New York Intersections

Every year, thousands of drivers, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians are injured or killed on U.S. roads, many of them in the exact same and heavily traveled locations. Across the country, there are certain intersections and stretches of roadway where accidents do not occur by chance, but repeatedly, predictably, and often tragically. These high-risk areas have become famous in their communities, marked by frequent emergency responses, damaged guardrails, and roadside memorials.

Understanding where and why these accidents occur is a critical step toward prevention. Identifying patterns, whether it’s a high number of rear-end collisions, side-impact crashes, or rollovers, can help spotlight the underlying issues. And for those who have already been affected, knowing these patterns isn’t just helpful, it’s often essential to finding accountability, support, and justice.

Tillary Street & Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn

Tillary Street and Flatbush Avenue are among Brooklyn’s most dangerous intersections due to the chaotic mix of high-speed traffic from nearby bridge ramps, heavy local congestion, and confusing lane patterns. Drivers often make sudden moves, leading to frequent rear-end and side-impact crashes. The constant merging and lane-switching near the bridge entrances create a volatile traffic environment with little room for error.

Pedestrians and cyclists are especially at risk, with narrow access to the Brooklyn Bridge path, poor lighting, and limited crossing protections. The intersection’s outdated design fails to safely handle the volume and mix of users, making it a persistent hotspot for serious collisions. Despite safety efforts, this location continues to rank among the highest in the city for injury-causing crashes.

Collision breakdown (annual estimates)

• Motor vehicle, only accidents: 125–150, including high-speed merging from I‑278 and bridge ramps.
• Bicyclist-involved: Around 7–12 collisions per year. In one recent 10-month span, seven cyclists were injured in a three-block zone extending west of the intersection.
• Pedestrian-involved: Around 3–5 injuries annually. In the same period, three pedestrians were hurt near the intersection.
• Injuries among motorists (drivers/passengers): ~32 in the first 10 months
• Cyclist injuries: 7 reported in the same period

While fatalities at this specific crossing are rarer, the wider Flatbush–Tillary corridor saw multiple deadly crashes, side‑impact, and pedestrian crashes in past years.

Unique hazards

• Traffic convergence: Feed-ins from the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, plus BQE ramps, funnel vehicles at high speeds onto 25 mph surface streets
• Odd angles & lane alignment: Flatbush Avenue and Tillary Street intersect at unusual angles, rather than forming a typical T or cross shape. This forces drivers to make fast merges or lane changes across as many as eight lanes, increasing the risk of confusion and crashes.
• Right-on-red confusion: Drivers turning right on red face limited sight lines, increasing side-impact risk.
• Cyclist bottleneck: An NYPD squad car narrows the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge bike path, forcing cyclists and pedestrians into a half-lane and compounding conflicts.
• Lighting & refuge issues: Poor lighting at pedestrian islands, occasional delays in infrastructure repair, and removed safety refuges create hazards.

This busy junction lies just east of the Brooklyn Bridge and southwestern Brooklyn Bridge Park, near the subway (e.g., Jay Street–MetroTech) and bus stops (B103/Tillary). The convergence of regional roadways and heavy foot and bicycle traffic, linked to bridge entrances and transit hubs, heightens exposure and risk.

2nd Avenue & East 59th Street, Manhattan

2nd Avenue and East 59th Street is a high-risk intersection in Manhattan, positioned at the mouth of the Queensboro Bridge, where thousands of commuters, taxis, buses, and cyclists converge daily. The complex layout, featuring multi-lane traffic, dedicated bus routes, and a protected bike lane, creates frequent conflict points between vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Sudden lane shifts, aggressive turns, and limited visibility at corners contribute to many crashes, many involving vulnerable road users.

The intersection’s tight turn radii and signal timing issues make it especially dangerous for pedestrians crossing 2nd Avenue and for cyclists continuing northbound through the bridge’s approach. With narrow sidewalks, inconsistent crosswalk visibility, and buses turning across bike lanes, both right-hook incidents and side-impact crashes are common. Despite Vision Zero improvements, this location remains a hotspot for injury-causing collisions due to its structural limitations and relentless traffic pressure.

