Studies Show 2014 was the Safest Year for NYC Pedestrians in a Century

Mayor Bill de Blasio has made curbing the number of pedestrian deaths in New York City a huge priority during his tenure so far. His administration implemented the Vision Zero plan in early 2014 with the goal of bringing the number of pedestrian deaths down to zero over the course of the next decade. So far, the plan appears to be working, as statistics have shown that 2014 was the safest year for pedestrians in the city since 1910.

In fact, it may have been the safest year of all time for the city. The first year that the city began tracking data on the number of pedestrians killed in car accidents was 1910. That year, a time at which cars were being mass-manufactured for just under a decade and the Model T was barely two years old, there were fewer than 100 pedestrian deaths. That number would rise to almost 1,000 in a year in the late 1920s. In 2014, the total was 132, the lowest number in nearly 100 years. 

As part of Vision Zero, traffic speed limits have been lowered throughout the city in accordance with data that shows pedestrians are far more likely to survive when vehicles are traveling at less than 25 miles per hour. Additionally, intersections that have had a significant number of left-turn accidents have had left turn lanes removed. Additionally, the police department has issued more speeding tickets and failure to yield tickets.  Filature to yield has been changed to a misdemeanor crime rather than just a standard traffic infraction.

Although these statistics do not tell the whole story, it is clear that something is leading to fewer pedestrian accidents in New York. However, if someone close to you has been injured in a crash, speak with the dedicated personal injury lawyers at [ln::firm_name].