Published by The Law Office of Luke Brown, LLC | North Tonawanda, NY
We compiled data from the NYS Comptroller’s Office, the NYS Department of Health, the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research (ITSMR), NHTSA, and the NYS Open Data portal to answer a question that’s surprisingly hard to find a clear answer to: How dangerous are the roads in Western New York — and how do our counties compare to each other?
We looked at fatality rates, injury hospitalizations, emergency department visits, leading crash causes, and regional risk factors across Niagara, Erie, Monroe, and surrounding WNY counties. We also compared our region to statewide averages and national benchmarks.
Here’s what we found.
Key Findings
- Motor vehicle fatalities in New York rose 25.8% from 2019 to 2022, reaching 1,175 deaths — the highest total in a decade — even as the number of crashes and miles driven declined.
- Western New York’s fatality rate is 8.2 per 100,000 residents, roughly in the middle of the state’s regions but well above New York City’s rate of 2.9.
- Erie County averages 4 traffic deaths, 23 hospitalizations, and 442 emergency department visits per month from car accidents.
- Niagara County averages 3 traffic deaths, 19 hospitalizations, and 297 emergency department visits per month.
- Monroe County averages 4 traffic deaths, 22 hospitalizations, and 331 emergency department visits per month.
- Approximately 1 in 3 fatal crashes in New York involve speeding, and another 1 in 3 involve a driver above the legal alcohol limit.
- There was a 45% increase in fatalities involving impaired drivers from 2019 to 2022.
- 64% of vehicle occupants killed in fatal crashes were not wearing a seat belt or helmet.
- New York’s overall road fatality rate is 5.97 per 100,000 people — less than half the national average of 12.76.
- Traffic-related injuries are the leading cause of injury-related death in New York State and generate nearly $1.1 billion in combined hospital charges annually.
New York’s Roads Are Getting More Deadly — Despite Fewer Crashes
In June 2024, NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released a report that laid out a troubling paradox. Between 2019 and 2022, the number of licensed drivers in New York dropped. Total vehicle miles traveled declined. The number of reported crashes fell. Vehicle safety features continued to improve.
And yet motor vehicle fatalities rose by 25.8%, reaching 1,175 deaths in 2022 — the highest total since 2013.
The Comptroller’s data points to a clear explanation: when crashes do happen, they’re more severe. The pandemic years accelerated risky driving behaviors — higher speeds, more impaired driving, less seat belt use — and many of those behaviors have persisted. For residents of Western New York, this statewide trend plays out on local roads every day, from the Thruway to residential streets in Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda.
Western New York’s Fatality Rate: 8.2 per 100,000
The Comptroller’s report breaks the state into regions, and Western New York lands in the middle of the pack — but well above the urban areas with the strongest public transit systems.
The regional fatality rates per 100,000 residents in 2022 were:
- North Country: 12.9 (highest in the state)
- Western New York: 8.2
- Capital Region: 10.7
- New York City: 2.9 (lowest in the state)
- New York State overall: 5.97
- National average: 12.76
New York City’s low rate is largely a function of its public transit infrastructure — a large share of NYC residents don’t own cars. Western New York, by contrast, is a car-dependent region. The distances are longer, the roads are faster, and the winters are among the harshest in the country. All of these factors contribute to crash severity.
For context, New York State as a whole remains one of the safer states nationally, with a fatality rate of 5.97 per 100,000 — less than half the national average of 12.76. But that statewide number is pulled down significantly by New York City. The picture in WNY is meaningfully more dangerous.
Erie County: 4 Deaths and 442 Emergency Department Visits Per Month
Erie County, anchored by Buffalo, is the most populous county in Western New York and sees the highest volume of traffic injuries in the region.
Based on NYS Department of Health data, Erie County averages approximately 4 traffic fatalities, 23 injury-related hospitalizations, and 442 emergency department visits per month from motor vehicle crashes.
That translates to roughly 48 deaths and over 5,300 ER visits per year from car accidents alone.
