New York tallied 1,175 traffic fatalities in 2022, the highest total in a decade, with Long Island’s 245 far surpassing all other parts of the state, according to a state comptroller’s report.
State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli analyzed state and federal traffic statistics to document what experts say has been an increase in dangerous driving since the start of the pandemic.
New York’s nearly 26% surge in fatalities between 2019 and 2022 — which includes deaths among vehicle drivers/passengers, motorcyclists, bikers and pedestrians — exceeds a 17% increase across the nation. That’s despite a 12.5% decline in all New York traffic accidents during the same years and decreases in vehicle miles traveled.
“Traffic fatalities in New York have grown at an alarming rate since the pandemic,” DiNapoli said. “While there are fewer drivers on the road and vehicle safety features have greatly improved, more fatal crashes are occurring. As New Yorkers hit the road for the Fourth of July holiday and summer vacations, let’s drive cautiously and arrive safely.”
To look at the report, go here.
Where do most crash deaths occur in NY?
The upstate region’s highest totals were in Erie County (59 in 2022), Monroe County (45) and Orange County (39.)
Downstate counties saw fewer fatal accidents — including Westchester (36), Dutchess (26) and Rockland (20).
Most fatalities took place on New York’s urban roadways, an increase of nearly 70% since 2017. While Long Island’s two-county total of 245 fatalities led the state, the North Country region had the highest per capita rate at nearly 13 deaths for every 100,000 people.
Manhattan, with a population of nearly 9 million, had the lowest per capita rate at around 3. And Manhattan’s 36 deaths equaled Westchester’s total, despite a population difference of around 8 million.
Most deaths took place on expressways and freeways with higher speed limits than local roads.
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What types of deaths are tracked?
The report says 64% of those killed were either not wearing a seatbelt or, in the case of motorcyclists, a helmet.
The majority of those killed were vehicle occupants (809) followed by pedestrians (303) and bicyclists (50).
Passengers and light trucks were involved in three quarters of the deaths followed by large truck and buses (10%) and motorcycles (12%).
Speeding accounted for one of every three deaths (402), while another third (371) was attributed to drunk driving. Between 2019 and 2022, fatalities involving drivers over the legal limit of .08 has increased 45%.
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Where does New York rank in fatal crashes across U.S.?
The state ranked 11th nationally in total fatalities. California (4,513), Texas (4,500) and Florida (3,530) were the top three.
New York’s fatality rate — deaths per 100,000 people — was 5.97, the third lowest among all states.
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Have the numbers improved since 2022?
A June study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the number of traffic fatalities has been steadily declining across the country since the spring of 2022.
In the first three months of this year, 8,650 died in traffic crashes, compared to 8,935 during the same period in 2023.
Fatalities decreased in 30 states and Puerto Rico from January to March.
New York’s estimated 225 fatalities during the time span was roughly the same as 2023, when there were 223 fatalities.
“We’re encouraged to see traffic fatalities continue to decline, but more work must be done to reduce these preventable tragedies on our roads,” NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman said.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Traffic fatalities surge in NY: Here’s a county by county breakdown.
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