This year marked the eleventh year of the Vision Zero era, which was launched in 2014 by Mayor Bill de Blasio.  While traffic fatalities in Queens remained lower in 2024 than before the Vision Zero era, they have generally been on an upward trajectory since 2017.  Whether due to corruption or indifference, NYPD continues to neglect its responsibility for traffic safety, with enforcement efforts remaining dramatically lower than before Vision Zero launched.

Fatalities.  Total traffic fatalities in Queens have fallen by 18 percent, from 93 fatalities in 2013 to 76 fatalities in 2024. Pedestrian fatalities have declined 40 percent from 52 fatalities in 2013 to 31 fatalities in 2024. Cyclist deaths have risen from two fatalities in 2013 to four in 2024.  Citywide, there was a 13 percent reduction in overall traffic fatalities over the same 11-year period.

The chart above shows the progress that has been made in reducing traffic fatalities in Queens.

A partial list of the neighbors that we lost in 2024 is provided here.

Injuries. In 2024, there were 2,419 pedestrians injured in Queens by motor vehicles, a decline of 14% from the Vision Zero benchmark year, 2013. There have been 930 injuries to cyclists, an increase of 13% since 2013. Overall, including motor vehicle occupants, there were 15,892 people injured in motor vehicle crashes in Queens last year, virtually unchanged since 2013. Citywide, there has been a 4% reduction in injuries over this time.

Enforcement. The overall effort of police officers in Queens toward ticketing motorists for dangerous and reckless driving behaviors is far lower today than it was before Vision Zero was launched a decade ago (see chart below).  While enforcement of speeding, red light running  and not yielding right of way to pedestrians remain significantly higher than pre-Vision Zero levels, tickets issued for illegal cell phone use, disobeying signs/traffic control devices, and improper turns remain sharply down. Enforcement across all six categories in Queens is down 22% since 2013.

A detailed report, with results by community board, is available here.