By most measures, the number of motor vehicle accidents is increasing in New York State. Some statistics from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles tells the story.
Overall Number of Accidents and Fatalities Increased Between 2012 and 2013
The number of accidents, both reported and unreported was 294,757 in 2012. In 2013, the number grew to 304,804, an increase of around 3.5 percent. Of these reported crashes, 1,082 involved fatalities in 2012. That number grew to 1,109 in 2013, an increase of 2.4 percent. The number of accidents with injuries also grew, from 123,296 in 2012 to 124,505 in 2013, an increase of slightly less than one percent.
People Injured and Killed Also Increased Between 2012 and 2013
New York reported that 1,163 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2012, a number that grew to 1,188 in 2013. This increase of two percent was mirrored by growth in the number of drivers killed. Fatalities grew from 612 in 2012 to 625 in 2013, an increase of two percent. The only number that did not grow between 2012 and 2013 was the number of people injured, which declined very slightly, from 169,206 to 169,177, a statistically insignificant difference.
New York City Reflects the Entire State
New York City follows the pattern of the state, showing increases in accidents involving fatalities and injuries. The number of fatal accidents grew from 253 in 2012 to 281 in 2013, an increase of 11 percent. The number of accidents with injuries also grew from 47,647 to 48,910, an increase of 2.6 percent.
The number of people killed in these accidents grew from 271 in 2012 to 294 in 2013, an increase of around eight percent. Similarly, the number of persons injured in the accidents increased from 65,632 in 2012 to 66,906 in 2013, a growth of almost two percent.
These increases are contrary to the national trend, which shows a decrease over 2012. Whether New York will catch up to the rest of the United States and reduce the number of accidents remains to be seen.