Vision Zero: Mamdani Administration Announces Return of Dusk and Darkness, Groundbreaking Campaign Warning New Yorkers of Heightened Crash Danger During Fall Evenings

Press Releases

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 29, 2026
Contact: (212) 839-4850, [email protected]

Vision Zero: Mamdani Administration Announces Return of Dusk and Darkness, Groundbreaking Campaign Warning New Yorkers of Heightened Crash Danger During Fall Evenings

In the fall, hours near sunset become the most dangerous of the year for pedestrians; risk is heightened after clocks fall back this Sunday, making sunset an hour earlier

Signature campaign will use strategic public-service messaging and high-visibility driver awareness, combined with heightened NYPD enforcement during the most dangerous hours

NEW YORK - New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Chief of Transportation Olufunmilola Obe were today 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 1-after 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 year's campaign combines public-service messaging-including on LinkNYC kiosks-with expanded NYPD enforcement of dangerous moving violations during evening and overnight hours, traditionally the most dangerous time of the year for pedestrians.

"With the release last month of Vision Zero Reimagined, the Mamdani administration has redoubled our city's powerful commitment to saving lives on our streets-and among the strategies we know works is focusing our efforts on the days and times we know pedestrians face the greatest risk," said NYC DOT Commissioner Flynn. "With pedestrian deaths near record lows so far this year, Dusk and Darkness is a multi-agency campaign that will work to keep up that progress-encouraging drivers to slow down, turn carefully, and always remain vigilant when behind the wheel."

"Keeping New Yorkers safe on our streets is the NYPD's top priority," said NYPD Chief of Transportation Olufunmilola Obe. "Each 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." 

"When the clock falls back, both drivers and pedestrians need to be aware that this is a time of low visibility on our streets," said Taxi & Limousine Commissioner (TLC) Midori Valdivia. "We 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." 

"As 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," said Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Yume Kitasei. "Through pedestrian alerts, intelligent speed assistance, and continued upgrades through Mayor Mamdani's Executive Order 19, DCAS continues to make fleet safety a priority."

"Keeping 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," said NYC Business Integrity Commission Commissioner & Chair Asim Rehman. "Promoting vehicle safety in the trade waste industry is a core element of BIC's mission, and we will continue to educate carting companies and enforce our safety regulations to protect New Yorkers on the road."

"Safety 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," 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."

The Dusk and Darkness campaign this year includes the following initiatives:

Day of Awareness: Prior to clocks 'falling back' early Sunday morning, November 1, DOT and NYPD Vision Zero Street Teams are today undertaking community engagement efforts at high-visibility locations across all five boroughs to remind commuters of the increased dangers of traffic crashes during the fall evening and overnight hours. (see flyer, pictured above)

Increased Evening and Overnight Enforcement: Starting in mid-October, the NYPD increased enforcement in preparation for the Dusk and Darkness campaign. Focused on the late afternoon and evening shift, NYPD officers are deployed on highways and local streets, focusing on driving behavior that endangers vulnerable road users. Officers will enforce hazardous driving violations-with a focus on drivers who speed, disobey traffic signals, fail to yield to pedestrians, and drive distracted - to keep pedestrians and cyclists, especially older adults and children, safer in neighborhoods throughout the city. NYPD traffic enforcement agents will also improve lines of sight by focusing enforcement on vehicles that are double-parked, obstructing crosswalks, and blocking bike and bus lanes.

Addressing Reduced Driver Perception: As the end of daylight-saving time approaches on Sunday, New York City will also engage in multi-media marketing efforts to inform the public about the dangers of fall evenings. Starting today, messaging targeting both drivers and pedestrians will appear on thousands of LinkNYC kiosks during dusk hours, with the expectation that the campaign will generate an estimated 3.3 million impressions. Messaging will also appear on electronic billboards in Staten Island Ferry terminals.

Several city agencies and other partners will also use social media channels to alert drivers to the dangers of lower visibility, while encouraging them to follow the 25-mile-per-hour citywide speed limit and to yield to pedestrians and cyclists throughout the season.

As part of Vision Zero Reimagined, New York City has also dedicated itself to improving street lighting to increase visibility of the most vulnerable road users in the months and years ahead. The efforts will include a launch of a connected streetlight network that automatically detects outages and accelerates repairs, improving visibility in high-risk locations-including beneath elevated trains and highways-and helps to prevent crashes.

For-Hire Vehicle Driver Safety: Every TLC-licensed driver learns Vision Zero safety through our education curriculum, including about Dusk and Darkness, obeying the speed limit and turning slowly on left turns. During this campaign, TLC will remind taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers doing business at TLC facilities and passengers at outreach events about the extra dangers of darker commutes. TLC instructors are also using this time to reiterate Vision Zero safety training in their classes. Messaging will be reiterated via email and social media and will continue to be emphasized over the next few weeks.

The Dusk and Darkness campaign is a part of New York City's multi-pronged Vision Zero approach to enforcement, education, and street redesign. So far in 2026, traffic fatalities are among the fewest ever seen in New York City's 116-year recorded history, with declines from the same period in 2025 for both overall traffic fatalities and fatal crashes involving pedestrians.

"When the clocks fall back, fall evenings become the most dangerous time of year for pedestrians," said New York City Council Transportation Chair Shaun Abreu. "The Dusk and Darkness campaign meets that moment by alerting drivers and tackling the reckless behavior that puts lives at risk. Thank you to Mayor Mamdani, Commissioner Flynn, Chief Obe, and our Vision Zero partners for working to keep New Yorkers safe as the days get shorter."

"LinkNYC gives the City a powerful way to reach New Yorkers in the places where they live, work, and travel every day," said LinkNYC CEO Nick Colvin. "We're proud to put that reach to work in support of Vision Zero, helping deliver timely safety information that raises awareness, encourages safer behavior, and helps protect New Yorkers on our streets."