The number is the highest since the city pledged to end traffic deaths through Vision Zero policies a decade ago.
Traffic deaths in New York City are at their highest level since the city launched its Vision Zero program ten years ago, reports Michael McDowell for Patch, with 127 deaths in the first six months of 2024.
The article notes that although the connection between enforcement and traffic deaths is unclear, “Speeding in particular is a key cause of traffic fatalities, and according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, about a third of fatal crashes are speeding related.”
The New York Police Department (NYPD) issued fewer citations for moving violations this year, yet “Last year, drivers who ran red lights caused incidents that resulted in the highest annual number of deaths due to red light running ever recorded in the city.” According to an NYPD spokesperson, “The NYPD has been, and continues to be, laser focused on combating dangerous driving behaviors, most notably drivers that speed and drivers that fail to yield to pedestrians and cyclists.”
Meanwhile, traffic congestion in the city is also at historic highs. “For example, the MTA, which tracks traffic volume on bridges and tunnels, recorded the highest annual traffic volume in 87 years in 2023.”
FULL STORY: Traffic In 2024 Kills Most New Yorkers Since ‘Vision Zero’ Began
NYC Pedestrian Deaths Rose in 2024
The city’s Vision Zero efforts seem to have stalled.
San Francisco Turns On California’s First Speed Cameras
The city is the first in the state to use automated traffic enforcement to reduce speeding and traffic deaths.
States Have Mixed Feelings on Speed Cameras
While some states and cities are embracing automated traffic enforcement as a tool for improving road safety, others are banning the technology over concerns that the programs are designed for profit rather than public benefit.
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Private Donations Propel Early Restoration of Palisades Playground
Los Angeles has secured over $1.3 million in private funding to restore the Pacific Palisades playground months ahead of schedule, creating a modern, accessible space that supports community healing after recent wildfires.
From Blight to Benefit: Early Results From California’s Equitable Cleanup Program
The Equitable Community Revitalization Grant (ECRG) program is reshaping brownfield redevelopment by prioritizing projects in low-income and environmental justice communities, emphasizing equity, transparency, and community benefits.
Planting Relief: Tackling Las Vegas Heat One Tree at a Time
Nevada Plants, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit, is combating the city’s extreme urban heat by giving away trees to residents in underserved neighborhoods, promoting shade, sustainability, and community health.
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