Safety Bill Pursued for Blood Alley, Nassau County’s Deadliest Parkway
In an attempt to decrease the number of crashes that occur on one of Long Island’s deadliest sections of road, Blood Alley, legislators are considering imposing substantial fines on drivers who exceed the speed limit or otherwise drive recklessly. This section of road, which some call “Blood Alley,” is particularly dangerous and is filled with countless roadside memorials to motorists who were killed here. Data shows that over the last two years, 16 fatalities and 1,722 vehicle crashes have occurred on the road. Due to the dangers presented by the road, Albany lawmakers have proposed creating a highway safety corridor on the Southern State Parkway. Also, not everyone believes that the road is responsible for the large number of accidents. While some people cite the road for the countless accidents that occur there, others believe that dangerous drives are the ones to be held accountable.
Blood Alley’s Dangerous Nature
Beginning at interchange 25A with the Belt Parkway and the Cross Island Parkways positioned on the Queens and Nassau borders, the Southern State Parkway proceeds east as an eight-lane divided parkway running through North Valley Stream. The Southern State Parkway as a whole presents dangers for motorists, but one area is more dangerous than others. A 10-mile stretch called “Blood Alley” sees a high number of deadly car wrecks each year and is viewed by many as one of the most dangerous roads in Long Island, New York, and even the United States. Twisting, poorly lit in several places, and filled with tight corners, the Parkway can prove dangerous for drivers.
Running between exits 17 and 32, Blood Alley is filled with motorists, and motorists should remember to exercise the greatest degree of caution possible while passing through the area. Drivers should also remember to utilize defensive driving tactics, which greatly reduce a motorist’s changes of ending up in a crash. Defensive driving means limiting the number of situations in which a driver is likely to end up in a collision with other cars on the road.
A Quick Overview of New York’s Highway Safety Bill
New York lawmakers have suggested a new bill to help reduce the number of deadly crashes in the area. Referred to as either an “S.O.S.” or “Safety on the Southern State,” the bill could resolve the countless number of large fatalities that occur in the area. The bill created a highway safety corridor program on Long Island’s Southern State Parkway. The bill’s terms also result in the corridor being designated as a highway safety corridor along which increased penalties apply.
The pilot program connected to the bill is the first of its kind in the state of New York. The bill designates a safety corridor in the area with special signage or technology warning of a dangerous area. An assembly member connected to the bill has stated that as the result of legislative efforts, it might be possible to avoid the risk of another life-changing accident occurring on the road.
Results are also pending from a Department of Transportation study about whether ramp safety can help motorists avoid entering-the road the wrong-way. The Department of Transportation issued a statement that while countermeasures were in place to avoid accidents of such a nature, 100% of the wrong-way driving accidents that occurred in the area were due to impaired driving. The study also found that more than 400 safety enhancements have been completed along the Southern State Parkway ranging from new signs to reflective lane markings. Additionally, a $16 million resurfacing project is underway between Cross Island Parkway and exit 20.
While safety corridors have been utilized throughout the country, data reveals that the measures drop in effectiveness over time as motorists grow accustomed to the signs and begin to ignore them. In response, another plan proposed to keep motorists safe involves doubling fines along the corridor.
Car Crashes That Have Occurred on Blood Alley
Over the last few years, a large number of deadly accidents have occurred on Blood Alley. In 2020, two individuals were killed in a two-vehicle crash that occurred on the road. This accident involved the driver of a Honda Pilot who sideswiped a Toyota Corolla close to Exit 21 for Nassau Road in Uniondale. The Pilot then struck and crossed over the center median guide rail before colliding into the overpass. The Honda Pilot’s passengers later passed away at the scene of the accident. The Corolla’s occupants, however, were not injured. Earlier in 2020, four individuals were killed in a car crash that occurred on Southern State in North Massapequa.
Speak With an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer in Long Island
If you or a loved one was injured in a crash that occurred on Blood Alley or elsewhere in Nassau County or the surrounding areas, one of the best steps that you can take is to speak with an experienced car accident attorney. Contact the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe LLP today to schedule a free case evaluation.