Collision breakdown (annual estimates)

• Motor vehicle only crashes: 110–120 annually, often involving rear-end or side-impact crashes due to lane weaving and congestion near the bridge ramps.
• Bicyclist-involved: Roughly 10–15 collisions each year, primarily from vehicles crossing the protected bike lane or blocking it during pickups and drop-offs.
• Pedestrian-involved: Around 5–8 injuries annually, many resulting from right-turning vehicles failing to yield in crosswalks.
• Injuries among motorists (drivers/passengers): Estimated 30+ per year, particularly during peak rush hours.
• Cyclist injuries: 10+ annually, with a high rate of shoulder and lower limb trauma from right-hook crashes.
• Pedestrian injuries: 5–8 annually, mostly occurring in crosswalks during turning conflicts with buses and taxis.

Unique hazards

• Heavy commuter flows: The Queensboro Bridge feeds thousands of vehicles directly into the intersection, creating constant pressure and unpredictable merging.
• Bus/taxi lane congestion: Reserving multiple lanes for buses and for-hire vehicles creates bottlenecks, forcing private drivers to make abrupt lane changes.
• Right-hook collisions: Buses and cars turning right often cut across the bike lane, leading to frequent bicycle crashes.
• Tight turn radii: Narrow corners cause wide vehicles to swing out unexpectedly, putting pedestrians at risk during crossings.
• Blocked sight lines: Delivery vans and rideshare vehicles often stop in or near crosswalks, obscuring visibility for both drivers and pedestrians.

This intersection sits just off the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge entrance and is flanked by residential towers, bus stops (M15 SBS), and access points to the Second Avenue Subway. It also borders Sutton Place and the Upper East Side, making it a key transit corridor for both local and regional traffic. The sheer volume of movement in all directions, combined with infrastructure that hasn’t fully adapted to multimodal use, makes 2nd Avenue & East 59th Street one of the most accident-prone corners in Manhattan.

42nd Street & 8th Avenue, Manhattan

42nd Street and 8th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan are notoriously hazardous crossroads, situated at the doorstep of the Port Authority Bus Terminal and surrounded by intense foot traffic from Times Square and Bryant Park. Daily commuter influxes, from subway shuttles, buses, taxis, and tourist crowds, create extremely congested sidewalks and streets.

Bus boarding islands, delivery vehicles, and repeated double parking limit sightlines. These obstructions, combined with impatient drivers and distracted pedestrians, frequently lead to fender-benders and more serious pedestrian-vehicle collisions.

Tourists and locals alike are funneled through this intersection, making it a hotspot for right-angle pedestrian collisions and vehicle contact during turning maneuvers. Despite recent safety enhancements like widened sidewalks, curb extensions, and protected bike lanes, the constant ebb and flow of vehicles and people creates near-hourly conflict points. Trucks backing up into narrow lanes, taxis abruptly pulling in or out, and pedestrians darting across crowded streets all compound the dangers in what is already one of the busiest urban junctions in the city.

Collision breakdown (annual estimates)

• Motor vehicle only crashes: ~90–100, mostly minor fender-benders involving buses, taxis, and delivery trucks amid stopped or slow-moving traffic.
• Pedestrian-involved: Approximately 30–35 injuries each year, many occurring from right-angle or rear-end crashes where vehicles block crosswalks.
• Cyclist-involved: Around 5–10 annually, often due to lane encroachment or opening car doors alongside parked buses.
• Injuries among motorists: Roughly 25+ per year, including whiplash and minor trauma from low-speed side impacts.
• Pedestrian fatalities: Since 1995, there have been at least three pedestrian deaths and over 200 injuries at this intersection, highlighting its long-term risk factors.

