Dangerous Intersections in Monroe County: What You Need to Know

Driving through Monroe County should feel routine, not risky. But with 14,573 crashes recorded in 2023, the highest of any county in the surrounding eight-county region, residents and road users have reason to be concerned. Every crash tells a story. Sometimes, it’s a split-second decision at a busy crossing. Other times, it’s a design flaw that’s been ignored for years.

Tools like the Reconnect Rochester Crash Map help visualize just how concentrated these collision zones are. By naming and tracking dangerous intersections, we can push for smarter planning, better safety measures, and ultimately fewer tragedies.

In this article, we’ll break down what makes an intersection dangerous, highlight specific hotspots in Rochester and across Monroe County, examine the causes, and explore what’s being done—or should be—to make things safer.

What Defines a “Dangerous Intersection”?

An intersection earns the label “dangerous” when it consistently puts drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians at greater risk. That risk may come from the number of crashes, but it’s not just about how often collisions happen. Severity matters too. Some intersections only see a few accidents per year, but they often involve serious injuries or fatalities.

Key characteristics of dangerous intersections include:

• High frequency of crashes
• Incidents involving serious injuries or deaths
• Design complexity or visibility issues
• Regular pedestrian or cyclist conflicts
• Surrounding traffic volume or land use patterns

Still, there are caveats. Traffic volumes change over time. Crashes may go unreported. Construction projects might alter conditions overnight. That’s why community input is essential. Monroe County now allows residents to report concerning intersections through an online portal, which helps local officials identify danger zones that raw data alone might miss.

Top Intersection Hotspots in Rochester and Monroe County

Some intersections stand out in Rochester as repeat trouble spots, due to design, traffic volume, or visibility issues. Here's a breakdown of some of the most problematic areas, along with what’s been observed at each:

Lexington Avenue & Mount Read Boulevard

Located near Rochester’s western edge, this intersection combines high traffic with confusing geometry. Sharp turns, multiple lanes, and variable signals create a recipe for frequent rear-end collisions and T-bone crashes. Local personal injury law firms and traffic reports have listed it among the area’s worst for years.

Lake Avenue & Driving Park Avenue

Along the busy Lake Avenue corridor, this junction suffers from wide approaches, inconsistent sightlines, and fast-moving traffic. The presence of commercial driveways further complicates vehicle flow. Spectrum Local News identified this location as one of the four most dangerous in the city.

Lake Avenue & Smith Street

This five-point intersection is as chaotic as it sounds. High traffic levels and irregular turning patterns create significant conflict zones. It’s frequently flagged in legal and traffic safety analyses for its elevated crash numbers and difficulty navigating.

Monroe Avenue & Goodman Street

Here, fast-turning vehicles meet a heavy pedestrian presence. Cyclists, too, often cross through this spot on their way to or from downtown. Its dangerous mix of vehicle and non-vehicle traffic has placed it on multiple watchlists.

Monroe Avenue & Alexander Street

Tailgating and sudden stops cause a steady flow of rear-end collisions here. Congestion during rush hours only makes it worse. Reports continue to mention this intersection as a recurring accident site.

Lake Avenue Corridor (General)

Stretching nearly seven miles, this road holds the grim title of having the highest fatal crash rate per mile in New York State. From Charlotte to the city center, the corridor sees a mix of speeding, pedestrian fatalities, and dangerous merging zones. Safety upgrades are now in the works.

South Goodman Street & Park Avenue

This intersection doesn’t look dangerous, until it is. A tragic pedestrian fatality in December 2022, despite a green signal, serves as a sobering reminder that standard design doesn’t always mean safe design. Strong Towns and local advocates have since highlighted this case as a wake-up call.

Additional Dangerous Intersections Beyond Rochester

Outside city limits, Monroe County has several other intersections that consistently raise red flags. Many of these involve rural or suburban layouts where speed limits are higher and visibility can be limited.

• Brockport Spencerport Road & Sweden Walker Road: Turning collisions dominate this stretch, especially during busy hours.
• West Ridge Road & Latona Road: Multiple retail entrances nearby lead to chaotic turning maneuvers and frequent rear-end crashes.
• Driving Park Avenue & St. Paul Street: T-bone accidents and pedestrian conflicts often occur at this busy intersection.
• Mount Read Boulevard & Jay Street: Close to industrial sites, this location sees a lot of heavy vehicle traffic and confusing signal timing.

