Making progress to protect pedestrians from traffic

Over the past 10 years, pedestrian deaths have skyrocketed in the United States: the number of Americans killed while walking reached a 40-year high in 2022.

Despite alarming national increases, New York City remains one of the safest cities to travel by foot; thanks to our commitment to Vision Zero, we are actually seeing historic declines in pedestrian deaths. Excluding the anomaly of 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic forced New Yorkers to shelter in place (and New York City went a record two months without a single pedestrian fatality), the first half of 2023 has thus far been the safest ever year for pedestrians on record.

Through a combination of engineering, enforcement, and education we continue to make great strides tackling this national road safety crisis at a local level. The administration of Mayor Adams has invested a historic $900 million in traffic safety, and as commissioner for the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT), I am dedicated to continuing the push to reduce traffic deaths on our streets.

When I took office in January 2022, we declared intersections “sacred spaces,” recognizing that pedestrians face their greatest dangers there. Since then, we have aggressively redesigned hundreds of intersections and roadways to put pedestrian safety front-and-center. Broadway Vision has reclaimed public space for pedestrians and cyclists along Broadway, from Union Square to Columbus Circle.

In Jackson Heights, Queens, we partnered with dedicated local residents to transform 1.3 miles of 34th Ave. into a pedestrian-first community haven that has become a national model. And all over the city, we have installed a record number of raised crosswalks — which slow down drivers, increase the visibility of pedestrians and provide greater accessibility. This past week, we announced the completion of dedicated bus lanes on Northern Blvd. in Queens, a treatment that we know makes a street safer for pedestrians.

We have also redesigned our roads to add new bike lanes — but it’s not just about cyclist safety. People who never ride bikes will still get safety benefits because these projects include pedestrian-focused safety enhancements. Some of these enhancements shorten crossing distances, slow turning vehicles, and, at intersections with traffic signals, add Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI).

An LPI gives pedestrians a “head start” by allowing them to enter the crosswalk before vehicles get a green light. Last year, we installed more than 580 LPIs to help pedestrians announce their presence in the crosswalk ahead of cars. LPIs have shown a nearly 30% reduction in crashes involving pedestrians.

Parking-protected bicycle lanes make streets safer for everyone, but the pedestrian statistics are particularly eye-popping: deaths and serious injuries for pedestrians on these streets have declined by 29.2%. For older New Yorkers, the data is even more promising: where protected bike lanes are installed, senior pedestrian deaths and serious injuries have fallen by 39%.

At the same time, we are increasing public awareness around street safety for New Yorkers of all ages and identities. Through the dynamic “Cross This Way” curriculum and “We’re Walking Here” competition, our NYC DOT Safety Education team informs elementary and middle school students about safe choices in New York City’s traffic environment. We’ve seen a concerning rise in fatal e-bike crashes where no other vehicle was involved and that is why, in addition to building new, safe infrastructure, we are finalizing a campaign to educate New Yorkers and encourage the safer operation of the burgeoning number of micromobility devices.

Our robust engineering and education efforts are greatly enhanced by enforcement in collaboration with NYPD. Speeding is often cited as a major contributing factor in traffic crashes. After launching our automated speed camera enforcement program in 2014, speeding violations dropped 72% on average at camera locations. On Aug. 1, 2022, New York City expanded its speed camera operations to 24-hours a day. In the first three months of this policy change, violations dropped by 25%. One year later, we are seeing a continued reduction in speeding at camera locations.

Combined, all of these efforts have been remarkably successful at bucking national trends. While we still face significant challenges around Vision Zero, we have begun to counter some of the most troubling pandemic trends — with 2022 marking the city’s first decline in annual fatalities in three years. With pedestrian fatalities now down by nearly 20% through the first seven months of 2023, we must and will maintain that focus. Our streets are critical public spaces, and we will continue our work to reduce traffic fatalities to ensure all New Yorkers can walk, play, and gather safely in our communities.

Rodriguez is New York City’s transportation commissioner.