Every day, millions of New Yorkers hit the road expecting a safe trip. But when routine traffic stops turn into high-speed police pursuits, the consequences can be deadly… for drivers, passengers, officers, and innocent bystanders. Now, a new report from the Office of the New York State Attorney General (OAG) is urging bold reforms to limit these dangerous pursuits and improve transparency throughout the state.
High-Speed Chases: Deadly Outcomes from Low-Level Offenses
The OAG finds police chases stemming from minor traffic infractions, like speeding or improper lane changes, have too often ended in tragic deaths. In one Brooklyn case, an officer fired 27 rounds on a crowded highway during a pursuit that started over speeding. In another case, a cyclist in NYC was killed when a fleeing driver ran a red light. One pursuit of a motorcyclist going 18 mph over the speed limit ended in the rider’s death. And in 2020, a chase that began over tinted windows and expired plates resulted in the deaths of two uninvolved civilians.
These examples, among others reviewed by the OAG, highlight a troubling trend: the risk of continuing the chase often outweighs the benefit of apprehending the suspect.
What the Data Shows
While no centralized database exists for police pursuits in New York, national data shows:
- 355 people die annually in pursuit-related crashes (DOJ, 2017)
- At least 30% of chases end in crashes
- Up to 17% of pursuits result in injuries or fatalities
- A private GPS-tracking study showed that when chases are stopped, drivers slow down within two minutes, and 80% are still apprehended
These findings suggest that aborting chases can restore safety more effectively than continuing them.
The report proposes two major reforms:…