Fatal Roads

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Suffolk County

Residents 1,535,909Deaths 2024 120Deaths 2015–2024 1,389Latest data year 2024

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Latest data year: 2024. Figures are aggregates from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System; no individual crash is identified.

In 2024, the latest year in FARS, Suffolk County (New York) had 110 fatal crashes with 120 deaths. Across the ten years 2015–2024 the county recorded 1,287 fatal crashes and 1,389 deaths.

With 1,535,909 residents, that is 9.2 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 70% higher than the New York rate of 5.4 and below the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll fell 6% from 1,482 in 2005–2014 to 1,389 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is pedestrians: 29.7% against 26.3% for New York.

37% of the county's fatal crashes happened between 6pm to midnight, and Saturday was the most common day (18%).

120deaths in 2024110 fatal crashes
708deaths, 2020–20241,389 over ten years
9.2per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 7.8
+70%vs New York ratestate 5.4 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

0131262197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 201 deaths1976: 190 deaths1977: 206 deaths1978: 221 deaths1979: 230 deaths1980: 262 deaths1981: 246 deaths1982: 204 deaths1983: 223 deaths1984: 198 deaths1985: 181 deaths1986: 226 deaths1987: 210 deaths1988: 198 deaths1989: 205 deaths1990: 208 deaths1991: 207 deaths1992: 185 deaths1993: 196 deaths1994: 154 deaths1995: 176 deaths1996: 159 deaths1997: 161 deaths1998: 179 deaths1999: 169 deaths2000: 161 deaths2001: 183 deaths2002: 168 deaths2003: 166 deaths2004: 170 deaths2005: 163 deaths2006: 151 deaths2007: 167 deaths2008: 162 deaths2009: 148 deaths2010: 138 deaths2011: 145 deaths2012: 140 deaths2013: 145 deaths2014: 123 deaths2015: 168 deaths2016: 139 deaths2017: 122 deaths2018: 137 deaths2019: 115 deaths2020: 113 deaths2021: 153 deaths2022: 164 deaths2023: 158 deaths2024: 120 deaths
People killed in crashes in Suffolk County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 120 deaths.

Ten-year total down 6% (1,482 in 2005–2014, 1,389 in 2015–2024). The shaded band is the ten-year window used for rates and shares. County codes are matched to today's Census county list; a few historic code changes are merged.

Compared with New York and the nation

MeasureSuffolkNew YorkUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–20249.25.411.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 20247.85.511.5
Deaths, 2015–20241,38910,682389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–20241,28710,008358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years-6%-14%+7%
Crashes on rural roads9%30%43%

Rates divide deaths by Census Bureau population estimates for each year (residents, not road users; through traffic on major routes raises the rate of small counties). Population 1,535,909 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking21.8%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver27.2%
Pedestriansshare of people killed29.7%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed12.5%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used41.5%
In darknesscrashes after dark55.1%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads8.9%

tick marks the New York share. Bars are shares of fatal crashes (alcohol, speeding, darkness, rural) or of people killed (pedestrians, motorcyclists, unrestrained occupants) over the ten-year window.

"Alcohol" counts crashes where police reported at least one driver as drinking (FARS DR_DRINK), not the BAC-based alcohol-impaired measure NHTSA publishes separately. "Speeding" counts crashes with a driver coded as racing, exceeding the limit or too fast for conditions. Details in the methodology. Factor pages: alcohol, speeding, pedestrians, motorcycles, unrestrained occupants.

Time of day and day of week

12am3am6am9am12pm3pm6pm9pm
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat

Fatal crashes in Suffolk County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 1,285 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Saturday18%
Sunday16%
Friday15%
Monday14%
Wednesday13%
Thursday12%
Tuesday12%

Light condition

Daylight41%
Dark, lighted41%
Dark, not lighted14%
Dusk2%
Dawn2%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Other principal arterial31%
Minor arterial25%
Local24%
Other freeways and expressways10%
Major collector5%
Interstate4%
Minor collector1%

FHWA functional classes as coded in FARS (FUNC_SYS), share of fatal crashes with a reported class; tick marks the New York share. Interstates and other principal arterials carry the most traffic, so a high share there is expected. See what the road classes mean.

Weather

Clear66%
Cloudy22%
Rain10%
Fog, smog or smoke1%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain1%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Suffolk

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1State Route 27State highway9416717616%22%
2State Route 25State highway8711813121%25%
3Interstate 495Interstate5210211425%42%
4State Route 25AState highway39606413%13%
5State Route 908MState highway368910526%66%
6State Route 110State highway2929297%10%
7State Route 454State highway26262812%23%
8State Route 112State highway25252532%24%
9State Route 27AState highway23252620%12%
10State Route 347State highway2222220%9%

Signed routes (Interstate, US and state highways) that have a page on this site, ranked by fatal crashes in this county over 2015–2024; "fatal crashes" and "deaths" columns are the statewide totals for the route. Local streets and county roads are not listed.

By year, 2015–2024

YearFatal crashesDeathsDrinking-driver crashesPer 100,000
2024110120157.8NY 2024
20231461583310.3NY 2023
20221541643810.7NY 2022
20211421534010.0NY 2021
2020108113197.4NY 2020
2019108115267.5NY 2019
2018126137368.9NY 2018
2017113122177.9NY 2017
2016122139219.1NY 2016
20151581683610.9NY 2015

Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule). Per-100,000 uses the 2024 population for every year in this table; the ten-year rate above uses each year's estimate.

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Suffolk County, New York?

120 people died in 110 fatal crashes in 2024; 708 over 2020–2024 and 1,389 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Suffolk compare with New York?

9.2 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 5.4 for New York and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Suffolk involved alcohol?

21.8% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 20.2% in New York. The factor furthest above the state share was pedestrians at 29.7%.

Which roads in Suffolk see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, State Route 27 (94 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), State Route 25 (87 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and Interstate 495 (52 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Suffolk?

Most often between 6pm to midnight (37% of crashes) and on Saturdays (18%); 55.1% happened after dark.

Where does this data come from?

NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System annual files (1975–2024) and Census Bureau county population estimates. Figures are aggregates; no individual crash is identified. See the methodology page for definitions.

Provenance

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System, annual national CSV files 1975–2024 (accident table for every year; vehicle and person tables for 2015–2024), public domain. Population: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals (vintages 2000–2010, 2010–2020 and 2020–2024). Data through 31 Dec 2024; page generated 30 Sep 2026. Processing errors are corrected at the next build; see corrections and sources.