Traffic Accidents Fatalities reached record high in New York City this summer

17 pedestrians, 4 cyclists, 14 passengers and 22 motorists died in auto accidents in NYC  during the two hottest months of the summer. Truck accidents were close to record highs while bus accidents were slightly lower than usual.

35 people died in car accidents in New York City in July and 22 in August for a total of 57 fatalities compared to respectively 51, 42, 39, 32, 43, 44, 41, 50 and 56 during the months of July and August 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013. The number of fatalities was even higher this summer than what it was during the summer of 2013 before Vision Zero started.

The month of July was particularly bad with a record 35 people dying during this month. The only time since 2013 that this number of people were killed in traffic accidents was in September 2020. Since the Covid19 crisis of 2020, traffic accidents fatalities have been much higher than what they were the years before. Among those who died in July were 11 pedestrians, 3 cyclists, 7 motor vehicle passengers and 14 motor vehicle operators. The number of motor vehicle operator deaths in July reached a level never seen since the beginning of Vision Zero except again in September 2020.

Auto accident injuries remain  on the low side and never got back to the level they were before the covid19 crisis hit

A total of respectively 4,693 and 4,681 people were injured in traffic accidents in New York City in July and August 2022 compared to 4,713 and 4,761 during the same months of 2021. These number were 5,509 and 5,366 in July and August 2019.  Motor vehicle passengers and drivers always represent the biggest share of the crash injuries.

Motorist deaths reached a record high in July with 14 motor vehicle operators dying in crashes

This is only the second time since Vision Zero started that the monthly number of motorist deaths reached this number. The first time was in September 2020. During the two hottest months of the summer, July and August a total of 22 motorists died in car accidents compared to respectively 23, 17, 15, 15, 15, 10. 10, 13 and 27 in 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013. Only before Vision Zero started such a high number of motorists died during the summer.

Motorist injuries slightly declined compared to a year earlier and remain below the levels that they used to be before the Covid19 crisis

Since 2013 motorist injuries gradually increased and reached record highs in 2019. The main factor in these accidents was distracted driving accidents.  After the covid19 lockdown, monthly motorist injuries declined significantly and so far did not go back up. Factors that might have contributed to this decline are the higher number of people working from home and not commuting to work everyday anymore.

Motor vehicle passenger fatalities during the summer reached levels never seen before, even in 2013 before Vision Zero started

14 passengers died in July and August 2022, double that during the same months a year earlier. These numbers are extremely preoccupying. Before the Covid19 crisis only 2 passengers died during the same period of 2019 and 4 during the same period of 2018.

Passenger injuries, at the opposite, remained lower than usual compared to the pre covid19 era

1,599 passengers were injured in car accidents in July and 1,594 in August compared to respectively 1,659 and 1,588 the same months of 2021 compared to 1,815 and 1,716 the same months of 2019.

Pedestrian fatalities were back at the same level in July and August 2022 than what they were in July and August 2019 with a total of 17 pedestrians dying in accidents during these two months

While pedestrian fatalities were back at their 2019 level, pedestrian injuries remained slightly lower with respectively 628 and 619 pedestrians injured in July and August 2022 compared to 657 and 711 in July and August 2019. This summer tourists were back in town and the city was pretty busy, showing signs that it is recovering from the Covid19 crisis however many corporates have changed the way they do business and continue to let their employees work from home.

530 people were injured in a bicycle accident in August and 527 in July compared to respectively 480 and 460 during the same months a year earlier

After a peak during the Covid19 crisis in 2020, bicycle accident injuries during the summer months of July and August decreased to one of their lowest levels since the beginning of Vision Zero and then picked up slightly again this summer as activity increased in the city. Bicycle accident injuries were indeed slightly higher this summer than what they were during the summer on 2019. While every year more infrastructures are being installed to protect cyclists, especially in Manhattan, some areas in the other boroughs of NYC remain dangerous for cyclists and bicycle accident injuries remain on a long term rising trend.

After a very safe beginning of the year with no bicycle fatalities for the first 4 months of the year, 3 cyclists died in the month of May, 2 in June, 3 in July and one in August for a total of 9 deaths in bicycle accidents since the beginning of the year

Respectively 7, 10 and 18 people died in bicycle accidents between January 1st and August 31st and during the same period of 2021, 2020 and 2019. While the long term trend of bicycle accident deaths remain positive, less deaths have been recorded during the years following the covid19 crisis than the year before.

In August, the number of motorcycle accidents reached its third highest number since Vision Zero started with 366 accidents reported to the NYPD

Only twice before this number was higher. In August 2016 when a record number of 379 motorcycle accidents were reported to the NYPD and in August 2018 when 368 accidents were reported. Motorcycle accidents are extremely seasonal and August is usually the month in the year with the highest number of motorcycle accidents.

There were a few less bus accidents this summer than last

According to NYPD reports there were respectively 240 and 188 bus accidents in July and August 2022 compared to 246 and 199 in July and August 2021. August is usually a month during which the number of bus accidents is lower than usual. Schools are closed for summer most of the month and the city is emptier than usual because many New Yorkers are on vacation. With lighter traffic, it might be easier for buses to circulate.

Truck accidents were above 700 last August for the third time since April 2020 with 711 truck accidents reported to the NYPD

The only other time the monthly number of truck accidents in New York City went above 700 was 716 in October 2021 and 779 in May 2021. Trucks are among the most dangerous vehicles on the streets of the city, especially for cyclists and pedestrians.  Recently the DOT released the Truck Smart Guide in an effort to curb truck accidents in the city.