New York ranks among safest states for car travel

New York had the second fewest car crash deaths per 100,000 people in 2018 — 4.8 — according to the most recently available data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

There were 943 deaths and 889 fatal crashes among New York’s population of over 19.5 million people.

The District of Columbia had the fewest deaths per 100,000, with just 4.4. Massachusetts (5.2), Rhode Island (5.6) and New Jersey (6.3) rounded out the top five.

The District of Columbia had just 31 deaths and 30 fatal crashes; Rhode Island had 59 deaths and 56 fatal crashes.

Mississippi was the deadliest state, recording 664 deaths and 597 fatal crashes with a population of nearly three million, 22.2 deaths per capita.

South Carolina followed with 20.4, while Alabama recorded 19.5 and Wyoming recorded 19.2.

Texas had the most deaths and fatal crashes, with 3,305 fatal crashes and 3,642 deaths — 12.7 deaths per 100,000 people. California had 3,259 fatal crashes and 3,563 deaths, or 9 per 100,000 people.

Preliminary 2019 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that traffic fatalities declined overall from 2018, the third consecutive year of decline. The NHSTA found that 739 fewer people died in 2019, a decrease of two percent.

Deaths among SUV occupants rose by 155, or 3.4 percent, and fatalities in light trucks and large trucks also rose slightly.

Traffic fatalities in New York declined by 3.4 percent overall. Of the state’s deaths, 268 were pedestrians (no change from 2018) and 136 were motorcyclists (16 fewer than in 2018).

CDPHP Cycle!: CDPHP Cycle will end its fourth season on Dec. 11, the Capital District Transportation Authority announced.

Even though the start of the program was delayed due to the COVID -19 pandemic, it is on pace to end with more than 38,000 trips taken and 18,500 members in the Capital Region. Nearly 100,000 rides have been taken since the start of CDPHP Cycle in 2017.

After cleaning and maintenance, the bikes will be stored for the winter at the Albany

Public Library.

Biking in Albany: The Albany Planning Department is holding a virtual workshop to discuss the city ’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The purpose of the project is to create a new master plan

through a public input process, considering the needs of those who traditionally experience transportation disadvantages, accounting for transportation-related needs and identifying and recommending infrastructure and policies.

The intended outcome is clear direction on where street repaving or reconstruction projects are a priority and what

design treatments should be used.

View the plan at vizcomm.wixsite.com/albanybikepedplan. Sign up for the meeting at bit.ly/2j1pnuu.

Feedback can also be sent via email to Zach Powell, a senior planner, at zpowell@albany.gov.

Have a question about transportation in the Capital Region? Email gettingthere@timesunion.com and include your name, town and phone number or tweet @abigail_rubel.