Data shows 5-year spike in collisions on NY State Thruway
Posted: Updated:A Turn to Tara investigation has identified some trends in recent years on the New York State Thruway.
The Thruway is among the oldest and longest toll roads in the country, and according to the Thruway Authority website and national data, it is also considered one of the safest.
But five years of crash data obtained by News 12 shows local accidents along the Thruway jumped significantly from 2012 through 2016.
Data shows that though traffic volume only increased by 7 percent over the period, collision numbers jumped from 2,876 in 2012 to 3,465 in 2016.
Among the most accident-prone spots was between Exit 9 in Tarrytown and the Tappan Zee Bridge tolls, where there were 510 accidents that caused 765 injuries and two deaths over the last five years.
Thruway officials say that they believe that there will be less crashes now that the toll plaza has been removed.
State Sen. David Carlucci says he thinks extra safety precautions are worth looking into there and also between exits 15A and 16, where seven people have been killed.
"Simply more police presence and enforcement of speeds," says Carlucci. "Do everything to help people. It's your most important job."
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