In each of these cases, surrounding land use (like big-box stores, plazas, or industrial zones) contributes to unpredictable vehicle behavior.

Patterns and Factors Behind the Risk

When you study these intersections, certain patterns begin to emerge. It’s not random. Many design and behavioral elements come together to create high-risk environments.

Fast, Multi-Lane Roads

Long corridors like Lake Avenue or West Ridge Road invite speeding. The road may be built for throughput, but that can sacrifice safety, especially at intersections where drivers make quick turns or pedestrians attempt to cross.

Too Many Driveways

Retail-heavy areas often have multiple entrances and exits feeding into intersections. This introduces conflict points and increases the likelihood of crashes involving turning vehicles.

Poor Signal Timing

Signals that don’t account for pedestrian walk times, or that provide short or unclear left-turn windows, cause hesitation and rushes through yellow or red lights.

Lack of Pedestrian Infrastructure

Narrow sidewalks, no crosswalk markings, and no refuge islands all add danger—especially at night or in bad weather.

Challenging Conditions

Snow, black ice, glare during sunrise or sunset, and low lighting create hidden hazards. These conditions often worsen otherwise minor design flaws.

Driver Behavior

Speeding, phone use, and impaired driving remain major contributors. Even a well-designed intersection can’t compensate for a distracted or reckless driver.

Complex Designs

Multi-leg intersections, five-way splits, or skewed approaches often confuse drivers and reduce reaction time. Lake Avenue & Smith Street is a clear example.

Efforts Underway to Make Intersections Safer

The good news? The community is pushing for change—and city planners are beginning to respond.

Vision Zero and Safe Streets Initiatives

Rochester has joined other cities in adopting a Vision Zero approach, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths through road redesigns. That includes simplifying intersections, adding pedestrian islands, and improving signal visibility.

Lake Avenue Safety Upgrades

Due to its deadly crash rate, Lake Avenue is undergoing major changes. WHEC reports that plans include narrowing lanes, adjusting signal timing, and redesigning crosswalks to slow drivers down and protect non-motorized users.

Resident Reporting Portals

Monroe County’s new digital portal allows residents to flag dangerous intersections. These reports are reviewed by a safety committee, helping to prioritize future projects.

Complete Streets Makeover Projects

Through programs promoted by Reconnect Rochester, local officials and planners are testing street designs that make walking, biking, and driving safer for everyone.

Nonprofit Advocacy

Reconnect Rochester’s crash map and outreach campaigns are helping to put public pressure on decision-makers. Their work provides a visual tool to better understand and communicate the problem.

Practical Safety Tips for Road Users

Knowing where crashes happen is only part of the equation. Everyone plays a role in keeping Monroe County’s roads safer.

For Drivers:

• Slow down when approaching busy intersections
• Watch for turning vehicles and pedestrians
• Don’t use your phone, even at red lights
• Give extra space in poor weather conditions

For Pedestrians and Cyclists:

• Use marked crosswalks whenever possible
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing
• Wait for traffic to stop fully, even if you have the right of way
• Avoid biking against traffic or crossing mid-block

General Safety:

• Avoid known hotspots if alternate routes exist
• Travel during daylight when possible
• Take extra care near school zones or bus stops

Mapping the Risk: A Data-Driven Approach

The Reconnect Rochester Crash Map offers a powerful, public look at collision data. Users can zoom in on intersections and see historical crash patterns over time. It’s a vital tool for transparency and planning.

To improve public understanding, local advocates are calling for:

• Heatmaps showing crash density by area
• Interactive callout boxes highlighting high-fatality zones like Lake Avenue
• “Before and after” diagrams showing redesigns at key intersections
• Visual examples of unexpected danger spots like South Goodman and Park Avenue

These tools can make the abstract feel immediate, and help people see where change is both needed and possible.

Many of Monroe County’s intersections look normal. But behind that ordinary appearance is a deeper story, one told through data, design, and sometimes tragedy.

Whether it’s a confusing signal or a speeding driver on a multi-lane road, the risks at these locations are real. Addressing them takes more than signage. It requires better design, community reporting, enforcement, and most importantly—awareness.

We encourage you to explore the crash map, share your own concerns with city planners, and stay informed. Intersection safety isn’t just about preventing the next accident. It’s about giving everyone, drivers, walkers, cyclists, a safer journey.