Many long-term residents of New York City simply tune out sirens from police cars and ambulances, regarding them as just another aspect of day-to-day life in our sprawling metropolis. Of course, these sirens often respond to traffic accidents involving cars, trucks, cyclists, pedestrians, and other road users.
Even if you have never been directly involved in a traffic accident in New York, road safety is an issue that impacts the entire community. Delving into New York accident statistics from 2023 can help us understand overall collision trends and reduce motor vehicle crashes in 2024.
Overall Collision Trends
In 2023, there were 38,105 total crashes in New York City. This data comes nearly a decade after New York enacted Vision Zero, an initiative to improve road safety. Guided by a strong belief in the preventability of motor vehicle crashes, the initiative went into effect in 2014. City officials claim that engineering improvements, community education, and better enforcement of traffic laws have made the streets of NYC safer.
In 2013, the year before Vision Zero, 40,210 crashes were reported. A decade later, 2023 saw a 5.2 percent decrease in accidents overall. Comparing 2023 crash report data to previous years shows that accident numbers fluctuated but generally trended downward.
Perhaps due to the pandemic, 2020 saw one of the starkest drops. There were 33,362 crashes in 2020 compared to 45,437 crashes in 2019 and 45,751 crashes in 2018. In 2022, there were 37,037 crashes.
Contributing Factors to Crashes
Many factors contribute to motor vehicle crashes, including speeding, distracted driving, and alcohol or drug impairment. The top contributing factors to crashes in New York City in 2023 were:
- Driver inattention/distraction – 12,190 crashes
- Failure to yield right-of-way – 4,682 crashes
- Following too closely – 3,411 crashes
- Unsafe speed – 2,195 crashes
- Disobeying traffic controls – 2,095 crashes
Driver inattention/distraction claimed the top spot among contributing factors over the last decade. Distracted driving may involve texting, talking on the phone, eating, adjusting the radio or GPS, and anything else that takes your eyes off the road.
Other notable factors in 2023 crashes included improper passing and lane changes, pedestrian/bicyclist error, driver inexperience, unsafe lane changing, alcohol, and passing too closely.
Precautionary measures can help mitigate the risk of accidents. These include better enforcement of traffic laws, more outreach through education and awareness campaigns, infrastructure improvements, and individuals taking more personal responsibility.
Casualties and Injuries
There were 259 total traffic deaths in New York City in 2023, including:
- Motorist deaths – 126
- Pedestrian deaths – 104
- Cyclist deaths – 29
Officials working on Vision Zero noted that total traffic deaths declined by more than 12 percent in 2023 compared to 2013, the year before the initiative’s launch. Pedestrian deaths decreased by a whopping 45 percent.
However, cyclist deaths in 2023 were the highest they have been since Vision Zero launched, with 29 deaths in total. There were also 5,157 total cyclist injuries due to motor vehicle crashes. While some collision data shows progress toward meeting Visions Zero’s goals, much work still needs to be done.
Crash Data by Borough
New York City has about 8.3 million residents living in the 300 square miles that make up the five boroughs. The population of each borough breaks down as follows:
- Brooklyn – 2,590,516
- Queens – 2,278,029
- Manhattan – 1,596,273
- Bronx – 1,379,946
- Staten Island – 491,133
With so many people living in a relatively small geographical area, it’s no wonder there are so many traffic accidents in New York. From the bustling streets of Manhattan to the quieter residential streets of Staten Island, let’s examine the overall crash data for 2023.
Brooklyn
In total, Brooklyn reported 11,980 crashes in 2023 and had the second-highest fatality rate among the boroughs, with 63 deaths reported (26 pedestrians, 25 motorists, and 12 cyclists). Brooklyn also saw the most bicycle accidents (1,916).
All in all, Brooklyn saw more traffic injuries than any other borough in 2023 (15,901), the majority stemming from motorist collisions. Distracted driving and failure to yield were the top contributing factors.
Queens
Queens saw 9,878 crashes in 2023, seeing the most fatalities of all five boroughs. There were 78 total traffic deaths (31 pedestrians, 40 motorists, and 7 cyclists). Queens also reported the second-highest number of injuries after Brooklyn (13,563).
Most of these injuries resulted from motor vehicle accidents. The top contributing factors to were distracted driving, failure to yield the right-of-way, and following too closely.
Manhattan
There were 5,809 crashes on the busy streets of Manhattan in 2023. The borough reported 34 deaths (19 pedestrians, 11 motorists, and 4 cyclists). In total, there were 7,253 injuries. Manhattan reported the second-highest number of cyclist injuries after Brooklyn (1,533). Unsurprisingly, the top contributing factor to accidents in Manhattan was distracted driving.
Bronx
The Bronx saw 5,544 crashes in 2023 and reported the third-highest number of deaths. There were 41 fatalities in total (12 pedestrians, 26 motorists, and 3 cyclists). This borough also reported 7,924 injuries, most attributed to motor vehicle accidents. Like in Manhattan, distracted driving was the most common contributing factor to traffic accidents.
Staten Island
Unsurprisingly, the least populous borough saw the fewest crashes, fatalities, and injuries. Staten Island reported 1,753 crashes and 16 fatalities (4 pedestrians, 10 motorists, and 2 cyclists). There were 2,419 injuries, with most resulting from car accidents. Again, distracted driving played a significant role in these accidents.
Working Together for a Safer New York
Sifting through New York state crash data may feel overwhelming, and you might wonder what you can do to make a difference. Following traffic safety laws is the best way to protect yourself and the well-being of our community. Ultimately, we all have to do our part. Supporting policy changes through the state legislature and local councils can also help.
The personal injury attorneys at Chopra & Nocerino are real New Yorkers committed to ensuring the safety of our streets and helping injury victims enforce their right to full and fair compensation. We serve all five boroughs of our great city and are ready to fight for you.
If you are looking for a car accident lawyer who knows what it takes to win, you’re in the right place. Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation by calling (855) NYC-HURT or reaching out online. Para servir mejor a todos los miembros de nuestra comunidad, ofrecemos servicios en español.