Erie County’s crash volume is driven by its population density, the convergence of major highways (I-90, I-190, Route 33), and significant commuter traffic between Buffalo and its suburbs. Winter weather compounds the risk — Western New York routinely ranks among the snowiest metropolitan areas in the country, and accident rates spike during lake-effect storms. If you’ve been involved in an accident on one of Erie County’s highways or local roads, understanding how personal injury claims work is an important first step.
Niagara County: 3 Deaths and 297 Emergency Department Visits Per Month
Niagara County — home to Niagara Falls, Lockport, and North Tonawanda — reports a slightly lower volume than Erie County, but the numbers are still significant for a county of its size.
Niagara County averages approximately 3 traffic fatalities, 19 injury-related hospitalizations, and 297 emergency department visits per month.
That’s roughly 36 deaths and over 3,500 ER visits annually.
Niagara County presents a mix of urban and rural driving conditions. Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda have dense traffic patterns and aging road infrastructure, while rural areas in the eastern part of the county feature higher-speed roads with less lighting and fewer traffic-calming measures. The Niagara Scenic Parkway and Robert Moses Parkway also contribute to accident volume, particularly in tourist-heavy months. Traffic-related injuries on these roads can range from minor fender-benders to serious, life-altering collisions.
Monroe County: 4 Deaths and 331 Emergency Department Visits Per Month
Monroe County, centered on Rochester, rounds out the three largest WNY counties in our analysis.
Monroe County averages approximately 4 traffic fatalities, 22 hospitalizations, and 331 emergency department visits per month.
That works out to roughly 48 deaths and nearly 4,000 ER visits per year.
According to crash data from ITSMR, unsafe speed is the leading contributing factor in fatal crashes in Monroe County, with male drivers ages 20 to 29 the most overrepresented group in speed-related fatalities. This mirrors the statewide trend where speeding is a factor in approximately one-third of all fatal accidents.
County-by-County Comparison: WNY at a Glance
Here’s how the three largest Western New York counties stack up side by side:
| Metric (Monthly Average) | Erie County | Niagara County | Monroe County |
| Traffic Fatalities | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Injury Hospitalizations | 23 | 19 | 22 |
| Emergency Dept. Visits | 442 | 297 | 331 |
| Estimated Annual Fatalities | ~48 | ~36 | ~48 |
| Estimated Annual ER Visits | ~5,300 | ~3,500 | ~4,000 |
Combined, these three counties alone account for an estimated 132 traffic deaths and nearly 13,000 emergency department visits per year. And that doesn’t include the surrounding WNY counties — Genesee, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Orleans, and Wyoming — which add substantially to the regional total.
1 in 3 Fatal Crashes Involve Speeding — and Another 1 in 3 Involve Alcohol
The NYS Comptroller’s report identified the three leading contributing factors in fatal crashes statewide, and all three are entirely preventable.
Speeding was a factor in approximately one out of every three fatal crashes. With fewer cars on the road during and after the pandemic, many drivers pushed speeds well beyond safe limits — and that behavior hasn’t fully reversed.
Impaired driving was responsible for another one-third of fatalities. Even more alarming, the Comptroller’s office reported a 45% increase in fatalities involving drivers above the legal BAC limit from 2019 to 2022. Despite decades of public awareness campaigns, drunk driving remains a persistent and growing threat.
Failure to use seat belts and helmets accounted for 64% of vehicle occupant deaths. In other words, the majority of people killed inside their vehicles were not buckled up. This is particularly relevant for motorcycle riders and passengers in vehicles without mandatory rear-seat belt enforcement.
For WNY residents, these factors are compounded by regional conditions. Drunk driving accidents are common on routes like the Thruway and Route 5, and speeding on suburban arterials continues to be a persistent concern across all three major WNY counties.
The Severity Paradox: Fewer Crashes, But More Deadly Outcomes
One of the most counterintuitive findings in the Comptroller’s report is that crash severity has increased even as crash frequency has declined.
