At just over 1,400 square miles, Long Island covers a lot of ground—and it has a road and highway system to match. Unfortunately, many of these roads are notable for the number of crashes they see every year, many of which are particularly likely to involve pedestrians due to a number of design flaws.
While you should always be alert and attentive when driving, it pays to know which stretches of highway are riskier to drive on than others. With that in mind, we’ve detailed some of Long Island’s most dangerous roads below.
Suffolk County’s Route 25 Not Good for Pedestrians
With the exception of the most easterly portion of Suffolk County, Route 25 crosses through the majority of Long Island. The stretch that does run through Suffolk, however, is known for being especially dangerous to pedestrians. In fact, Route 25 generally sees the second-highest number of pedestrian deaths in all of New York.
Known in various points as the Jericho Turnpike, Main Street, and Middle Country Road, Route 25 has poor lighting in several stretches, making it difficult for drivers to see those on foot. Adding to the risks, it’s not uncommon for a half mile or more of road to pass by without a single crosswalk.
Hempstead Turnpike: Narrow and Fast
Route 24, the Hempstead Turnpike, is another exceptionally dangerous stretch of highway on Long Island. Route 24 consistently sees a high number of crashes year after year, and many believe that this is at least partially due to how narrow the highway is. Unfortunately, widening the road is considered to be somewhere between difficult and impossible.
The Hempstead Turnpike is also sometimes criticized for being designed with fast-moving traffic in mind. Some have pointed out that adjusting the flow of traffic through how the traffic lights are synchronized would discourage speeding, but would also likely lead to increased traffic congestion.
Blood Alley
The Southern State Parkway, particularly a ten-mile section known to the locals as “Blood Alley” due its high occurrence of fatal car accidents, is actually one of the most dangerous roads in the entire country—not just in Long Island or New York.
The Parkway is known for its twisting, tight corners; numerous hills; and exceptionally poor lighting in many stretches. Motorists would do well to be especially vigilant when traveling on this road, especially when traversing Blood Alley, which runs between exits seventeen and thirty-two.
Long Island Auto Wreck Attorneys
While the three roads listed above are consistently some of Long Island’s—and the whole of New York’s—most dangerous roads, they aren’t the only highways and interstates to be careful on. Montauk Highway, Wicks Road, and Merrick Road, in particular, also regularly turn up in the crash statistics.
If you’ve been injured in a car wreck on one of these highways—or anywhere else on the island—Siler & Ingber, LLP can help you get the compensation you need. Perhaps the design of the road was to blame, or perhaps it was due to another driver’s negligence. Whatever the case may be, we can help. Arrange a free consultation with one of our attorneys by completing the form on this page or by calling 1-877-718-6079.
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