NYC reports fewest number of traffic fatalities since 1910
WOODSIDE, Queens (WABC) -- Mayor Bill de Blasio (D), announced Monday that New York City saw the fewest traffic fatalities on record last year - that includes a 32 percent drop in pedestrian deaths.
The new data was released at a police garage in Woodside, Queens.
This marks the fourth year in a row of declining traffic deaths since the mayor launched Vision Zero in 2013. This is the lowest number of traffic fatalities since city record-keeping began in 1910.
"The last time city streets were this safe people were getting around in a horse and buggy," Mayor de Blasio said.
Here's a look at the stats:
In 2017, 214 people were killed in traffic accidents compared to 231 total fatalities in 2016. This is opposite the national trend -- the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported a 13-percent increase in traffic fatalities between 2013 to 2016.
Vision Zero was one of Mayor de Blasio's first programs since taking office -- it includes $1.6 billion in road re-design, new traffic cameras, stricter police enforcement and lowering the city speed limit to 25 mph.
Between 2009 and 2013, police issued an average of 77,828 traffic speeding summons every year. Last year, police wrote 149,910 speedign summons -- a 93-percent increase.
"No one has died on Queens Boulevard in three years," Queens City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer said. "And THAT is what matters."
In the last 10 years, Queens Boulevard became a notorious city thoroughfare because of so many deaths there. City Hall spent $100 million in road design on Queens Boulevard and installed new traffic cameras.
"This boulevard of death is now the boulevard of life," Mayor de Blasio said.
Although City Hall is pleased with Vision Zero results, cycling deaths actually climbed last year. There were 23 bicycle deaths in 2017, up from 18 in 2016.
A city traffic official said an increase in cycling deaths was expected because the number of people biking in New York City has doubled over the last 10 years.
