Long Island's dangerous roads: Your voice needs to be heard

Every Long Islander can tee up their experience on Long Island’s hazardous roads. From drivers who speed and weave to intersections notorious for blind spots, awkward parkway ramps, and streets hostile to pedestrians and cyclists, there is no shortage of dangers. The number of people killed on Long Island roads has risen 17% since 2019. The Island’s traffic fatality rate, while lower than the national average, is higher than the state average.

While Long Islanders already know in our bones that driving here can be scary, Newsday’s latest investigative series, Dangerous Roads, is eye-opening. These reports will continue through the year and we hope that putting a spotlight on this crisis will identify real solutions and propel change.

In Dangerous Roads, you will read about tragic losses of life, roads that people have complained about for years, and statistics explaining the regionwide significance of safety, and you’ll discover a detailed, interactive online map showing accidents down to the street level of every community on Long Island. Hopefully, you will be moved to respond by reaching out to Newsday to join the conversation hundreds of our neighbors are having about how to make our roads safer.

READERS REACT

Why are our roads so hazardous? How can we improve safety? Who is responsible? How much will it cost to make Long Island’s roads safer, and who will pay?

These hard questions prompt no easy solutions, just the type of enigmas elected leaders are tasked with resolving. One thing is certain: There is no shortage of studies and data closely examining our roads, and the results are undeniable — they are deadly. We need real, actionable solutions. Every fix may not be viable in the short term but those solutions must continuously be sought. Elected officials should always be asking what more can be done to improve road safety for residents.

Hundreds of readers have already responded with detailed and compelling firsthand accounts. Kenny Lake, of Miller Place, explained how dangerous one intersection is, adding: “Nothing has been done.”

Carmine Ricciardi, of West Babylon, wants better laws put into place to deter aggressive drivers because “I’m so sick and tired of watching people die every day . . . ”

Patricia Owens, of Valley Stream, said driving on the Southern State Parkway near her home “makes me feel like I’m taking my life in my hands.”

Judith A. Senning, of Elmont, said people on their cellphones while driving make her “say a prayer every time I get into any car, even my own.”

Albert Gabrielli, of East Setauket, said road signage needs to be improved. Joseph Sergio, of Hauppauge, said he sees and hears cars racing near his house every day. Reno Discala, of Glen Cove, said too many drivers don’t obey the laws.

Joseph DeGregorio, of Albertson, said, “We cannot wait for a tragedy to occur before action is taken.”

We agree.

IMPACT ALREADY FELT

Shortly after Newsday published the first installment of its Dangerous Roads series, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the start date of a planned $7 million project for safety improvements on two Long Island roads — the Southern State Parkway at Exit 15 in Valley Stream and a five-way intersection on Jericho Turnpike in the Town of Huntington. We urge the governor — and every elected official on Long Island — to read our series, listen to residents, and earnestly consider a range of tried-and-tested improvements.

Rep. Laura Gillen (D-Rockville Centre), after reading the series, asked the U.S. Department of Transportation to investigate an “alarming, unacceptable” fatality rate on the Island. That’s a start.

Traffic calming measures like traffic circles, road reconfigurations, median barriers, and reduced left-hand-turn intersections are effective. They are already in use in some spots on Long Island.

What more can be done?

Do we increase enforcement of traffic and highway vehicle laws? Deploy drones to identify vehicles that chase each other on highways as if their drivers were playing a fantasy video game? Should we stiffen penalties for aggressive driving and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs? Do we need to fund research on how to test on the spot for driving while stoned? What about mandating more education before receiving a driver’s license and requiring license holders to pass road tests every 10 years or so?

What can be done about pedestrians on their phones with ear buds? Or cyclists who fail to obey traffic laws? Can we design and create more and safer bike paths? How about the quietness of EVs that poses danger to pedestrians and cyclists?

There are innumerable challenges, such as weather conditions, road hazards like fallen debris from construction trucks, road blind spots, and poorly marked turn lanes.

Driving a motor vehicle is inherently dangerous for motorists, their passengers, pedestrians, cyclists — everybody. That doesn’t mean we should be forced to deal with horrific tragedy that is often preventable. The solutions are complex and expensive.

Stay in the know with the Dangerous Roads newsletter. Submit your personal story of driving on Long Island to our nextLI online database for possible publication. This is a conversation we, as Long Islanders, need to have together. And it won’t be finished in a week or two. This must be a comprehensive and sustained effort to place the priority on human lives — Long Islanders’ lives — above all else.

Your voices, collectively, can bring change. Let’s start talking.