New York City Traffic-Related Deaths Rise in 2012

The number of New York City traffic fatalities is on the rise.

Officials say 274 people died in traffic-related deaths in 2012. That’s up from 245 a year earlier and the most since 2008.

Speeding accounted for about 30 percent of the fatalities. Hit-and-run deaths increased to 47, a 31 percent increase over 2010.

In releasing the numbers, the Department of Transportation called for the state to approve speed-camera enforcement for the city.

It said a majority of those who died – 148 – were pedestrians.

Eighteen bicyclists were killed, down from 22 in 2011. There also were 35 motorcycle deaths, up from 32 a year earlier.

The DOT says the 2012 deaths were the fourth fewest since record keeping started in 1910.