Data Shows 2021 Was the Deadliest Year of Car Crashes in NYC Since 2013
February 9, 2022 in In The News, Motor Vehicle Accidents, News
A study recently published by Transportation Alternatives noted that 273 people died in car crashes in New York City in 2021. Of the 273 total fatalities, over a quarter of them (73) occurred between October and December alone. This is the highest number of traffic fatalities recorded in New York City since 2014 when Vision Zero took effect. Below, the traffic accident attorneys at SPBMCC provide statistics on car accidents and trends that occurred in 2021 and your legal rights if you lost a loved one in a car accident in NYC.
What is Vision Zero?
According to its website, Vision Zero is “a collaborative campaign aimed at building momentum and advancing the game-changing shift toward safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. The Network brings together local leaders in health, traffic engineering, policy and advocacy to develop and share strategies, policies and practices that make Vision Zero a reality.” The goal of the campaign is to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries. Vision Zero was introduced in New York City in 2014 after the program led to success in countries across Europe.
What Were Key Traffic Accident Insights from 2021?
According to the Transportation Alternatives study, fatalities hit a low in 2018. The tally in 2021 was 33 percent higher, with 273 fatalities.
In addition to this tally, key takeaways from 2021 include:
- Twice as many hit-and-runs in 2021 compared to 2018, a total of 93 incidents. Only 3% of these hit-and-run cases were solved.
- Pedestrian fatalities caused by drivers of SUVs increased by 42%.
- Brooklyn averaged one fatality every four days in 2021.
- In the Bronx, more cyclists were killed in 2020 and 2021 than in the eight years from 2012 to 2019 combined.
What Steps are in Place to Decrease Traffic-Related Fatalities?
After the deadliest year recorded since the enactment of Vision Zero, Commissioner of New York City Department of Transportation Ydanis Rodriguez said, “Last year was a difficult one for Vision Zero, and this year has gotten off to a difficult start, with a number of traffic fatalities, many of them at intersections. That’s why Mayor Adams and I declared last week that intersections should be sacred spaces and outlined a plan to make targeted changes at more than 1,000 intersections this year.”
Ultimately, focusing on this area of the road is crucial for protecting drivers, bikers, cyclists, and pedestrians, as intersections lead to a considerable amount of traffic accidents in New York.
Seeking a New York Car Accident Attorney?
Experiencing a car accident in a busy city like New York can be serious and even life-threatening. If you lost a loved one in a car accident, that experience can be traumatic. Victims of serious car accidents deserve reputable legal counsel, as you may be entitled to recover damages. The car accident attorneys at SPBMCC are dedicated to providing the best representation for the people of New York City. If you were injured in a serious car accident or lost a loved one in a car accident, call (212) 732-9000 or fill out the form below.
Information in this article was sourced from the NYC Patch. To read the article in full, click here.