Unique hazards

• Tourist crush and sidewalk crowding: With more than 260,000 daily users at the bus terminal and Times Square area, narrow sidewalks create spillover into the street, increasing collision risk.
• Limited sightlines & daylighting issues: Trucks, buses, and illegally parked vehicles often block drivers’ views, preventing them from spotting pedestrians in crosswalks.
• Right-angle pedestrian collisions are frequent as vehicles turn without clear visibility of crowded sidewalks.
• Complex traffic patterns: Multiple bus and tour lines, rapid lane changes, and frequent delivery stops result in unpredictable vehicle movements.
• Inconsistent pedestrian protections: Though sidewalk extensions are present, signal timing and pedestrian refuge areas remain suboptimal for safe crossing at peak times.

This nexus links major transit networks and tourist destinations, situated just west of the Port Authority Bus Terminal and adjacent to Times Square, Bryant Park, and the 42nd St–Port Authority subway station (A/C/E). Despite numerous Vision Zero upgrades, such as expanded sidewalks, painted curb extensions, and bus lane buffering, 42nd & 8th continues to see collisions due to pedestrian saturation, driver impatience, and tightly packed urban infrastructure.

Taconic State Parkway, Westchester County

The Taconic State Parkway in Westchester County is notorious for its high-speed, undivided lanes and limited shoulders, which create a hazardous environment for drivers. Frequent deer crossings further increase the risk of sudden collisions, especially at dawn and dusk. Over the past decade, it has been identified as one of five state highways with the steepest rise in crash rates, underscoring ongoing safety challenges.

Collision breakdown (annual estimates)

• Motor vehicle crashes: Approximately 120–140, mainly high-speed rear-end and sideswipe collisions.
• Wildlife-related crashes: Around 15–20 per year involving deer.
• Injuries: Roughly 50–60, with many serious due to high impact speeds.
• Fatalities: Several occur annually and are often linked to loss of control on curves or wildlife strikes.

Unique hazards

• Undivided lanes: The absence of median barriers increases head-on collision risks.
• High speeds: Speed limits up to 55 mph on narrow lanes.
• Limited shoulders: There is little room for emergency stops or evasive maneuvers.
• Frequent deer crossings: Wildlife activity peaks in early morning and evening.
• Curvy sections: Sharp bends challenge driver control, especially in poor weather.

Running through wooded areas of Westchester County, the Taconic State Parkway connects suburban communities with New York City. Its scenic but narrow design and heavy commuter and recreational traffic make it prone to serious crashes requiring ongoing safety improvements.

Linden Boulevard & Pennsylvania Avenue, Queens

Linden Boulevard and Pennsylvania Avenue are dangerous intersections in Queens characterized by wide, multi-lane roads that encourage high vehicle speeds. The lack of adequate pedestrian refuge islands and poorly timed crosswalk signals creates hazardous conditions for people trying to cross. High-speed angle crashes are common here, as drivers struggle to navigate multiple lanes while reacting to complex traffic patterns.

Collision breakdown (annual estimates)

• Motor vehicle crashes: About 100–115 annually, mostly angle collisions from vehicles crossing lanes or turning.
• Pedestrian-involved crashes: Around 15–20 injuries per year at crosswalks.
• Injuries: Roughly 40–50, with many pedestrians suffering severe trauma.
• Fatalities: Occasional, often involving pedestrians struck while crossing.

Unique hazards

• Wide multi-lane roads: Up to six lanes encourage speeding and complicate crossing.
• Limited pedestrian refuge: Few safe islands force pedestrians to cross multiple lanes simultaneously.
• Poor signal timing: Crosswalk lights often don’t allow enough time to cross safely.
• High-speed angle crashes: Frequent due to sudden lane changes and turning conflicts.
• Limited visibility: Large vehicles and roadside obstructions impair driver sightlines.

This intersection is a busy corridor linking residential neighborhoods with commercial areas and public transit stops. The heavy mix of cars, buses, and pedestrians, as well as outdated infrastructure, makes Linden Boulevard and Pennsylvania Avenue a persistent danger zone in Queens.

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