Drivers on Long Island drive on high-speed thoroughfares and congested neighborhood streets, sharing the roads with commuters, pedestrians, bicyclists, and commercial traffic. The most dangerous roads on Long Island, NY, reflect many of the traffic dangers found throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. Roadway design, traffic density, speed, intersections, and driver actions are only some of the factors that can cause major collisions.
Understanding which roads present a frequent safety risk can prompt drivers to be more cautious and help them to drive more safely.
Which Long Island Roads Have the Highest Number of Serious Crashes?
Several of Long Island’s major roads have garnered repeated attention due to their serious and fatal crashes. New York State keeps data on crashes by county, municipality, intersection, route, and street, which allows for identification of repeating crash patterns. A Newsday analysis of federal crash data from 2016 to 2020 determined 62 traffic deaths on Route 25 and 61 on Route 27. This analysis did not include the parkways or the Long Island Expressway.
A more expansive list of roads that are often associated with serious Long Island crashes includes the Southern State Parkway, Long Island Expressway, and Sunrise Highway. “Most dangerous” is also dependent on whether crashes, fatalities, serious injuries, or another metric are being considered.
Why Is the Long Island Expressway a High-Risk Road?
The I-495, known as the Long Island Expressway, functions as a key east-west artery linking Long Island’s communities to New York City. The highway speeds, congestion, merging traffic, lane changes, and vehicles entering and exiting at interchanges create a set of conditions where driver mistakes can have severe consequences.
Collisions can involve passenger vehicles, motorcycles, buses, and commercial trucks, making appropriate following distances and driver focus more critical. Crash patterns can also vary significantly by location, and safety issues on the Long Island Expressway should be considered by specific segments and interchanges rather than assuming every portion of the highway presents the same level or type of risk.
What Makes Sunrise Highway Dangerous for Drivers and Pedestrians?
Sunrise Highway, also known as New York State Route 27, runs through communities across Nassau and Suffolk counties. As with any road, different parts of the corridor have varying traffic environments that may present different conditions for drivers. These changes in conditions, such as intersections, merging traffic, commercial corridors, and areas with pedestrians, can sometimes catch drivers off guard, and they must adapt to the environment.
New York State’s crash-data system allows officials to look at crashes by individual routes, intersections, and roadway segments instead of viewing an entire highway as one location. Assessing Sunrise Highway by these smaller units can better depict where safety concerns may be.
What Should I Do if I Get Hit on a Dangerous Long Island Road?
If you are involved in a Long Island crash, stop and first attend to any immediate safety and medical needs. After addressing safety and medical needs, the New York DMV instructs motorists to notify police immediately if anyone has been injured or killed and to then exchange identifying, registration, and insurance information after a collision.
If possible, move the vehicle away from oncoming traffic and preserve information about the crash scene. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 605 also requires motorists to report qualifying crashes to the DMV. A report is generally required if anyone has been injured or killed or if damage to one person’s property exceeds $1,000.
Hire a Car Accident Lawyer
Working with a lawyer after a car accident helps you continue to focus on recovery while they focus on providing you with the legal counsel necessary to pursue the compensation that you deserve. The Law Office of Brett J. Nomberg, PLLC, handles personal injury cases across Long Island, including both Nassau and Suffolk counties. We have significant experience litigating cases through trial as well as helping clients navigate alternative dispute resolution methods.
FAQs
Why Is Speeding Especially Dangerous on Long Island Roads?
Speeding may increase the likelihood and severity of a collision because the faster one moves, the less time there is to recognize a hazard and respond appropriately. One-third of all traffic deaths in New York are related to speeding, according to the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. On Long Island’s highways and busy local roads, following posted speed limits and adjusting speed according to traffic, weather, and road conditions can minimize unnecessary risk.
Are Pedestrians and Cyclists at Risk on Long Island’s Dangerous Roads?
Pedestrians and cyclists who use roadways that accommodate heavy volumes of vehicle traffic are often at great risk of being injured or killed. In 2022, NHTSA estimates that 7,522 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes across the nation, and an estimated 67,336 were injured. Pedestrian fatalities were 18% of all traffic fatalities in 2022. Roadways with heavy vehicle traffic, many intersections, businesses, and pedestrians and cyclists traveling to destinations not accessed by vehicle present special problems.
Why Are Commercial Vehicles Restricted From Long Island Parkways?
New York parkways, including the Southern State Parkway, are typically off-limits to commercial vehicles. The distinction between New York parkways and interstate highways means parkways might have overpasses too low for many buses, trucks, and commercial traffic. Drivers unfamiliar with these roads may face significant clearance hazards.
Commercial drivers should heed all applicable roadway restrictions and use commercial vehicle navigation systems, rather than assuming all major Long Island thoroughfares are clear of such restrictions.
Can Road Construction Make Long Island Roads More Dangerous?
Road construction may create fluctuating traffic conditions, lane closures, workers near moving traffic, reduced speeds, and other conditions that require extra caution. In 2025, 33 vehicles entered active work zones on Long Island state roads, and five New York State Department of Transportation workers were injured.
When approaching a construction area, drivers should slow down, stay alert, and proceed cautiously, obey traffic control signs and the flagger’s directions, and follow New York’s Move Over Law when required.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
When an accident results from another party’s negligence, the Law Office of Brett J. Nomberg, PLLC helps injured people understand their rights and available legal options while providing direct, individualized attorney representation. Schedule a consultation today to hire a car accident lawyer.
