visibility for drivers. Moreover, 84% of cyclist deaths occurred on streets without protected bike lanes.
The report outlines immediate actions to reduce fatalities: implementing congestion pricing, expanding daylighting at intersections, and applying the speed-reducing measures enabled by Sammy’s Law. Advocates argue that these changes could save lives by making streets safer for all.
