New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced traffic deaths reached the lowest level in recorded history during the first six months of 2025, with fatalities down 32 percent compared to the first six months of last year. NYC DOT data released today shows across-the-board declines in traffic deaths involving pedestrians as well as riders or occupants of traditional bikes, e-bikes, stand-up scooters, mopeds, motorcycles, cars, and SUVs. There have been 87 fatalities so far this year, tied with 2018 for the fewest since such records were first collected in 1910. The declines follow the Adams administration installing a record amount of pedestrian space, a record number of protected bike lanes, and completing major street redesigns across the city. After several administration initiatives targeting dangerous riding and driving behaviors, fatalities among riders of motorized two-wheeled vehicles (which includes mopeds, motorcycles, e-bikes and stand-up scooters), as well as motor vehicle occupants, have seen declines of 39 percent and 48 percent respectively.
“The 32 percent drop in traffic fatalities that we have seen this year is historic,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “It's also further proof that our administration’s Vision Zero efforts are working. Strong enforcement against reckless driving is keeping pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers safe, and our administration will continue using all tools available to drive down traffic violence and deliver results that keep New Yorkers safe on and off our streets.”
“Traffic deaths reached the lowest level in recorded history during the first six months of this year because of Vision Zero’s focus on safer street designs, expanded public education, and targeted traffic enforcement,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “While one traffic fatality is one too many, whether you are a pedestrian, a cyclist, or a driver, our streets are safer than ever and the important work must continue.”
“Safer roadways save lives, and the NYPD worked with our government partners these last six months to reduce traffic deaths by more than 30 percent,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “NYPD officers held impaired drivers accountable, took dangerous ghost cars off the road, and followed the data to deploy cops to areas with high collision rates. Our message to drivers was clear: follow the rules or face the law. Our work is not done yet, and we'll continue to enforce and educate on traffic safety until Vision Zero is no longer a vision —it's a reality.”
“BIC's ongoing commitment to traffic and vehicle safety for the trade waste industry are vital to our larger regulatory and public safety mission,” said Business Integrity Commission (BIC) Commissioner and Chair Elizabeth Crotty. “We are steadfast in working with our agency partners towards the goal of Vision Zero, enforcing safety rules on the street to achieve the laudable results of a reduction in traffic fatalities.”
“When we talk about hitting a record-low of traffic fatalities we’re not talking about data, we’re talking about human beings, loved ones and friends who might have been tragically lost if our city hadn’t committed to data-driven policies and practices meant to save lives,” said Taxi & Limousine Commissioner David Do. “We’ve done this in America’s largest city, while in most other large cities fatalities are going up. That’s something all New Yorkers should be proud of, and we must never stop fighting to decrease traffic fatalities. We know that almost all of them are entirely preventable. Let's keep it up!”
“The second safest year in 110 years is not an accident—it’s a testament to the effectiveness and tireless efforts of all of the Vision Zero task force members,” said DCAS Commissioner Louis A. Molina. “At DCAS, we will continue to lean into safe vehicle technologies for our city’s fleet—like intelligent speed assist, surround cameras, and side guards—and work every day to achieve the goal of safer streets for all New Yorkers.”
“It’s encouraging to see how many lives have been saved so far in 2025 thanks to New York City’s Vision Zero initiative,” said Acting Health Commissioner Michelle Morse. “For the past decade, we have been honored to work alongside our city agency partners to advanced hundreds of traffic safety initiatives that have kept New Yorkers healthy and safe. The work does not stop here. Together, we’ll continue to make New York City healthier and safer for all.”
NYC DOT cited the following highlights (see table at end of release):
The following Vision Zero initiatives have been among the keys to the progress in reducing fatalities in 2025:
Making E-Bikes Safer for All Users of City Streets: With the number of e-bikes dramatically expanding in recent years, NYC DOT has undertaken major initiatives to improve rider experience and safety, as well as the safety of pedestrians, including;
Keeping Our Streets Safe from Dangerous Drivers – The declines in fatalities of motor vehicle occupants as well as pedestrians and cyclists can likely be ascribed to several initiatives designed to reduce speeding and other dangerous driving.
Speed Cameras – Speed cameras have been shown to reduce deadly speeding by over 90 percent, with severe traffic injuries declining nearly 30 percent at locations where speed cameras had been recently installed. With Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature this past Monday on legislation renewing authorization for New York’s speed cameras, the country’s largest such network will now protect New Yorkers for five more years. In 2022, the Adams administration had successfully advocated for the cameras to go to 24/7 operation, leading to a dramatic decline in deadly overnight and weekend crashes.
'Ghost Car' Crackdown – During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of vehicles using unauthorized and fake temporary tags expanded dramatically, with crash statistics showing that such vehicles were far more likely to be involved in deadly collisions. Led by Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul, regional law enforcement agencies formed an interagency task force that have together seized over 20,000 “ghost cars” since 2022.
Aggressive NYPD enforcement on High Crash Priority Corridors – By focusing on the ground high visibility enforcement on the highest-crash corridors, NYPD has been able to help achieve significant reductions in injuries and fatalities. Enforcement of all Vision Zero violations have significantly risen, including increases in summonses issued year-to-date for:
Reimagining and redesigning our streets, with particular progress in The Bronx and Queens – In the two boroughs with the highest percentage fatality declines, the Adams administration has focused on major street improvement projects in communities that had not received prior street redesigns – including new plazas as well as new dedicated bus and bike lanes – treatments shown to reduce traffic crashes, making streets safer for all users.
Highlights include:
New pedestrian plazas – NYC DOT has added an unprecedented amount of new public space City wide. In the Bronx, those improvements include major new capital construction projects creating pedestrian plazas along the 6 train in the South Bronx, both at Morrison Avenue and in Del Valle Square Plaza at Hunts Point Avenue (opening later this year).
Bronx and Queens Bus Lanes – NYC DOT has invested heavily in improving bus service in the Bronx and Queens with numerous bus lane projects, which dramatically improve street safety. Over the last three years, Bronx projects include University Avenue, Gun Hill Road, E. L. Grant Highway (upgrades), Pelham Parkway capital project, Westchester Ave near Pelham Bay Park, and along the Washington Bridge to Northern Manhattan. In Queens, the agency completed major bus lane projects that included Main Street, 21st Street, Northern Blvd, and Queens Blvd.
Bronx and Queens Bicycle Network – With cycling surging citywide, NYC DOT has made unprecedented investment to support cycling around the city, including in the Bronx and Queens.