Nationally, traffic fatalities peaked at 42,939 in 2021 before beginning to decline. The first half of 2025 saw the 13th consecutive quarterly decline in fatalities, with the national fatality rate dropping to 1.06 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled — the lowest quarterly rate in six years.
But in New York, the decline has been slower. And the data reveals a critical distinction: while minor crashes and fender-benders have dropped, the crashes that do occur are more likely to result in serious injury or death. This is consistent with the behavioral changes — higher speeds, more impairment, less restraint use — that took hold during the pandemic.
For anyone involved in a serious collision in Western New York, this trend has real consequences. More severe crashes mean more catastrophic injuries — traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and injuries requiring long-term medical treatment. Understanding your legal options early in the process can make a significant difference in recovery.
Traffic Injuries: The Leading Cause of Injury Death in New York
It’s easy to become numb to car accident statistics. But the scale of the problem is worth pausing on.
According to the NYS Department of Health, traffic-related injuries are the leading cause of injury-related death for New Yorkers. On average, three New Yorkers die every day from a traffic crash. Over 155,000 individuals are injured severely enough to require hospitalization annually, and another 1.5 million are treated in emergency departments.
The financial toll is equally staggering. Combined hospitalization and emergency department charges from traffic injuries average approximately $1.1 billion per year across the state. For victims and their families, the costs don’t stop there — lost wages, ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and the long-term impact on quality of life often dwarf the initial hospital bill.
What Makes Western New York’s Roads Uniquely Dangerous
Beyond the statewide trends, WNY drivers face a distinctive set of risk factors:
Winter weather. Western New York is one of the snowiest regions in the United States. Lake-effect storms can reduce visibility to near zero within minutes, and black ice is a persistent hazard from November through March. Accident rates predictably spike during winter storms, and collisions during these events tend to be more severe due to reduced braking ability.
The New York State Thruway. I-90 is one of the most heavily trafficked corridors in the state, carrying both local commuters and long-haul commercial traffic. High speeds, large trucks, and fatigue-related driving make the Thruway a consistent source of serious accidents across WNY.
Rural road conditions. Eastern Niagara County, Genesee County, and Cattaraugus County include long stretches of two-lane roads with limited lighting, no median barriers, and higher speed limits. Rural car accidents in these areas often involve head-on collisions and longer emergency response times, both of which contribute to worse outcomes.
Infrastructure aging. Many roads and bridges across WNY were designed for lower traffic volumes and different vehicle weights than they now carry. Deferred maintenance can contribute to hazardous conditions that play a role in accidents.
What These Numbers Mean for WNY Families
Behind every statistic in this report is a person — a commuter on the Thruway, a teenager on their way to school, a construction worker heading to a job site. When a crash results in serious injury, the impact ripples through families and communities for years.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident in Niagara County, Erie County, or anywhere in Western New York, understanding your legal rights is an important first step. New York’s no-fault insurance system covers basic medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash, but it does not cover pain and suffering. To pursue full compensation for a serious injury, you need to meet New York’s “serious injury” threshold — and an experienced personal injury attorney can help you understand whether your case qualifies.
Conclusion
This report was compiled using publicly available data from the NYS Comptroller’s Office, the NYS Department of Health, ITSMR, NHTSA, and the NYS Open Data portal. We thank these organizations for making their research accessible.
The data is clear: Western New York’s roads are more dangerous than most people realize. While New York State as a whole is safer than the national average, that statewide number masks significant regional variation. Erie, Niagara, and Monroe counties collectively account for over 130 traffic deaths and nearly 13,000 emergency room visits per year — and the leading causes are entirely preventable.
For a full breakdown of our data sources and methodology.
If you have questions about your rights after a car accident in Western New York, The Law Office of Luke Brown, LLC is here to help. Contact us for a free consultation at (716) 321-2727.
Now I’d like to hear from you: Which WNY road or intersection do you think is the most dangerous?
The Law Office of Luke Brown, LLC | 168 Robinson St, North Tonawanda, NY 14120 | (716) 321-2727 | lukebrownlaw.com
