The Never-Ending Endeavor to Make Our Roads Safer

Everyone plays a part in roadway safety

The New York Coalition for Transportation Safety (NYCTS) has been fighting for years to make roads safer for all users, especially pedestrians and cyclists. It’s no surprise that the region’s major daily newspaper, Newsday, is conducting a year-long investigation into why Long Island’s roads are some of the deadliest in the state, if not the country.

There is an alarming rate in the rise of fatal car crashes on Long Island, according to Newsday’s Dangerous Roads investigative series. This jives with data maintained by the Institute for Traffic Safety and Management. This database has statistical reports on crashes involving motor vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, reasons for crashes such as impairment, distraction, speed-related crashes, and crashes categorized by different age groups, among other measures.

Cynthia Brown, executive director of NYCTS, recently participated in a press conference spearheaded by Congresswoman Laura Gillen on April 11, 2025, at Hickey Park in Rockville Centre. Spurred by the Newsday report, the Congresswoman is calling for a federal hearing about the excessive crashes. She also plans to introduce legislation that incentivizes states to replace dangerous intersections with roundabouts. Research shows that roundabouts help slow down traffic. The Congresswoman is also interested in funding to increase police enforcement and supports lowering the state’s legal blood alcohol limit.

Cynthia Brown, Executive Director of the New York Coalition for Transportation Safety takes the podium at Congresswoman Laura Gillen's April 11 press event in Rockville Centre.

NYCTS’ Cynthia Brown says at the root of the problem is driver behavior. Speeding remains a major problem with car crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists and collisions between vehicles. The organization’s Walk Safe Long Island initiative seeks to teach all road users about New York State laws that exist now to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe.

“We all play a role in reducing crashes on our roads," says Brown. “Law enforcement, roadway engineers, and the driving, walking, and biking public all have a responsibility to follow traffic laws, slow down, and look out for one another.”

NYCTS holds its 3rd Annual Walk Bike LI Summit on Wednesday, June 11 from 11 am to 1:30 pm at NYU Langone Hospital — Long Island's Research and Academic Center in Mineola. Newsday’s Alfonso Castillo, the lead investigative reporter for the Newsday Dangerous Roads series will be on hand to discuss findings, solutions, and a way forward for Long Islanders. He will be joined by other experts from engineering, grassroots advocacy, and law enforcement. Event is FREE. Register here.