Dangerous Roads newsletter: Could Long Islanders go a day without a car?

As unpredictable as the transportation beat can be, there’s one thing I can count on every September: Hearing from Mindy Germain about “Car Free Day Long Island.”

Now in its 13th year, the internationally observed Car Free Day aims to get drivers out of their vehicles on Sept. 22. As program manager for Transit Solutions, a federally funded MTA program promoting public transportation use, Germain tries to get as many people, and employers, as possible on Long Island to pledge to go “car free” or “car-lite” for at least one day a year.

Last year, 3,916 people on Long Island took the pledge, a post-COVID record. Germain hopes to get that number north of 5,000 this year, but acknowledged that asking people to commit to using transit on September 22 had been especially challenging this year, given the looming possibility that the LIRR may be on strike. Thankfully that threat has been averted, for now. 

While Car Free Day has historically focused on the environmental advantages of leaving your vehicle in the driveway, Germain noted that there’s another major benefit: reducing your likelihood of being involved in a car crash.

“The fact that you could just let somebody else do the driving for you on the train and not worry about being distracted and be able to focus on what you’re focusing on, is another reason why Car Free Day is important,” Germain said. “That is a big part of the message. ... If you’re not behind the wheel, you’re less likely to have that kind of an accident.”

There's some data to back up Germain’s claim. Since enacting its congestion pricing tolling program in Manhattan in January, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority says, not only has the number of vehicles entering its “congestion zone” below 60th fallen by 12% through August, but crashes are down 14% and traffic injuries 15%.

“When there’s just so many cars on the road, you see more accidents,” Germain said.

You can pledge to go car free at a rally planned at Farmingdale State College Wednesday, or at CarFreeDayLI.com.

As for me, I’m just happy that I don't have to worry about having to bike to an LIRR union picket line next Monday (although I'm not sure if that would be much safer than driving.)

Readers speak up

This reader questions whether New York State Police troopers are doing enough to prevent crashes on Long Island’s roads.

I suspect that they do not have enough resources since it has become a very rare event to see a Trooper actively patrolling vs. parked on the side of the road presumably checking for speeding or doing paperwork. They are not providing an adequate deterrent to the distracted, drunk and dangerous drivers being encountered specifically on the Southern State Parkway, which I use the most.

Michael Ringbauer, Massapequa Park

Do you regularly see state troopers pulling over dangerous drivers? Let us know at roads@newsday.com.

By Alfonso A. Castillo

alfonso.castillo@newsday.com@alfonsoreports

Alfonso Castillo has been reporting for Newsday since 1999 and covering the transportation beat since 2008. He grew up in the Bronx and Queens and now lives in Valley Stream with his wife and two sons.