EAST ISLIP, Long Island, N.Y. — Suffolk County police reported a severe accident Tuesday around 6:25 a.m. on Union Avenue in East Islip that left three people with injuries. Suffolk County police reported that a Sprinter van and another vehicle were involved in the crash. The impact of the vehicles sent the van into a […]
EAST ISLIP, Long Island, N.Y. — Suffolk County police reported a severe accident Tuesday around 6:25 a.m. on Union Avenue in East Islip that left three people with injuries. Suffolk County police reported that a Sprinter van and another vehicle were involved in the crash. The impact of the vehicles sent the van into a utility pole. According to the Daily Voice from Nassau County, the Suffolk Police said that they closed the eastbound lanes of Union Boulevard between Carleton Avenue and Third Avenue for some time. The officers eventually reopened the lanes to traffic. There was no update provided on the physical injuries suffered by the accident victims.
Long Island motorists know the dangers lurking on certain roads. However, with the advent of new technologies, Long Island communities have seen a downward trend in accident fatalities.
Newsday reports that increased law enforcement patrols, increasing motorist education, and improving road safety means fewer fatalities.
Traffic experts are quick to point out that other factors contribute to the shrinking fatality rate. Experts say that red light cameras, traffic congestion — which forces drivers to drive more slowly, along with safer vehicles and better training for Emergency Medical Services personnel contribute to sparing lives.
In 2106, 139 people died in 121 fatal traffic crashes in Suffolk County alone. A year later, 94 fatal crashes took the lives of 100 people in Suffolk County.
Nassau County achieved a similar result. In 2017, 66 crashes took the lives of 71 people. In 2016, 73 fatal accidents accounted for 79 deaths.
While the loss of one life in a traffic crash in tragic, the downward trend is laudable. Police say that they continue to face challenges posed by careless drivers. The Suffolk Police Chief reported that texting while driving is dangerous behavior in which law enforcement has had a difficult time eliminating. The chief said that he believes continued enforcement coupled with driver education, will eventually eradicate texting while driving.