Accidents Nearly Double on Route 22, Town of Southeast
Two weeks ago a four-car crash occurred on Route 22 in the Town of Southeast. Currently under investigation by the New York State Police and the Putnam County Sheriff's Department, there were serious injuries and a report of a fatality. Route 22 was closed in both directions for an extended period of time.
Unfortunately, over the last several years, Route 22 has seen more than its share of crashes. A New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) study concluded that the "average accident rate for a two-lane, undivided highway was 3.5 accident/million vehicles miles (ACC/MVM)."
Alarmingly, the average for the Route 22 corridor is 6.2 ACC/MVM – far exceeding the State's average for similar roadways!
The Town of Southeast section of Route 22 is a two-lane roadway that winds through small towns and hamlets. The average speed limit is 35 mph. Considered a scenic drive and an alternative to the interstate, a Putnam County Commercial Corridors (PCCC) Study noted that approximately 25,000 vehicles traverse the roadway each day.
So, what is the cause for the unusually high number of accidents? The PCCC Study concluded:
"The NYS Route 22 corridor experiences a high level of traffic that is beyond the capacity of a two-lane roadway. In addition, the congestion is further compounded by multiple driveways along the corridor resulting in turning vehicles blocking through lane traffic at multiple locations. Measures to address collisions in this corridor should be considered."
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