New York City’s subway surfing death toll continues to rise, with Mayor Adams announcing on October 31 that efforts in prevention and promotion will be increased. In addition to deploying drones for reconnaissance near elevated subway lines, there will be expanded awareness campaigns across the city.
So far this year, the number of arrests for subway surfing in the city has reached 164 individuals, compared to 112 during the same period last year, marking a 46% increase. Tragically, six individuals have lost their lives due to subway surfing this year, surpassing the total of 5 deaths in the entire previous year. A recent incident on October 27 involved two teenage girls “surfing” on the number 7 subway line, resulting in one fatality and one severe injury when they fell onto the tracks.
In response to these incidents, Mayor Adams, Education Director Melissa Aviles-Ramos, and Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Donlon held a press conference on October 31 at the Woodside station on the number 7 line to announce steps to enhance prevention and awareness efforts to save lives.
The police department initiated drone surveillance of subway surfing at the end of last year, conducting over 900 flights to apprehend 114 surfers ranging in age from 9 to 33 years old, with an average age of 14. This initiative will be further strengthened by using 911 call data to deploy drones and on-site response teams to the areas most affected by subway surfing. When drones detect surfers on moving trains, response teams will intercept the train at the next station and remove the surfers.
The city government is urging the public to immediately dial 911 if they witness subway surfing. Apart from enforcement measures, efforts will continue to promote the “Subway Surfing Kills – Stay Inside, Save Your Life” campaign launched jointly by the state and city governments in September last year. Education Director Ramos stated that electronic flyers for the campaign have been distributed in all 1,800 public schools citywide, and posters and pocket cards against subway surfing have been distributed to approximately 60 schools near the most affected subway lines, aiming to enhance information sharing among students to combat peer pressure and social media influence.
Social media platforms such as Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram), Google (owner of YouTube), and TikTok have agreed not only to remove subway surfing videos but also to provide space for expanding anti-subway surfing awareness activities. Donlon emphasized that every injury and every death is entirely preventable.