Traffic Deaths In Brooklyn Declined In 2025, Study Shows

BROOKLYN, NY — Brooklyn saw a significant drop in traffic deaths in 2025, with the borough among those contributing to a citywide decline, according to a new report from the Department of Transportation.

Not only did fewer people die on Brooklyn’s streets last year, but the study also found that 2025 was the safest year ever recorded for traffic deaths across New York City, dating back to when record-keeping began in 1910.

There were 205 traffic fatalities in 2025, a 19 percent decline from 253 in 2024, and one fewer than the previous record low in 2018, when 206 people were killed. Overall, traffic deaths citywide are down 31 percent since the launch of Vision Zero in 2014.

Brooklyn recorded 63 traffic deaths in 2025, down 9 percent from 69 in 2024. While the outer boroughs saw bigger drops—39 percent in the Bronx and 23 percent in Queens—Brooklyn’s decline helped drive the citywide total down 19 percent, from 253 fatalities in 2024 to 205 last year.

Manhattan also saw a smaller decrease, with traffic deaths falling from 44 to 39, the study shows.

“No New Yorker should lose their life while walking, driving, or biking in our city,” said Deputy Mayor of Operations Julia Kerson. “Vision Zero has shown that the choices we make—how we design our streets and how we enforce traffic laws—save lives."

Every major mode of travel saw declines in fatalities last year, the study showed. Drivers and vehicle occupants experienced the largest drops, down 40 percent, followed by motorcycle users, down 32 percent. Pedestrian deaths remain among the lowest ever recorded, decreasing nine percent from 122 in 2024 to 111 in 2025.

Traffic injuries also trended downward: as of Dec. 15, total injuries fell 7.7 percent, from 51,540 in 2024 to 47,557 in 2025, and serious injuries declined 2.8 percent, from 3,031 to 2,947. Child fatalities were near record lows, with six deaths reported in 2025, a 63 percent drop from 16 in 2024.

"Last year was the safest year on record, with the fewest traffic deaths since records began in 1910. But one life lost is one too many," Kerson added. "That’s why the Mamdani administration will double down on street redesigns, protected bike lanes, and protected bus lanes that make our streets safer and better for everyone.”

However, city transportation advocates caution that progress on fatalities does not mean all traffic safety problems have been solved.

During the most recent quarter of 2025, serious injuries were at an all-time high under the Adams administration, according to the city’s own data analyzed by Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets.

While New York City’s Vision Zero program aims to “end deaths and serious injuries in traffic,” serious injury data is rarely analyzed publicly, leaving gaps in understanding ongoing risks.

“It’s alarming that despite impressive reductions in fatalities, serious injuries from traffic crashes are the highest they’ve been during the Adams administration” said Ben Furnas, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives.

The study found that more New Yorkers were seriously injured in the third quarter of 2025 than in any other quarter under the Adams administration. A total of 940 people were seriously injured during that period, five percent higher than the average third quarter.

“My neighborhood, Sunset Park, has been plagued by disheartening street safety issues," Council Member Alexa Avilés said. "Despite community members calling for investment in ending traffic violence, multiple projects have been stalled. I am heartbroken over the neighbors we have lost on our streets this year and want to ensure that we take measures to prevent any further tragedies."