Despite an increase in crashes, traffic related deaths and personal injuries are on a declining trend in New York City

There were 19,061 motor vehicle accidents in New York City in July 2015 compared to 19,428 the previous month. During the same month in 2014 and 2013 there were respectively 17,361 and 17,548 crashes.  For the last 3 months the number of  accidents was unusually high and stayed above 19,000. So far since the beginning of the year there were 123,697 traffic accidents in NYC compared to respectively 118,195 and 117,022 for the same period of 2014 and 2013.

 

4,776 people suffered personal injury in motor vehicle accidents in NYC in July compared to 4,795 the previous month and respectively 4,591 and 5,077 for July 2014 and July 2013. Even though the number of motor vehicle accidents was very high in the month of July the number of people injured in these accidents was lower in July 2015 than in July 2013 and almost the same as in July 2014.

The number of motorists injured in a vehicle accident in July 2015 was unusually high and above 2,000 for the first time over the last 3 years under review.

So far since the beginning of the year 28,306 people were injured in traffic accidents in New York City compared to respectively 28,974 and 31,196  for the same period of 2014 and 2013.

 

NYC Traffic fatalities were at their lowest in July 2015 with 20 fatalities compared to 28 in July 2014 and 22 in July 2013. 127 people died in motor vehicle accidents in New York City since the beginning of the year compared to 145 during the same period of 2014 and 143 during the same period of 2013.

There is still a long way to reach zero fatalities targeted by mayor de Blasio’s Vision Zero initiative, however some improvement can be noticed as despite a spike in crashes both the number of people injured and killed in traffic accidents are down since the beginning of the year.

 

Pedestrian personal injuries and deaths have been declining the most. Since the beginning of the year 5,392 pedestrians were injured and 60 died in traffic crashes in New York City compared to respectively 6,311 injuries and 70 deaths for the same period of 2014 and 6,789 injuries and 84 deaths for 2013. With 6 fatalities, pedestrian deaths declined by 50% and more in July 2015 compared to July 2014 with 15 fatalities and July 2013 with 12 fatalities.

 

Even though numerous initiatives have been implemented to protect New York bicyclists the number of bicycle accidents and injuries related to these accidents were at their highest in  July 2015. The number of deaths was also high with 3 people dying in a bicycle accident in July.  A record number of 714 bicycle accidents were reported to the NYPD in July 2015 compared to 664 in July 2014 and 604 in July 2013. 570 bicyclists were injured in accidents in July 2015 compared to 531 in July 2014 and 470 in July 2013.

Since the beginning of the year 8 people died and 2,155 were injured  in bicycle accidents compared to respectively 11 deaths and 2,087 injuries and 6 deaths and 2,161 injuries for the same period of 2014 and 2013.

 

July is also a month during which more motorcycle accidents are reported to the NYPD.  Last month there were 298 motorcycle accidents in New York city compared to respectively 283 and 251 for the month of July in 2014 and 2013.

 

Over the last 3 years bus accidents have always recorded a decline in July.

 

Over the last 3 years truck accidents have been steadily increasing in New York City. There were 805 truck accidents in July 2015 compared to 684 in July 2014 and 620 in July 2013. Since the beginning of the year  5,024 truck accidents have been reported to the NYPD compared to 4,488 for the same period of 2014 and 4,075 for 2013.

 

 

Distracted driving continued to be the number one cause of Accidents in New York City followed by “following too closely” and “failure to yield”.