DMVZoneBlogPreliminary state data show New York traffic deaths fell from 766 to 681 in the first ten months of 2025. Upstate led the drop. Long Island went the other way.
In the first ten months of 2025, New York recorded 681 traffic deaths, down from 766 in the same period of 2024, about 11 percent fewer. Upstate deaths fell 14 percent, motorcyclist deaths fell from 157 to 134, but Long Island rose from 103 to 110.
The figures come from the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, using preliminary data from the University at Albany's Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research. They cover January through October, so the full-year numbers will be higher.
| Area | Jan-Oct 2024 | Jan-Oct 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York State | 766 | 681 | −85 |
| Upstate | 490 | 420 | −70 |
| Long Island | 103 | 110 | +7 |
| Motorcyclists, statewide | 157 | 134 | −23 |
The regional numbers do not add up to the statewide total because New York City and other areas are reported separately.
Long Island has led the state in traffic deaths before. A State Comptroller report found Suffolk County had 164 traffic deaths in 2022 and Nassau had 81, together about one in five of the roughly 1,200 people killed statewide that year. Suffolk and Nassau combine fast parkways, long arterial roads with many driveways, and a lot of people walking and biking along roads built for cars. State officials noted more pedestrians and cyclists were killed there in 2025.
Fewer deaths is good news, but the rules that prevent them did not change. Right-of-way, speed and following distance are still where most crashes start.
About how much did New York traffic deaths fall in Jan-Oct 2025 compared with 2024?
Answer: B. Deaths fell from 766 to 681, about 11 percent.
Which region saw traffic deaths rise in 2025?
Answer: B. Long Island rose from 103 to 110.
When a motorcycle is in your lane ahead, how much room should you give it?
Answer: B. A motorcycle is entitled to the full width of a lane. Never squeeze past in the same lane.
No. They are preliminary counts for January through October and can change.
The Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research publishes county crash data, and the state Health Department publishes traffic injury data by county.
That was the latest period the state released when these figures came out, and comparing the same months keeps it fair.
Checked against these pages on November 12, 2026. Laws change, so open the source before you rely on a number.
Rules and fees change. Always confirm the details with the official New York DMV or motor vehicle agency before you act. DMVZone practice questions are written to teach the rules and are not copies of the real test.
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