July 28, 2014

New York’s Most Dangerous Streets for Pedestrians

Posted in Pedestrian Accidents

Walking is a major means of transportation for millions of New Yorkers, and a pedestrian accident can change a New Yorker’s life in an instant. The Tri-State Transportation Campaign recently released its annual rankings of the most dangerous boroughs and streets for pedestrians, based on accidents resulting in pedestrian deaths.

Where should you walk in New York? An accident can happen anywhere in New York, but some areas get more than their share.

Here’s what the Tri-State Transportation Campaign has to say:

• Brooklyn is the most dangerous borough for walking, with 123 pedestrian deaths in the past year. Queens had 115 pedestrian deaths.  Manhattan totaled 89 deaths and the Bronx, 72. Staten Island stood out among the boroughs for its relatively low number of deaths, with 21.
• The most dangerous individual street for walking was Broadway in Manhattan, which was the site of nine pedestrian deaths in 2013. Woodhaven Boulevard in Queens was second, with eight deaths, followed by Manhattan’s Second Avenue with seven. Tied for fourth were Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn and Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, each with six pedestrian deaths in the past year.
• Streets with five pedestrian deaths each included First Avenue in Manhattan, Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn, and Union Turnpike and Northern Boulevard, both in Queens.

Pedestrian Safety Tips

If walking is part of your life in New York, how can you reduce the chances of a pedestrian accident?

Keep in mind these safety tips from SafeNY:

• Use the sidewalk when one is available and can be used safely – for instance, without cutting through a construction site.
• If there is no sidewalk, walk at the side of the road, as far to the left as possible (facing traffic).
• Always obey traffic signals and traffic officers. If there are pedestrian crossing signals, obey these as well.
• Always use the crosswalk if one is available. Pedestrians have the right of way in a crosswalk. If there is no crosswalk, yield the right of way to oncoming vehicles.
• Keep an eye out for small vehicles. Bicycles and motorcycles can be tough to spot, especially in heavy traffic – but a collision with either one can easily cause injuries.
• Stay alert and avoid distractions, especially when approaching intersections or crossing streets. Even when signals and crosswalks are available to guide pedestrians, drivers may not be paying attention. You can protect your safety by looking both ways and ensuring that cars are coming to a stop before you begin to cross a street.

If you are injured in a pedestrian accident, help is available.