10th Anniversary Vision Zero Safety Honor Roll Ceremony Recognizes Drivers and Businesses With Outstanding Safety Records
Gracie Mansion hosted a special ceremony on June 4, honoring TLC drivers and bases in recognition of their outstanding commitment to safety and impeccable driving records. The event – known as the Vision Zero Honor Roll – brought together hundreds of drivers who have gone at least five years without any serious crashes, have no traffic violations, and no violations of TLC’s safety related rules.
“As I’ve always said, public safety is the prerequisite to prosperity, and our TLC drivers play a key role in keeping our streets safe,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “We are grateful for their commitment to safety, for their dedication to our city, and for the invaluable service they provide. Thanks to our TLC drivers, we live in a city where anyone can hire a vehicle to get them where they need to go, and 99.9% of the time, they’re going to have a positive experience. Thank you for keeping our city safe and keeping us moving.”
“I’m proud that an inaugural ceremony held more than a decade ago to put a spotlight on the true guardians of street safety is now cemented in the traditions of our great City” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “TLC Honor Roll drivers and businesses are the hardest-working safety advocates in the nation. Every day, every minute and every mile, roadway safety is the unwavering priority – and it shows in their unblemished record. These men and women not only make the roads safer for all, they also serve as mentors for all drivers. On behalf of every person who uses NYC streets, thank you for making our city safe.”
“Making Honor Roll is a formidable achievement, and all New Yorkers should be proud of the drivers we [celebrated]. From my limited experience as a TLC driver, I know that it takes patience, concentration, and dedication to safely complete just a single trip. There are no shortcuts to safety, and these drivers have all completed thousands of trips without any significant incidents,” noted TLC Commissioner David Do.
“We were proud to be a sponsor for this essential event, which recognizes the city’s safest drivers, as well as bases, fleets and accessibility leaders for their outstanding safety, service and commitment to providing transportation for those who use wheelchairs,” added Ira Goldstein, executive director of The New York Black Car Fund. “Driving in New York is certainly a unique skill, and the drivers recognized this year are truly masters of their craft.”
This year’s five Featured Vision Zero Honorees included two Nigerian Americans, a Bangladeshi American, and a native of Bushwick, Brooklyn. The Featured Safest Base was Dav El Boston Coach, from Elizabeth, NJ.
“My advice to TLC drivers is to always be confident on the wheel, be articulate, and be patient,” explained TLC’s Featured Safe For-Hire Vehicle Driver, Chika Anthony Ogonnaya. “Patience is the key word. You have to give other drivers a break, you don’t have to be selfish on the road. Once you are patient, the sky will be your limit.”
“Our city is always on the move, and these are the men and women who get New Yorkers and millions of visitors to their destinations “Excellence behind the wheel does not happen by accident; it takes skill and a dedication to safety,” said Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban. “These drivers’ highly commendable efforts continue to reduce traffic collisions and ensure the well-being of passengers and pedestrians alike.”
The full list of honorees – which included 8,747 drivers and bases – can be found at:https://www.nyc.gov/assets/tlc/downloads/pdf/honor-roll/safest-drivers-2024.pdf. All of the drivers listed have made at least 1,000 trips during the previous year, have gone at least five years without any crashes involving injury or death, and have no traffic violations or violations of TLC safety rules. They are not only the city’s safest drivers and bases… they represent a diverse group that spans the city and the industry:
2024 Vision Zero Safety Honorees by the Numbers
- 494 female drivers were honored
- 149 drive Electric Vehicles (EVs)
- 654 drive yellow taxis, 14 of which are green taxis
- 7,520 drive for app-hail companies, 559 drive for smaller FHV bases
- Wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) honorees completed 800,237 trips in 2023
- 40 bases were honored for their exceptional safety records
Driver residences:
- Bronx 17.73%
- Brooklyn 35.48%
- Manhattan 4.81%
- Staten Island 2.49%,
- Queens 34.13%
- Not in City 5.38%
Over 200,000 TLC licensees complete approximately 1,000,000 trips each day. To operate for hire, drivers must first undergo a background check, have a safe driving record, and complete 24 hours of driver training. TLC-licensed vehicles are inspected for safety and emissions at their Woodside Inspection Facility.
To learn more about the TLC, or to review its rules, regulations, and procedures, visit www.nyc.gov/taxi or contact 311/311 Online.
