What's Driving the Rise in NYC Traffic Deaths?

Despite years of consistent decline, and a variety of efforts aimed at improving safety, traffic fatalities spiked by 23 percent last year in New York City. Matt Flegenheimer examines what may be causing the increase.

1 minute read

September 26, 2012, 11:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Findings included in last week's release of the twice-yearly Mayor's Management Report revealed figures that are sure to give pause to Mayor Bloomberg and his top transportation deputy, Janette Sadik-Khan. "Though overall crashes fell slightly for the second straight year, 176
cyclists or pedestrians were killed in crashes, up from 158 the previous
year. The other 115 deaths were motorists or their passengers, a sharp
rise from the 78 drivers and passengers killed the year before."

While Flegenheimer seems to suggest initially that the numbers indicate the failure of recent measures credited with improving safety, such as pedestrian plazas and bike lanes, he also notes that "preliminary
analysis suggested that the crashes were concentrated on highways, far
removed from many of the areas that have been the focus of the city's
initiatives."    

"According to the Mayor's Management Report, speeding, driving while
intoxicated, and running red lights or stop signs accounted for a
combined 54 percent of motorist or passenger fatalities." DOT Commissioner Sadik-Khan also attributes partial blame to a rise in distracted driving and distracted walking. 

"The traffic data appears more encouraging," notes Flegenheimer, "when set against figures from
past years, before the city experienced its recent sharp decline in
annual deaths. There were 243 traffic fatalities in the calendar year
2011, about a 38 percent reduction from 2001." 

Wednesday, September 26, 2012 in The New York Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Street with parking protected bike lane and parked cars in downtown Portland, Oregon.

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance

The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.

July 8 - Willamette Week

Aerial view of Spokane, Washington with river in foreground.

Spokane Mayor Introduces Housing Reforms Package

Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposals include deferring or waiving some development fees to encourage more affordable housing development.

July 8 - The Spokesman-Review

Close-up on black and white "Bike Lane Ends" sign with bike logo.

Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane

The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.

July 8 - Houston Public Media

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA