Thursday, December 5, 2024

The deadliest intersections in the Northeastern United States

Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers breaks down the most dangerous intersections in the Northeastern U.S.

Posted

Roosevelt Boulevard in Northeast Philadelphia.

PTS Aerial Services // Shutterstock

Intersections present a unique set of hazards for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Conflicting traffic patterns, limited visibility, and improper signaling often contribute to the high number of fatal accidents at these locations.

To better understand where motorists and other road users are at the highest risk of being killed, Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers examined data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on fatal accidents that took place between 2004 and 2022. 

During that span, over 21,000 people were killed at intersections in the Northeastern United States—with urban areas being particularly dangerous due to higher traffic volumes.

Key Findings:

  • Nine of the 10 deadliest intersections in the Northeast are four-way intersections with traffic control signals.
  • Rhode Island and Maine are the only two states with more than one intersection among the top 12 deadliest in the region.
  • Three of the deadliest intersections can be found on US-1.
  • 84% of all fatal intersection-related crashes at the intersections happened in urban areas—the most of any U.S. region. 
  • Fatal intersection-related crashes are more likely to involve a pedestrian in the Northeast. In fact, one in four involved a pedestrian.

A Decline in Fatal Crashes

Unlike other major U.S. regions, the Northeast saw a decline in intersection-related fatalities during the observation period. Fatal crashes dropped by 8.5%, while the number of fatalities decreased by 9%. Despite this overall improvement, the Northeast had the highest proportion of pedestrian-involved crashes at intersections, with 27% of all crashes involving at least one pedestrian.

The 10 Deadliest Intersections in the Northeast United States

Graphic showing deadliest intersections in the Northeast

Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers

Here are the intersections with the most fatal crashes during the observation period:

Lalor Street and SR-129

Graphic showing Lalor Street & SR-129 with statistics overlaid.

Google Earth // Landsat / Copernicus

With seven fatal crashes and seven fatalities, the intersection of Lalor Street and SR-129 in Mercer County, New Jersey is the deadliest in the Northeastern and among the five most dangerous intersections in the entire United States.   

Mercer County, New Jersey

  • Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
  • Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
  • Fatal Crashes: Seven
  • Fatalities: Seven

SR-132 (Street Road) and SR-2019 (Knights Road)

Graphics showing SR-132 & SR-2019 with statistics overlaid.

Google Earth // Landsat / Copernicus

Bucks County, Pennsylvania

  • Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
  • Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
  • Fatal Crashes: Six
  • Fatalities: Six

Jamaica Ave and Woodhaven Boulevard

Graphic showing Jamaica Ave and Woodhaven Boulevard with statistics overlaid.

Google Earth // Landsat / Copernicus

Queens County, New York

  • Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
  • Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
  • Fatal Crashes: Five
  • Fatalities: Five

SR-70 and Massachusetts Avenue

Graphic showing SR-70 and Massachusetts Avenue with statistics overlaid.

Google Earth // Data SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy

Ocean County, New Jersey

  • Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
  • Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
  • Fatal Crashes: Five
  • Fatalities: Five

C Street and US-1 Roosevelt Boulevard

Graphic with C Street and US-1 Roosevelt with statistics overlaid.

Google Earth // Landsat / Copernicus, Airbus

Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

  • Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
  • Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
  • Fatal Crashes: Four
  • Fatalities: Four

CR-51 (Moriches-Riverhead Road) and CR-111 (Captain Daniel Roe Highway)

Graphic showing CR-51 and CR-111 with statistics overlaid.

Google Earth // Airbus

Suffolk County, New York

  • Traffic Control Device: None
  • Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
  • Fatal Crashes: Four
  • Fatalities: Four

Grand Avenue and Village Avenue

Graphic showing Grand Avenue and Village Avenue with statistics overlaid.

Google Earth // Data SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy

Nassau County, New York

  • Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
  • Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
  • Fatal Crashes: Four
  • Fatalities: Four

US-1 and East Jersey Street

Graphic showing US-1 and East Jersey Street with statistics overlaid.

Google Earth // Landsat / Copernicus, Data SIO, NOAA

Union County, New Jersey

  • Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
  • Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
  • Fatal Crashes: Four
  • Fatalities: Four

US-1 and East Grand Street

Graphic showing US-1 and East Grand Street with statistics overlaid.

Google Earth // Data SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy

Union County, New Jersey

  • Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
  • Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
  • Fatal Crashes: Four
  • Fatalities: Four

Andover Road and US-130 (Burlington Pike)

Graphic showing Andover Road and US-130 with statistics overlaid.

Google Earth // Landsat / Copernicus, Airbus, Data SIO

Burlington County, New Jersey

  • Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
  • Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
  • Fatal Crashes: Four
  • Fatalities: Four

Data and Methodology

This analysis is based on fatal crash data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, for the years 2004 through 2022. Only crashes marked as "intersection-related" by the NHTSA were included. The Northeastern region is defined by the Census Bureau and includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

This story was produced by Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.