Surge in fatal motorcycle crashes puts spotlight on issue among riders

Long Island Morning Edition

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A recent surge in deadly motorcycle crashes on Long Island after a statewide increase last year in such fatalities is putting a spotlight on the issue, including among motorcycle riders who are concerned about their safety. Lorena Mongelli reports in NEWSDAY that motorcycle crashes in May and June claimed at least 12 lives across Long Island, surpassing last year's death toll of at least six people during the same months, according to a Newsday analysis.

Chris Beckhans, president of the nonprofit Long Island ABATE, which stands for American Bikers for Awareness, Training and Education, said the statistics speak volumes about the increasing dangers riders face in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Distracted driving, he said, is becoming more problematic, both on the part of car and motorcycle operators. Another big threat occurs at intersections, where cars making left turns fail to adequately judge the speed or distance of motorcycles or just don't see them at all, according to Beckhans.

Details of the crashes authorities released showed that of the 12 motorcyclists who recently died in local crashes, six were 30 and under. Two were in their 30s and four were in their 40s.

Police said factors linked to the crashes included loss of control, speeding and cars turning left.

Preliminary statistics show 193 people died in motorcycles crashes in New York in 2023, a nearly 12% jump from 2022, and a 45% increase compared to four years earlier.

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Southampton Town is working this summer to roll out down payment and accessory dwelling unit assistance programs funded through its new Community Housing Fund, a new dedicated supply of money generated through a ½ percent real estate transfer tax, which had collected more than $12 million by April of this year. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that East Hampton Town rolled out similar programs this spring, and the conversation there this summer turns to whether to allow increased density in exchange for the construction of senior affordable housing and employer-owned housing.

The Town of Southampton is also considering the purchase of several properties in Tuckahoe to be used to build affordable homes, and purchasing a covenant on an affordable apartment building in Sag Harbor to ensure the units remain affordable in perpetuity.

Public hearings on the Tuckahoe and Sag Harbor proposals will be held at the Southampton Town Board’s Tuesday, August 13 meeting at 1 p.m.

Southampton has allotted $1.25 million each to the down payment assistance and accessory dwelling unit (ADU) programs, and has contracted with the Community Development Corporation of Long Island, which already administers its state-funded Plus One ADU accessory dwelling unit grant program, to administer both programs.