As Daylight Savings Time ends, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the city will return to its annual “Dusk and Darkness” traffic enforcement measures to keep pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users safe during the evenings.
The Dusk and Darkness campaign begins with the end of daylight savings time on Nov. 6. This year, the education part of the campaign will focus on safe practices for carting commercial waste, while law enforcement will expand traffic enforcement of moving violations during the evening and overnight hours.
“This initiative brings together three things our administration has focused on since day one: following the data, breaking down siloes between agencies, and keeping New Yorkers safe,” said Mayor Adams. “We have seen how dangerous the streets can be after the clocks change, and we are deploying targeted, proven strategies to give New Yorkers the tools they need to keep themselves and their neighbors safe. Street safety is public safety.”
Started in 2016, the Dusk and Darkness campaign works to combat elevated rates of fatal crashes during the evening hours. During the fall and winter, rush hours happen when sunlight and visibility are reduced, leading to higher fatal crash rates. In the past, the campaign has improved safety on city streets, reducing the average number of evening and overnight fatalities by 13.5 percent. The average number of pedestrian fatalities declined 21.7 percent over the course of the past five years, and the average number of motor vehicle occupant fatalities has dropped by 25.8 percent.
“This goes for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians: It’s on everyone sharing the road to be aware of each other, their surroundings, and the heightened risks this time of year,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III. “At the end of the day, we want everyone to get home safely. Education and enforcement are key to making that happen.”