New York City had 1,175 traffic deaths in 2022, the highest number in a decade, according to a state comptroller’s report. Long Island had 245 deaths, far higher than any other part of the state.
State Controller Thomas DiNapoli analyzed state and federal traffic statistics to document what experts say is an increase in dangerous driving since the pandemic began.
New York’s nearly 26% increase in fatalities between 2019 and 2022—including deaths of motorists/passengers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians—exceeds a 17% increase nationwide. That’s despite a 12.5% decrease in all traffic crashes in New York over the same years and a decline in vehicle miles traveled.
“The number of traffic fatalities in New York has increased alarmingly since the pandemic,” DiNapoli said. “Although there are fewer motorists on the road and vehicle safety has improved significantly, fatal accidents are increasing. As New Yorkers hit the road for the Fourth of July holidays and summer vacations, let’s drive carefully and arrive safely.
Click here to view the report.
Where do most traffic fatalities occur in New York?
The highest numbers in the Upstate region were found in Erie County (59 in 2022), Monroe County (45) and Orange County (39).
Counties in the state’s south saw fewer fatal crashes, including Westchester (36), Dutchess (26) and Rockland (20).
Most of the fatalities occurred on urban roads in New York, an increase of nearly 70% since 2017. Long Island had the highest per capita death toll, with 245 fatalities across two counties, but the North Country region had the highest per capita death toll, with nearly 13 deaths per 100,000 people.
Manhattan, with a population of nearly 9 million, had the lowest per capita rate at about 3. And Manhattan’s 36 deaths equaled Westchester’s total, despite a population difference of about 8 million.
Most deaths occurred on freeways and highways with higher speed limits than local roads.
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What types of deaths are tracked?
According to the report, 64% of those killed were not wearing a seat belt or, in the case of motorcyclists, a helmet.
The majority of deaths were vehicle occupants (809), followed by pedestrians (303) and cyclists (50).
Three-quarters of the deaths involved passengers and light trucks, followed by large trucks and buses (10%) and motorcycles (12%).
Speeding was responsible for one in three deaths (402), while a further third (371) was attributed to drink driving. Between 2019 and 2022, the number of deaths involving drivers above the legal limit of 0.08 increased by 45%.
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Where does New York rank in terms of fatalities in the US?
The state ranks 11the nationwide in total number of fatalities. California (4,513), Texas (4,500) and Florida (3,530) were the top three.
New York’s death rate — deaths per 100,000 people — was 5.97, the third lowest of all states.
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Have the numbers improved since 2022?
A June study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that traffic fatalities have steadily declined across the country since spring 2022.
In the first three months of this year, 8,650 people died in road accidents, compared to 8,935 in the same period in 2023.
Fatalities fell from January to March in 30 states and Puerto Rico.
The estimated 225 fatalities in New York during this period were about the same as in 2023, when there were 223 fatalities.
“We are pleased that traffic fatalities continue to decline, but more must be done to reduce these preventable tragedies on our roads,” said Sophie Shulman, NHTSA deputy administrator.
This article originally appeared in the Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Traffic deaths rise in NY: Here’s a county breakdown.
