As fall turns to winter in New York City, shorter days mean that many commuters are heading home after the sun has already set. The end of daylight saving time makes that change particularly noticeable, with darkness arriving earlier during an already busy evening rush hour.
For pedestrians, reduced daylight is more than an inconvenience. Research has consistently identified darkness and reduced visibility as important factors in pedestrian crashes. In New York City, the Department of Transportation has also identified the hours around sunset during the fall as an especially dangerous time for pedestrians.
Understanding why pedestrian risks can increase after dark and what drivers and pedestrians can do to protect themselves may help New Yorkers navigate the city’s streets more safely this fall and winter.
Why Does the End of Daylight Saving Time Matter?
When clocks move back in the fall, sunset suddenly occurs an hour earlier. That means less daylight during the evening commute, when New York City streets are filled with drivers, cyclists, delivery workers and pedestrians.
The New York City Department of Transportation’s 2026 Dusk and Darkness campaign specifically warns that the hours near sunset become particularly dangerous for pedestrians during the fall. According to NYC DOT, the evening rush hour begins to overlap with substantially reduced sunlight and visibility during this period.
The relationship between daylight and pedestrian safety has also been studied for decades.
One study published in the American Journal of Public Health examined fatal crashes during the weeks surrounding fall and spring clock changes. Researchers found that daylight was associated with fewer fatal crashes and estimated that year round daylight saving time during the years studied could have prevented hundreds of pedestrian fatalities by shifting more daylight into heavily traveled evening hours.
However, it is important to distinguish between the effects of darkness itself and the effects of the clock change. Research examining road crashes immediately before and after daylight saving transitions has produced mixed findings. For example, a study covering traffic crashes from 1981 through 2006 found that the clock transitions themselves did not increase overall road crash numbers.
The clearer safety concern for pedestrians is the combination of darkness, visibility and roadway conditions during busy travel periods.
Darkness Can Make Pedestrians Harder to See
Drivers depend heavily on visual information to recognize pedestrians and react in time. In darkness, the distance at which a pedestrian becomes visible can be reduced, particularly when road lighting, weather or other conditions further restrict a driver’s view.
A peer reviewed study published in Accident Analysis & Prevention used daylight saving time changes to compare pedestrian collisions occurring at similar times of day under daylight and dark conditions. Researchers found a significantly greater risk of pedestrian collisions at crossings after dark than during daylight. Importantly, 98 percent of the nighttime collisions at pedestrian crossings included in the study occurred at locations with road lighting, suggesting that streetlights alone do not eliminate the risk associated with darkness.
Additional research has identified differences between pedestrian crashes occurring during daylight and darkness and has examined how vehicle headlight patterns may influence a driver’s ability to detect pedestrians.
These issues can be especially important in an environment like New York City, where pedestrians frequently interact with turning vehicles at busy intersections.
The National Numbers Highlight the Risk
The problem extends well beyond New York.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Pedestrian Safety resource, 7,080 pedestrians were killed and more than 71,000 were injured in traffic crashes nationwide in 2024.
Historical federal data also demonstrates how significant darkness is in fatal pedestrian crashes. NHTSA’s Countermeasures That Work: Pedestrian Safety reports that 76 percent of pedestrian fatalities in the data it analyzed occurred in darkness, with another 4 percent occurring during dusk or dawn.
Research published in the Journal of Safety Research provides additional context. Researchers analyzing fatal pedestrian crashes found that more than 85 percent of the increase in U.S. pedestrian fatalities between 2009 and 2017 occurred at night. The study also found associations between rising nighttime fatalities and factors including urban roads, arterials, wider roads and SUVs.
The findings reinforce an important point: pedestrian safety after dark depends on far more than whether an individual street has lights.
Technology Can Help, But Drivers Still Need to Pay Attention
Modern vehicles increasingly include pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking systems designed to help prevent collisions.
Those systems can make a measurable difference. A 2022 study published in Accident Analysis & Prevention found that pedestrian detecting automatic emergency braking was associated with a 25 to 27 percent reduction in pedestrian crash risk and a 29 to 30 percent reduction in pedestrian injury crash risk. But the technology has limitations.
The same study did not find evidence that the systems were effective in darkness without street lighting, at speed limits of 50 mph or higher, or while vehicles were turning. The researchers concluded that better vehicle lighting and roadway safety measures should continue to complement automatic braking technology.
Drivers therefore should not depend on safety technology as a substitute for remaining alert, slowing down and actively looking for people crossing the street.
What Is New York City Doing About the Increased Risk?
New York City’s annual Dusk and Darkness initiative is specifically designed around the seasonal increase in pedestrian risk.
For 2026, NYC DOT announced that the campaign would combine public safety messaging with heightened NYPD enforcement during evening and overnight hours, when pedestrian risks have historically been elevated.
The city has also invested in street designs intended to decrease speeds and make pedestrians more visible.
A 2026 New York City Council analysis of Vision Zero interventions examined nearly 10,000 intersections and found that several street safety measures were associated with reductions in pedestrian casualties. Turn traffic calming was associated with a 27 percent reduction, Neighborhood Slow Zones with a 21 percent reduction, Leading Pedestrian Intervals with a 13 percent reduction, and the citywide speed limit reduction with a 10 percent reduction.
These findings suggest that pedestrian safety is not solely the responsibility of individuals. Street design, vehicle speed, visibility and enforcement can all play important roles.
How Drivers Can Help Protect Pedestrians After Dark
Drivers should exercise additional caution as daylight becomes limited during the afternoon and evening commute.
Consider these precautions:
- Slow down. Lower speeds give drivers more time to notice pedestrians and respond to unexpected situations.
- Be especially careful when turning. Check sidewalks and crosswalks before beginning a turn, and continue watching for pedestrians throughout the maneuver.
- Keep headlights in good working condition. Clean, properly functioning headlights can improve nighttime visibility.
- Eliminate distractions. Put phones and other distractions away before driving.
- Expect pedestrians at intersections. Do not assume someone will be easy to see simply because a crosswalk is illuminated.
- Use extra caution in rain, fog and other poor weather. Recent research has found that adverse weather can further influence pedestrian safety during low visibility conditions, including around dusk.
What Pedestrians Can Do to Stay Safer
Pedestrians can also take precautions when walking after dark.
NHTSA’s pedestrian safety guidance recommends using sidewalks where available, crossing at intersections or crosswalks, staying alert to surrounding traffic and choosing a well lit location when no intersection or crosswalk is available. Pedestrians should also continue watching for vehicles while crossing rather than assuming a driver has seen them.
In New York City, it is especially important to watch for vehicles turning through crosswalks, as well as cyclists, e-bikes and other road users who may be approaching from different directions.
Staying Safe on NYC Streets This Fall and Winter
Walking is part of everyday life in New York City. But as the days become shorter, familiar streets and intersections can present different challenges during the evening commute.
Research makes clear that darkness can affect pedestrian crash risk, and NYC’s annual Dusk and Darkness campaign reflects those concerns locally. Drivers can help by slowing down, checking carefully for pedestrians and remaining focused behind the wheel. Pedestrians can protect themselves by staying alert and making sure they have the best possible view of approaching traffic before crossing.
A few extra seconds of caution can make an important difference when navigating New York City’s streets after dark.