New York is home to one of the largest cities in the world. It is a place where people make their dreams come true, whether that is on Broadway or Times Square. Tourists come in droves to experience the events and culture the city has to offer.
All of this makes for a city - and a state — with lots of people and lots of traffic. As a New Yorker, you may prefer to walk most of the time or ride the subway to get around. Do you know which roads are the most dangerous for pedestrians?
Pedestrians are at a high risk for injuries
The city is especially dangerous for pedestrians. It is the most cost-effective way to maneuver the city but not necessarily the safest with the high volume of traffic nearby.
In New York, between 2002 and 2016 there were over 2,300 pedestrians killed after being hit by cars or bikes. Yes, even collisions between bicycles and pedestrians can cause fatal injuries! That is according to data from the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) /New York Police Department (NYPD)’s traffic fatality database.
The 10 most dangerous roads in the state for pedestrians
There are roadways where most of these deaths happen. The Tri-State Transportation Campaign complied the data and created a report showing which streets are the most dangerous. According to that report, the most hazardous roads are:
- SR-24 (Hempstead Turnpike) in Nassau County, New York- considered the most unsafe road for the fourth year in a row.
- Upper Broadway in Manhattan, New York
- SR-27 (Sunrise Highway) in Suffolk County, New York
- Broadway in Bronx, New York
- Kings Highway in Brooklyn, New York
- Grand Concourse in Bronx, New York
- Henry Hudson Parkway/West Street in Manhattan, New York
- SR-25 (Middle Country Road), in Suffolk County, New York
- Woodhaven Boulevard in Queens, New York
- Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, New York
Efforts to keep pedestrians safe
About 60 percent of the pedestrian deaths mentioned above occurred on multi-lane roads. On these roads, cars can drive at higher speeds. The state recommends that pedestrians use safer routes like side roads or roads with lower speeds.
Initiatives to keep you and other pedestrians safe are underway. New York has lowered speed limits as well as other efforts. The state is also working on creating safe routes to school, safe routes to transit and even safe routes for senior programs.
