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Deadliest fall driving in America: 3 NY regions rank in top 10, study reveals
Three New York metro areas rank among the ten places with the highest share of traffic deaths occurring in autumn, according to a study of US fatal crash data. Albany-Schenectady-Troy ranked first, highlighting seasonal driving risks linked to reduced daylight, changing road conditions and congestion.
The study examined National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data from 2014 to 2023 for major metro areas with populations of at least 500,000. Autumn accounted for 32.6% of Albany’s 527 traffic deaths, 30.1% of Rochester’s 671 and 29.3% of Syracuse’s 443; Rochester ranked fourth and Syracuse seventh. The article also notes that many autumn crashes occur on dry roads, and that Syracuse’s Vision Zero plan aims to cut serious crashes by 35% by 2035 and eliminate traffic deaths by 2055.
In short
- Albany ranked first for autumn’s share of fatal crashes.
- Rochester and Syracuse also made the top ten.
- The study covered US metro areas from 2014 to 2023.
Explained simply
Traffic deaths can vary by season because daylight, weather and driving conditions change through the year. In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration collects data on fatal road crashes, which researchers can use to compare patterns across cities and seasons.
The figures cited here cover 2014 to 2023 in large metropolitan areas. Albany, Rochester and Syracuse are cities in New York State; their metro areas include surrounding communities, so the figures are not limited to crashes within city boundaries.
Syracuse’s Vision Zero plan is a local effort to reduce serious crashes and, over time, prevent all traffic deaths. Such plans typically involve changes to roads and transport alongside other measures, and provide context for how local authorities respond to road safety concerns.
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