Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Traffic deaths 'disproportionately impacting' the Bronx: Report
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Jul 20, 2022
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Jul 20, 2022
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Traffic crashes killed 28 people in the Bronx during the first half of 2022 – a 22% increase over last year, according to a new study released Wednesday by streets safety advocacy group Transportation Alternatives.
The study found that, while the city as a whole was not on track to surpass the number of traffic deaths in 2021, the Bronx was still seeing disproportionate numbers of traffic-related fatalities. The study said this year’s traffic death count in the Bronx was already higher than any year since 2014, when former Mayor Bill de Blasio launched Vision Zero with the goal of addressing the problem.
“The problems that we see in the Bronx are problems that you see in communities across New York City that have not gotten investments in Vision Zero, that have been deprioritized, that have been overlooked, and that have not gotten an equitable share of investment, and have faced years and years of disinvestment and under resourcing,” Transportation Alternatives spokesman Cory Epstein said.
Traffic violence killed 113 people in the first six months of the year. That’s a 21% decrease from last year, the deadliest on record, but a 29% increase compared to 2018, the safest year since the start of Vision Zero, according to the report.
The study also found that hit-and-runs involving critical injuries remained high when compared to pre-pandemic levels — this year saw a 129% increase from 2019 so far.
Monique Williams, a Bronx resident whose father was killed in a hit-and-run in 2020, said she expected more out of Vision Zero after eight years.
“Nobody should experience the pain of losing a loved one to traffic violence,” said Williams, a member of an advocacy group called Families for Safe Streets. “With traffic fatalities in the Bronx at record levels under Vision Zero, our leaders must invest in proven measures that protect pedestrians, bike riders, and drivers here. Families for Safe Streets members know that traffic violence is preventable. Our city’s leaders must act now to save lives.”
The city Department of Transportation told Gothamist it was still committed to Vision Zero’s original ambition “to eliminate death and serious injuries from traffic incidents” and that additional investments in safer streets were being made under Mayor Eric Adams.
“DOT is focused in delivering projects equitably in underserved communities and is making significant investments in the Bronx, where the DOT is planning miles of new dedicated bus lanes and protected bike lanes to support efficient, sustainable travel options that improve safety for everyone on our streets,” spokesman Vin Barone said, pointing to projects like the Fordham Area Bike Network.
The Department of Transportation also said that this year has been one of the safest so far on record, and blamed the uptick in traffic violence in the Bronx on reckless drivers.
But Transportation Alternatives said it wants to keep the pressure on the city in order to achieve street redesigns and reduce the number of cars on city streets. To get there, the organization has called on the city to devote at least 25% of street space to “safe space for people,” in the form of sidewalks, green spaces, busways and bike lanes.
"Vision Zero means reaching zero traffic deaths. It means preventing all traffic deaths by redesigning our streets,” Epstein said. “We're still very far from reaching 'Vision Zero' and we really need urgency and action from the Adams administration to actually get us to vision zero and to save lives on our streets.”
Tagged
traffic
bronx
transportation alteratives
Catalina Gonella
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
2 men accused of stabbing off-duty NYPD detective in the Bronx plead not guilty
Sneider Mejia and D’Angelo Caraballo are both facing several charges, including attempted first-degree murder.
By
Charles Lane
and
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 2:40 p.m. ET
Man who pushed his baby and her mother from a Bronx balcony arraigned from psych ward
Angel Carrasco, who shoved his infant daughter and her mother from a 15th floor balcony, appeared virtually in Bronx criminal court.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
News
Man who pushed his baby and her mother from a Bronx balcony arraigned from psych ward
Angel Carrasco, who shoved his infant daughter and her mother from a 15th floor balcony, appeared virtually in Bronx criminal court.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
NYC looks to grow involvement in Open Streets as applications open for 2027
By
Catalina Gonella
New Yorkers are paying $300 million for natural gas they don't even use
By
Rosemary Misdary
Early Addition: Eric Adams did not convince a Wisconsin town to build a data center
By
James Ramsay
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .