New York is a large, roadway-filled state. To narrow this list down to the most dangerous roads in New York took much research into road congestion, design and accident statistics. The confluence of many factors eventually can earn a street the moniker of the “most dangerous road in New York,” and we want all of our readers to be aware when traveling these accident-laden routes.
The Most Dangerous Roads in New York for Motorists
One stretch of road that has seen far too many accidents is the Long Island Expressway (LIE). Some of the fatalities that have occurred in just the past several months include:
- a two-vehicle crash in March that killed an off-duty police officer;
- an on-duty police officer who attempted to render aid to a drunk driver who crashed when he was struck by a vehicle in April;
- a fatal car crash and fire in May;
- a fatal single-vehicle crash in June; and
- a Queens woman who was killed in July when her vehicle struck a disabled vehicle on the side of the road.
These are just some examples of fatalities and don’t include the many crashes that resulted in injuries — some minor and others that were severe.
Another dangerous road for motorists is a section of Route 495, part of the LIE. Although it’s been known as a particular risk to police officers because of dim lighting and little to no shoulder/median room, it also can be a danger to drivers who break down on the side of the road. Those who are involved in collisions and have to pull off to the side are also at risk.
Some of the other most dangerous roads in New York for those in vehicles include Southern State Parkway and Hempstead Turnpike. Prone to higher-than-average rates of accidents, there are indications that driving behavior isn’t the only issue. Some of the roads and their surroundings have flaws that could be considered contributing factors.
Where the Cross Bronx Expressway and Bronx River Parkway converge is another dangerous stretch of road. One particular accident caught attention in 2012 when seven family members died after their SUV flipped off the parkway and plummeted 60 feet to the ground. Although speed was a factor, there were concerns about the guardrails not being tall enough to prevent vehicles larger than passenger cars from flipping over.
Most Dangerous Roads in New York for Pedestrians
Some of the roads are especially unsafe for pedestrians. When it comes to fatalities, the top three unsafe areas are Upper Broadway in Manhattan, Jericho Turnpike (SR-25) in Suffolk County and Hempstead Turnpike (SR-24) in Nassau County. In fact, Hempstead Turnpike has been rated the most dangerous road in New York for pedestrians five years in a row.
Other dangerous roads for pedestrians include:
- Sunrise Highway (SR-27) in Nassau;
- New York Ave., Broadhollow Rd, Broadway (SR-110) in Suffolk;
- Amsterdam Ave. in Manhattan;
- Richmond Ave. on Staten Island;
- Woodhaven Blvd. in Queens;
- Broadway in the Bronx and Manhattan;
- 5th Ave./Wicks Rd./CR-13 in Suffolk; and
- Ocean Pkwy. in Brooklyn.
As with accidents involving motor vehicles, pedestrian crashes are many times due to driver error. But there are other contributing factors that should be considered when a crash occurs — such as deadly road designs, lack of marked crosswalks and no countdown signals.
Seeking Legal Counsel When Someone Has Been Injured or Killed in a Traffic Accident
There sometimes can be a number of issues that contribute to an accident, whether it involves a motor vehicle or pedestrian. It’s important to seek advice from an attorney if you have been seriously injured or someone you love has been killed.
In certain circumstances, it may be possible to file a suit against the city if it’s found that a poorly designed road was a factor. Of course, an attorney can help with this and determining if another person’s negligence was the cause. Gacovino and Lake have a library of free resources where you can learn more about accidents in New York.
