2022 Is Already NYC's Deadliest Year For Child Traffic Deaths: Data

NEW YORK CITY — More children died in traffic crashes along New York City’s streets so far in 2022 than any full year since a sweeping city safety effort to eliminate such deaths, new data shows.

Sixteen kids were among the 188 people killed in crashes citywide from January to September, according to data released Thursday by Transportation Alternatives and Families For Safe Streets.

The grim tally is not only higher than similar child deaths last year — 11 — but also 23 percent higher than any year since city officials implemented Vision Zero, an initiative to eliminate traffic deaths, nearly a decade ago, advocates said.

“The 16 children killed this year deserved to grow up,” said Dana Lerner, a member of Families For Safe Streets whose 9-year-old son Cooper Stock died in a 2014 traffic crash, in a statement.

“Traffic violence is preventable — and we know that we can achieve Vision Zero with investments in physical street redesigns.”

Traffic deaths increased significantly over the coronavirus pandemic and set a record in 2021, with 273 people dying, according to data. More than 200 people have died this year in traffic crashes, advocates said.

So far, traffic deaths this year are 27 percent above the same point in 2018, which was the city’s safest year under Vision Zero, the data shows.

The data dovetails with another recent study conducted by Transportation Alternatives — Spatial Equity NYC — that found some neighborhoods’ streets are far more deadly than others.

Advocates argued that Mayor Eric Adams and transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez could help curb deaths by amping up the construction of new bus and bike lanes, among other steps.