New York Crash Data
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 39,254 people were killed in traffic crashes in the United States in 2024, including 1,101 in New York State. In New York City, traffic crashes injured 48,903 people and killed 209 in 2025, according to the NYC Department of Transportation, based on NYPD crash reports.
Most Common Causes of New York Car Accidents
NYPD crash reports list a variety of contributing factors, including:
- Distracted Driving is prohibited in New York state, and using any handheld electronic devices while driving is prohibited under state law. Texting, talking, holding, or even looking at a device are examples of this. Despite this, in NYPD crash reports, driver inattention or distraction is by far the most frequently cited contributing factor in New York City crashes that cause injury or death. In October 2025, for example, it was cited for 2,240 vehicles, more than four times the next most common factor, failure to yield the right-of-way (525).
- Speeding at excessive speeds shortens the amount of time a driver has to react to avoid an accident and bring the vehicle to a safe stop. According to the NYC Department of Transportation, speeding was a major factor in crashes that killed more than 200 people in New York City from 2021 to 2023. As of January 2025, the city had more than 2,400 speed cameras, and the average number of daily violations issued by each camera had dropped 94 percent since the program began.
- Drinking and Driving. Drunk or drugged driving is another common cause of motor vehicle accidents in New York City and across the country, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). NHTSA reports that 11,904 people were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes nationwide in 2024, about one person every 44 minutes, including an estimated 300 in New York State.
- Breaking the road rules by running red lights and stop signs. We see it every day when drivers speed through a yellow light to avoid having to stop on a red. Running lights and signs are responsible for many right-angle car collisions and catastrophic injuries.
- Failure to yield to pedestrians. New York City is a very pedestrian-friendly city, and failure to yield to pedestrians is a serious offense. If you’re a pedestrian who gets hit by a car in New York City, you can suffer catastrophic or even fatal injuries.
- When changing lanes or passing be cautious. NYPD crash reports list unsafe lane changing and improper passing among the contributing factors in serious crashes.
Tips on Ensuring Driver Safety in New York City
You should be careful when driving behind an emergency or hazard vehicle. This set of vehicles include tow trucks, ambulances, fire trucks, and of course, police vehicles.
Rules of the Road
- It is the law to wear a seat belt.
- It is not permitted to stop or park in the travel lanes or medians.
- Always give a clear indication of your intentions (when turning).
Ensuring Safety For Motorcyclists & Bicyclists
Maintain your position to the right.
If a line of vehicles forms behind you while traveling in the left (passing) lane, you should safely move into the right lane to allow faster-moving vehicles to pass.
Intentions Known
Change lanes with caution, and always use directional signals to communicate when you want to make a turn.
Take a Look Behind You
Check your rear-view mirrors (or right or left if you don’t have mirrors) frequently for other motorists to avoid being rear-ended.
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