NYC Pedestrian Deaths Hit Record Low...Maybe

Fewer pedestrians died in New York City in 2014 than any year on record, according to New York City's Department of Transportation. Or maybe not. Because as WNYC has reported, numbers on traffic deaths kept by city agencies and those kept by other sources don’t match up.

The DOT counts 132 pedestrian deaths in 2014. WNYC counts 139. Whether this is lower than previous years depends on which source you ask. The DOT says 2007 was the lowest year in recent history, with 140 pedestrians killed. The state Department of Motor Vehicles, however, counts 135 pedestrians killed that year (pdf). 

Source: New York City Department of Transportation, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.

(WNYC)

Going by WNYC and the DMV’s numbers, both 2007 and 2012 saw fewer pedestrian deaths than 2014 (135 in 2007 and 2012, versus 139 in 2014). Going by the DOT’s numbers, fewer pedestrians were killed by cars in 2014 than ever before (132 in 2014, versus 140 in 2007).

Why the differences? Well, the NYC DOT does not count deaths that result from medical incidents, crashes sustained during the commission of a crime, or off-street crashes. The DMV counts all deaths involving a vehicle, as long as the person dies within 30 days of the crash — except crashes on private property. 

WNYC counts all deaths involving a vehicle. Our tally includes deaths like that of Min Lin, killed in a supermarket parking lot, and Charity Hicks, who died five weeks after a hit-and-run crash in midtown.

Whatever numbers you look at, the number of pedestrians killed is significantly lower than the 2013 high — which was either 183, per the DMV, or 179, per the DOT. Overall, traffic deaths are on a downward trajectory over the past decade, according to both agencies.