Study Pinpoints Most Dangerous Roads on Long Island for Cyclists, Pedestrians

Vision Long Island, a group that aims to reduce the number of pedestrian and bicycle accidents on Long Island over time until it reaches zero, recently put out a new list identifying the most dangerous streets for bicyclists and pedestrians.

The list breaks down roads in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties, with Merrick Avenue in Freeport coming in as the most dangerous road on Long Island. From 2014 to 2016 there were 53 vehicle-pedestrian collisions and 13 vehicle-bicycle collisions. That was by far the most pedestrian accidents in the region, and second in bicycle accidents only to New York Avenue in Huntington Station.

The street that had the second-most pedestrian accidents was West Merrick Road and Sunrise Highway in Valley Stream (28), followed by Suffolk Avenue in Brentwood and Central Islip (26). Areas close to railroads and transit centers tended to rank high on the list.

Improving safety a major priority of Vision Long Island

Representatives from Vision Long Island say there are many things that can be done in Nassau and Suffolk Counties to improve safety on the roads. The organization is looking at implementing medians, better crosswalks, improved lighting, better signal timing, more trees along the streets and other design features to discourage pedestrians from jaywalking and encourage traffic to slow down.

The group is working with governments and private developers alike to push for these pedestrian safety initiatives and hopes to see some of these suggested improvements happen soon.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle or pedestrian accident due to a negligent driver, speak with a dedicated Long Island personal injury attorney at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia LLP to learn more about how you can proceed.