‘Vision’ for time change road safety

IN A BID to tamp down the usual uptick in fatal car crashes as the days grow colder and shorter, the city announced a ticket crackdown and a public awareness campaign Thursday.

Last year, 40% of pedestrians killed in crashes were struck during the last three months of the year.

“The earlier onset of darkness in the fall and the winter is highly correlated to an increase in traffic fatalities and injuries,” NYPD Transportation Chief Thomas Chan said Thursday at a news conference announcing the initiative at 1 Police Plaza.

“We’re telling motorists to pay attention and slow down.”

Cars killed nine pedestrians last year in the eight days that followed the Nov. 1 end of daylight savings time. Five of those crashes took place at night.

The new campaign is part of Vision Zero, Mayor de Blasio’s signature street safety program, which aims to reduce to zero the number of preventable traffic deaths in the five boroughs by 2024.

The city has lowered the speed limit to 25 mph on most roadways, redesigned intersections and major streets, and installed bike lanes that separate bicyclists from vehicular traffic.

Last week, the NYPD issued close to 7,500 tickets for speeding, Chan said. This week, the NYPD has mounted a ticket push on motorists using cell phones.

On Friday, cops will hand out cards asking motorists to slow down at 14 spots where fatal accidents have taken place.