New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Chief of Transportation Olufunmilola Obe were joined by agency partners in the city’s Vision Zero initiative to kick off the annual Dusk and Darkness public safety campaign to keep New Yorkers safe on city streets, ahead of the end of daylight saving time this coming Sunday, November 1âafter which sunset occurs one hour earlier. The campaign launch today includes content on Instagram, X, Facebook, the Staten Island Ferry, and LinkNYC, as well as on-the-ground outreach to drivers in all five boroughs.
With New York City recording one of its safest-ever years for traffic deaths, this year’s Dusk and Darkness campaign combines proven tactics to combat elevated rates of fatal crashes that typically come with the end of daylight-saving time. During fall evenings, rush hour occurs at a time when sunlight and visibility are dramatically and suddenly reduced, leading to the highest fatal pedestrian crash rates of the year. Begun in 2016, Dusk and Darkness has focused the city’s suite of street safety tools on reckless driving in the hours when vision is dramatically worsened. This yearâs campaign combines public-service messagingâincluding on LinkNYC kiosksâwith expanded NYPD enforcement of dangerous moving violations during evening and overnight hours, traditionally the most dangerous time of the year for pedestrians.
âWith the release last month of Vision Zero Reimagined, the Mamdani administration has redoubled our cityâs powerful commitment to saving lives on our streetsâand among the strategies we know works is focusing our efforts on the days and times we know pedestrians face the greatest risk,â saidâ¯NYC DOT Commissioner Flynn. âWith pedestrian deaths near record lows so far this year, Dusk and Darkness is a multi-agency campaign that will work to keep up that progressâencouraging drivers to slow down, turn carefully, and always remain vigilant when behind the wheel.â
âKeeping New Yorkers safe on our streets is the NYPDâs top priority,â said NYPD Chief of Transportation Olufunmilola Obe. âEach year, as our days grow shorter and turn darker earlier, the conditions on our roads can get more dangerous. That is why the NYPD is doing its part to prevent collisions before they happen by conducting enforcement and encouraging those who use our roads to stay alert, follow all traffic rules, and stay safe.â
âWhen the clock falls back, both drivers and pedestrians need to be aware that this is a time of low visibility on our streets,â said Taxi & Limousine Commissioner (TLC) Midori Valdivia. âWe know we can count on our TLC-licensed drivers to follow their Vision Zero safety training and do their part to keep New Yorkers safe by using extra caution and slowing down when the sun sets earlier during these colder months.â
âAs part of the Dusk and Darkness campaign, we are bringing a renewed focus to safe nighttime driving, working with fleet operators across city agencies and using telematics to monitor driving behavior and support safer operations,â said Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Yume Kitasei. âThrough pedestrian alerts, intelligent speed assistance, and continued upgrades through Mayor Mamdaniâs Executive Order 19, DCAS continues to make fleet safety a priority.â
âKeeping our streets safe and preventing traffic fatalities requires teamwork, and BIC is proud to work alongside NYC DOT and our other Vision Zero partners in this effort,â said NYC Business Integrity Commission Commissioner & Chair Asim Rehman.â¯âPromoting vehicle safety in the trade waste industry is a core element of BICâs mission, and we will continue to educate carting companies and enforce our safety regulations to protect New Yorkers on the road.â
âSafety is a top priority for me and the Vision Zero Dusk and Darkness campaign is one way our city is coming together to ensure that our students are safe after school,â said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “With Daylight Saving Time ending this Sunday, many of our students will be returning home from after-school activities after the sun goes down, and I support any campaign that aims to keep our kids safe.â