New York is notorious for having aggressive drivers and high levels of traffic congestion. Discussions about traffic issues often focus on New York City. However, the Capital Region around Albany also sees more than its fair share of stressful driving situations and collisions.
Some roads are much more dangerous than others when looking at the number of crashes and how severe they are. Factors including the volume of vehicles that travel these roads and outdated design may contribute to the level of risk for motorists.
Which roads top lists of the most dangerous in the capital region?
The Capital Region has plenty of dangerous streets
Two of the most dangerous roads in all of New York cross the Capital Region around Albany. I-87, which runs from New York City all the way to the Canadian border, sees quite a few dangerous crashes. There have been at least 150 deaths on I-87 in the last decade. The worst section of I-87 travels north from New York City to Albany.
The Taconic State Parkway, which ends slightly before reaching Albany, is perhaps the most dangerous road in the entire region. In just three years, the Taconic State Parkway saw 2,080 collisions, many of which led to injury or worse.
A few other roads have received local attention for high levels of congestion, which can translate to increased collision risk. Hoosick Street in Troy topped the list of most congested roads in the area. Other streets with difficult driving conditions include Central Avenue, Everett Road during rush hour and the entirety of Clifton Park.
Drivers generally do not have the luxury of simply avoiding dangerous roads. Streets with high levels of congestion and elevated crash risk see so much traffic for a reason. They offer the most direct route to many popular local destinations. Attempting to avoid those streets during the busiest times of day might be smart for those concerned about crash risk. Drivers can also better protect themselves by being more proactive about safety in traffic when traveling on high-risk thoroughfares.
Tracking collision trends in the Capital Region may help motorists avoid major car wrecks. Those who do experience collisions can learn about their rights, so that they can more effectively hold the drivers at fault for those crashes accountable for the kinds of damage they cause.