The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) released a draft analysis of Newton traffic crashes as part of its Vision Zero plan to achieve zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2050. The report noted that 113 people were seriously injured and 2 were killed in Newton between 2018 and 2022. Crashes on the Mass Pike were not included. MPO stated that the analysis “is draft and has not gone through the internal editorial review process.”
The most common factors in serious crashes in Newton were:
- At an intersection (54%)
- Driver age 75 or over (26%)
- Pedestrian (18%)
- Bicyclist (15%)
- Lane departure (14%)
The top City-controlled roads for serious accidents were:
- Centre Street from Beacon Street to Cotton Street
- Adams Street and Lewis Terrace from Newtonville Avenue to California Street
- Beacon Street from Centre Street to Hammond Pond Parkway
Unsurprisingly, Boylston Street was the top state-controlled road for serious accidents.
Of the bicyclist crashes:
- 47% involved a left-turning vehicle
- 33% were at a four-way traffic light
- 13% involved a vehicle driver failing to yield right-of-way
Of the pedestrian crashes:
- 94% were on a two-way undivided road
- 29% of the pedestrians were walking or running in the road
- 24% happened in “dark conditions”
Compared with the City of Boston, Newton had almost three times as many serious crashes per capita. Out of the 18 communities in the Boston region, Sherborn and Wrentham had the highest rates of serious crashes. Both had no bicycle crashes.
In related news, the State recently released data on traffic citations issued by Newton police officers from 2013 to the present. Michael Halle analyzed Newton’s citation data for 2023-2024 and found that over 95% of stops for speeding resulted in a warning, including a warning for 84% of drivers traveling 20 miles or more over the speed limit. Warnings were issued for 95.5% of distracted drivers stopped in Newton. Demographic data showed the race of drivers cited matches Newton’s demographics: 69% White, 10% Asian, and 7% African American or Hispanic.
