Car Accident Deaths in New York: Latest Statistics And Figures
The statistics on New York car accident deaths in 2024 make for grim reading.
The number of serious accidents in the state predictably declined during the pandemic, but, as life returned to normal, the frequency of road deaths shot right back up again. In this post, we look at some of the key numbers in this area and explore what they mean for you as a New York commuter.
Overview of Car Accident Statistics in NY
New York roads have been getting more deadly for a while now. According to the Office of the New York State Comptroller, motor vehicle fatalities in the state rose by 25.8% from 2019 to 2022, reaching the highest level in a decade, with 1,175 deaths in 2022. This increase came despite a decrease in the number of accidents and vehicle miles traveled; so, when accidents happen, they tend to be more severe than in previous years.
More recently, there has been some good news. According to a report from The Gothamist, annual transportation deaths decreased slightly in 2024. However, the number of people killed on the road last year was still much higher than in 2019.
Pedestrian and Cyclist Fatalities
Per a report from Transportation Alternatives, the first six months of 2024 were especially deadly for pedestrians and cyclists. By the halfway point of the year, 61 pedestrians had lost their lives in traffic; this marked the highest number of pedestrian deaths ever at that point in the year since the implementation of the Vision Zero project in New York in 2014. There were also 12 cyclists killed in traffic by that point last year, 20% more than the average figure during the Vision Zero era.
Since Vision Zero is a large-scale project aimed at making roads safer over time, these figures raise alarming questions about the efforts officials are making to properly implement the principles of the scheme.
Contributing Factors to Fatal Accidents
Sadly, most road deaths occur because of avoidable human errors. The statistics show that careless driver behavior is a huge contributor to the tragic situation.
A few factors are particularly problematic, including:
- Speeding: Approximately one in three deaths in New York involved speeding, according to the State Comptroller’s statistics. This is also a problematic trend at the national level; according to data from the National Safety Council (NSC), 29% of all U.S. road deaths in 2022 involved excessive speed on the part of at least one driver.
- Impairment: Another one in three fatalities involved a driver with a blood alcohol content above the federal legal limit of 0.08. Notably, there was a 45% increase in fatalities involving drivers above the legal limit from 2019 to 2022.
- Lack of seat belt and helmet use: Car occupants who were not wearing seat belts and motorcyclists (or motorcycle passengers) who were not wearing helmets accounted for 64% of fatalities.
Geographic Distribution of Fatalities
The distribution of traffic fatalities varies across the state, per the statistics from the Office of the State Comptroller:
- Long Island: Suffolk County reported 164 deaths, and Nassau County had 81 in 2022, leading the state in the number of fatalities.
- North Country: This region had the highest per capita fatality rate in 2022, with 12.9 deaths per 100,000 people.
- New York City: Despite its dense population, the city had the lowest per capita fatality rate at 2.9 per 100,000 people, likely due to the large number of residents who do not own vehicles.
What Are Policymakers Doing to Help?
New York City Mayor Eric Adams pledged in 2023 to reduce the number of parking spots at intersections in the city by 1,000 every year. This would, in theory, give drivers more visibility while making turns and help pedestrians (particularly children) to stay safe.
However, subsequent reports have shown that the actual rate of reduction has been much lower than what Adams pledged.
The city has also been increasing the number of city vehicles (such as school buses and non-emergency police vehicles) with intelligent speed censors. These devices are designed to prevent drivers from exceeding speed limits.
The city has lowered speed limits on various streets and expanded the use of speed cameras to deter speeding. Advocates have called for more widespread speed limit reductions.
At the state level, officials have implemented a Strategic Highway Safety Plan, due for completion in 2027. This plan involves measures to address road safety risks of various types, including those related to:
- Intersections: Like NYC officials, the state is applying traffic control measures and other safety improvements at intersections to keep pedestrians safer.
- Vulnerable road users: The plan involves provisions for new and improved bike lanes and crosswalks. It also aims to develop multilingual educational materials aimed at drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians to reduce the number of accidents involving those walking and cycling.
- Roadway departures: The plan provides for the addition of Centerline Audible Roadway Delineators (CARDs) and Shoulder Audible Roadway Delineators (SHARDs) on eligible roadways to prevent departures.
- Road user behaviors: Officials want to implement high-visibility enforcement activities addressing behaviors like impaired driving, distracted driving, and speeding.
- Alternate road vehicles and commercial vehicles: The plan has introduced measures related to new safety infrastructure for vehicles other than passenger cars.
New York Car Accident Deaths in 2024
Unfortunately, traveling on the road will never be entirely safe. If you’ve had an accident that wasn’t your fault, it’s important that you do what you can to uphold your rights. If you decide to take action, we’ll be here to help.
Contact Tucker Lawyers today to discuss your potential entitlement to compensation. We can talk through all your options and help you come up with a sensible plan for your next move. You can reach us via our online form or by calling (516) 399-2364. Don’t delay; the sooner you make your first move, the easier it will be for us to build a winning case on your behalf.