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NYC sees big drop in traffic deaths

Pedestrians walk past a "Look!" sign on the crosswalk at the intersection of 42nd Street and Second Avenue in New York. Cities all over the country are looking for ways to get pedestrians to pay more attention.
Seth Wenig
/
AP
Pedestrians walk past a "Look!" sign on the crosswalk at the intersection of 42nd Street and Second Avenue in New York. Cities all over the country are looking for ways to get pedestrians to pay more attention.

New York City is seeing a big plunge in the number of traffic related deaths.

There were 87 traffic fatalities in the first half of the year. That's tied with 2018 for the fewest ever for that six month time frame, with data dating back to the early 1900's. DOT Commissioner YDanis Rodriguez says the 87 fatalities was also a 32 percent decline from last year.

"This is despite there being more cars on our street than ever before. This is despite cars being bigger and heavier and deadly than ever before."

Rodriguez credit redesigns of intersections, ramped up enforcement of traffic laws and an increase in bike lanes for the decline.