As Daylight Saving Time comes to an end on November 2 (Sunday), with clocks turning back one hour, the New York City government is reminding drivers to be extra vigilant, especially during the dusk hours when visibility decreases, to prevent accidents involving pedestrians.
The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) and the NYPD recently announced the relaunch of the “Dusk and Darkness campaign,” urging residents to be aware of the traffic risks during the autumn evenings. The DOT pointed out that the evening hours following the fall back of the clock annually mark the period with the highest pedestrian accident rates. With the evening rush hour coinciding with sunset, sudden decrease in visibility leads to a significant increase in fatal accidents.
As part of the “Dusk and Darkness campaign,” the city administration will conduct community outreach at major pedestrian hubs through the “Vision Zero” team, reminding commuters to be cautious of the traffic dangers during nighttime and dusk.
“As the sun sets, pedestrian risks increase. With the autumn sunset time getting earlier, our actions aim to remind all drivers: slow down, cautious turns, and maintain a high level of alertness,” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. He also highlighted that the police will crack down on distracted driving, and red light and speeding cameras will operate concurrently.
Starting this week, the NYPD will increase police presence to enhance road enforcement. Simultaneously, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) will visit locations where taxi drivers often congregate, reminding them to drive carefully during low visibility periods and adhere to the 25 mph speed limit regulation. The TLC will also convey the same message to drivers and passengers through social media.
Since its inception in 2016, the “Dusk and Darkness campaign” has shown significant effectiveness through educational outreach and enforcement reinforcement. Official data indicates that the pedestrian fatality rate during the relevant period has decreased by approximately 21.7%, and the vehicle occupant fatality rate has also decreased by about 25.8%.