VISION ZERO NEW YORK CITY

Identifying Risk and Safe Systems Approach

US DOT Summit on Pedestrian Safety 2020

Ann Marie Doherty, NYC DOT

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VISION ZERO NEW YORK CITY

Risk

What is risk-based safety planning?

• Not just targeted to specific crash sites and 

geographies

• Analyzes crash typology and trends (i.e., mode, 

contributing factors, demographics, time of day, 

etc.) to identify high risk behaviors and most 

vulnerable populations

• Deploys treatments broadly and systematically
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VISION ZERO NEW YORK CITY

Safe Systems in Practice

NYC & NYC DOT Systematic Approach to:

• Research, Studies, Planning

• Programs, Projects and Treatments

• Safety & Operational Evaluation
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VISION ZERO NYC

What does it involve? • Mayoral Commitment • Resourced • Data-driven and evidence

-based

•Shared public 

metric of success 

– lowering fatalities and injuries

• An ongoing process of cultural change – both public and institutional

• Laser-focus on SPEED (25MPH in 2014)

• A mult

i-agency effort

• Comprises Legislation, Engineering, 

Enforcement & Education

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A FOCUS ON PRIORITY 

LOCATIONS • Data 2012

-2016, 

pedestrian deaths 

and serious injuries

• 7% of corridors were 

the site of 50% of 

ped KSI

• 1% of intersections 

see 15% of ped KSI
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DUSK AND DARKNESS

• Data analysis showed spike in 

pedestrian casualties in early evening 

around the time clocks turned back

• Clock change resulted in evening rush 

hour being in darkness

• DOT, NYPD, TLC messaging to 

drivers: Small change in time leads to 

massive difference in visibility

• Increased enforcement of dangerous 

driving

• Sustained decreases since initiative 

began

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FATALITIES DASHBOARD

Monthly crash analysis • Track and analyze traffic 

fatalities by: • Mode • Age • Time of Day • Borough • Contributing factor • Vehicle Type • Gender • Mid-block / intersection / 

highway

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PROGRAMS, PROJECTS AND TREATMENTS

Systematic Deployment

Since the start of Vision Zero:

NYC DOT has made safety engineering improvements at 

more than 85% of Priority Intersections and more than 75% 

of the total length of Priority Corridors

• More than 450 safety engineering projects completed at Priority Locations

• Nearly 600 miles of corridors retimed for 25 MPH speed limit

• Over 400 intersections received Left Turn Traffic Calming 

• Over 4,000 new Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs)

• More than 7 million speed camera violations issued 

• More than 70 signals & all-way stops approved via Proactive Warrant Analysis program (began in 

2017)

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SPEED MANAGEMENT

Possibly our most important tool • Speed camera program • 750 locations by schools • Fixed and mobile • Speeding down 63% at 

locations with cameras

• Hard-fought expansion

• 2000 cameras planned

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EVALUATION • Holding ourselves accountable for 

initiatives 

• Revisiting Priority Locations maps 

with new data 

• Street Improvement Project 

Program evaluation – micro & 

macro

• Left turn speeds

• Before/after speeds from City 

telematics data

• TRAFFIC FATALITIES...
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EVALUATION

• Between 2008 and 2017, pedestrian 

fatalities in urban areas nationwide 

increased by 46% 

• During that same time period, 

pedestrian fatalities in New York City 

dropped 31%
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PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES

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Before / After Vision Zero

158 153

143

151

184

140 139

148

105

115

124

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

5 year average 

pre-VZ: 158

2019 vs pre VZ

-22%
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COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Fatality & Injury Trends

• Traffic & pedestrian 

volumes down

• Injuries down • Pedestrian fatalities down • Motor vehicle occupant & motorcyclist fatalities up • Increase in speed related 

fatalities & injuries 

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COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Current and Future Challenges

• Dramatic budget cuts

• Increase in traffic volume as 

New Yorkers avoid the subway – more exposure for 

vulnerable road users

• Implementing fewer safety 

projects

• Shifting paradigm on 

enforcement

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THANK YOU!

Questions?

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