NYC is a wonderful place to move to, especially in the winter, with a variety of apartments available for rent. The design of NYC streets and intersections, along with traffic violations and infrastructure issues, pose a serious risk to pedestrians and cyclists. Randy Perez, a 13-year-old, was struck by an SUV at the intersection of 37th Avenue and 101st Street while heading to the library.
Mabel Jensen, a 5-year-old, received a one-inch scar on her face from a passing cyclist in Riverside Park. On December 31, 2018, a pedestrian tragically lost their life when hit by a fast-moving vehicle on the bustling 37th Avenue at 81st Street in Jackson Heights. One of the most tragic events occurred when a careless truck driver struck Skylar Perkin, a 1-year-old, in Queens as she and her mother were crossing the street.
These recent incidents highlight the growing safety concerns on the streets and intersections of NYC. It’s unpredictable when a vehicle might hit you while crossing these streets (hopefully not). You can find these dangerous corridors in every borough of NYC. Brooklyn has the highest number of fatalities due to accidents on these streets or intersections.
Alarming Data That May Give You Pause Before Heading Out
The number of accidents in NYC has been increasing significantly over the last few years. From 2009 to 2019, Vision Zero View data shows that there were 153 pedestrian fatalities and 12,049 injury cases citywide due to accidents. During the same period, there were 19 deaths and 3,992 injuries from bicycle accidents. The majority of these incidents have taken place between 6 AM and 9 AM in NYC.
The Department of Transportation acknowledges an increase in death rates and injury cases this year. According to their official data, the pedestrian death rate has increased by 21 percent compared to the previous year. Additionally, there was a 66.6% increase in cyclist fatalities in 2019.
Crashes tend to occur more frequently near elevated tracks, bridges, and in areas with obstructed sightlines, as reported by a private firm. According to the NYC Health Department, older adults had the highest pedestrian fatality rate, accounting for 37 percent.
Also Read: The Brooklyn Night Market is Coming Back in April 2024
NYC’s Most Dangerous Intersections
- Brooklyn: Williamsburg is located between Lee Avenue and North Seventh/Metropolitan Avenue, from Berry Street to Bushwick
- AvenueBrooklyn: Located in Downtown Brooklyn, between Atlantic Avenue and Willoughby Street, from Boerum Place and Bond Street
- Brooklyn: Crown Heights/Bedford-Stuyvesant area spans from Pacific to Fulton streets, covering the area between Bedford and Brooklyn avenues
- Located in The Bronx is Fordham/University Heights, situated between Aqueduct Avenue and Ryer Avenue, from West Fordham Road to West Tremont Ave.
- Location: Lower East Side, Manhattan, spanning from Spring to Grand streets, and from Broadway to Forsyth Street
- Queens: Corona area spans from 35th to Roosevelt Avenues, between 94th to 108th streets
- Queens: Jackson Heights area spans from 37th Ave to Broadway, between 76th Street and 84th Street
- Queens: Flushing area, located between College Point Avenue and Parsons Boulevard, spanning from 37th to Franklin Avenue
- Queens: Ridgewood, located between Woodward and Myrtle avenues, from Grove Street to Forest Ave
- Queens: Jamaica, located between 89th to 90th avenues, from 164th Street to 168th Place
- Staten Island is divided into the St. George/Tompkinsville area, which spans from Jersey to Bay streets, between Victory Boulevard to Ford Place/Taft Avenue.
- Staten Island: Stapleton area, located between Bay and Van Duzer streets, from Wright to Tompkins streets
Why Are These NYC Intersections Considered Unsafe?
Many of these corridors pose risks due to poor design and inadequate traffic infrastructure. For instance, the absence of a stop sign on Newkirk at Argyle heightens the chances of a pedestrian-vehicle collision.
Furthermore, drivers struggle to see the sightlines at those intersections, causing their cars to enter the crosswalk. Many vehicles pass through busy residential neighborhoods in areas such as Williamsburg and the Lower Eastside to access the bridge.
Several large bridges in NYC are congested with heavy vehicles, pedestrians, and bikes in their tight spaces. Factors such as illegal parking, inadequate bike lane network, speeding, and right of way violations contribute to the rising number of road accidents in NYC.
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