Sometimes, the very qualities that makes our region desirable can also make it dangerous. The green and leafy communities north of New York City in the Hudson Valley region draw many people in to live and work. But the increase in traffic can cause dangerous driving conditions, congestion and accidents.
The New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) reviews vehicle crashes across the state by looking at data every tenth of a mile and focusing on every area whose accident rate is higher than expected. This data is usually reviewed internally, with the goal of changing the infrastructure to make dangerous areas safer.
Here are 6 of the most dangerous roads in the Hudson Valley region.
#1: Interstate 684 in Putnam County
This was the most dangerous road in the state, according to a 2015 article in The News Journal of lower Hudson River Valley. In one area, state authorities think that the ramp leading to I-84 is causing traffic congestion and, as a result, long waits. To compensate, drivers will try to cut into traffic. Vehicle crashes are the all-too-predictable result.
Over a two-year period, the stretch registered 140 accidents. DOT authorities note that state roads with an analogous volume, 61,000 vehicles daily, have just 20% of that number of collisions on average.
#2: Route 45, Chestnut Ridge near Route 59
In a two-year period, this area, just over 2 miles in length, saw 476 accidents that resulted in 107 injuries. One was fatal. The police said driver inattention and following too closely were the most common causes of the accidents.
#3: Route 202 in Haverstraw, intersecting with Palisades Interstate Parkway and Route 45
In 2014, DOT indicated that this stretch was in the top 20 most dangerous areas in New York State. The number of vehicle crashes were 10 times the number with analogous characteristics. A road-widening project undertaken to fix the danger seems, up to this date, to have made it worse.
#4: Route 59 at Airmont Road in Airmont
In one year, this intersection was the site of 85 accidents, 21 of them causing injuries.
#5: Route 59 at Requa Lane in Monsey
In one year, this intersection was the site of 39 vehicles crashes. Twelve of them caused injury. The most frequent causes, according to police reports, were lack of driver attention and failure to yield.
#6: Cross County Parkway, Yonkers
In one year, this area registered 88 accidents. Thirty-one of them caused injuries. The reasons, said policy, were unsafe speed and following too closely.
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More Information on Dangerous Roads in the Hudson Valley:
- Nguyen, Hoa. “Looking at Lohud’s most crash-prone roads.” The Journal News. July 4, 2015. https://www.lohud.com/story/news/transit/2015/07/04/dangerous-roads/29668045/
- Spector, Joseph. “The most dangerous roads for pedestrians in the Hudson Valley.” The Journal News. March 5, 2015. https://www.lohud.com/story/news/politics/politics-on-the-hudson/2015/03/05/the-most-dangerous-roads-for-pedestrians-in-the-hudson-valley/24428367/