Eleven Dead. One Law Away. Demand Safer Streets Now.

New York City can cut speed limits to 20 mph this summer. Council members and advocates demand urgency. The mayor and DOT hesitate. Traffic deaths mount. The city faces a choice: act fast or let danger linger on its streets.

On May 3, 2024, the City Council debated a new policy allowing New York City to lower speed limits from 25 mph to 20 mph on most streets, following a recent state budget measure. The measure, discussed in committee, requires a Council vote for citywide changes and a six-month warning period for drivers. Kamillah Hanks (District 49) was mentioned in the debate. Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas stressed urgency, citing recent deaths. Brooklyn Councilmember Lincoln Restler pledged to push the measure forward. Advocates like Transportation Alternatives called for a citywide approach, not piecemeal action. The Department of Transportation thanked lawmakers but did not commit to a timeline. The debate highlights the tension between urgent safety needs and political delays. Vulnerable road users remain at risk until the city acts.

• NYC can reduce speed limits this summer, but is Mayor Adams ready?, gothamist.com, Published 2024-05-03

A Nissan sedan tore into a parked box truck on 28th Avenue. The driver, 57, was left semiconscious, bleeding from the head. The truck stood still. Speed did not. Metal crumpled. Blood pooled. The street bore witness.

According to the police report, a Nissan sedan traveling east on 28th Avenue near 44-10 collided with the rear of a parked box truck. The driver, a 57-year-old man, was held by his seatbelt but suffered severe head lacerations and was found semiconscious. The report states the box truck was stationary at the time of impact. 'Unsafe Speed' is listed as the primary contributing factor in the crash. The sedan's center front end struck the truck's back, crumpling metal and leaving the driver injured. No contributing factors related to the victim's behavior are cited in the report. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of excessive speed behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722161 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A young man lies semiconscious on Roosevelt Avenue, blood pooling from his head. His e-bike’s back end is crushed. The street is silent, the damage plain. Alcohol is involved. No helmet. The city holds its breath.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old man was found semiconscious beside his e-bike near 97-06 Roosevelt Avenue in Queens at 4:30 a.m. The report describes blood pooling from his head and notes severe bleeding and head injury. The e-bike’s center back end was crushed. The police report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor, along with 'Unspecified' causes. No helmet was present, but the report does not cite helmet use as a contributing factor. The narrative paints a stark scene: the street is still, the silence heavy. The focus remains on the crash’s violence and the systemic dangers faced by vulnerable road users, especially in the early hours when streets are empty and oversight is thin.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716058 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped veered on Roosevelt Avenue, slamming into a sedan’s front. The 21-year-old rider, helmeted, was ejected, bleeding, and incoherent. Alcohol lingered in the air. Metal screamed. A parked car caught the wreck’s tail. Sirens came slow.

According to the police report, just after midnight on Roosevelt Avenue, a moped rider, age 21, collided with the front quarter panel of a sedan while changing lanes. The report cites 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor. The moped rider was ejected, suffering severe facial bleeding and incoherence, despite wearing a helmet. The crash’s force spun the moped into a parked car, damaging its rear quarter panel. The sedan was traveling straight ahead when struck. The narrative states, 'Alcohol lingered. Steel screamed. A parked car caught the wreck’s tail.' The police report does not cite any contributing factors for the sedan driver or the parked vehicle. The focus remains on the danger created by alcohol involvement and the violent impact that followed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716068 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Pickup truck smashed into a sedan’s side on 28th Avenue. Airbag burst. Harness pressed tight. A 29-year-old woman, belted and still, died in her seat. Alcohol played its part. Metal and blood pooled in Queens before dawn.

A pickup truck struck the side of a westbound sedan on 28th Avenue near 47th Street in Queens, killing a 29-year-old front passenger. According to the police report, the woman was belted and seated upright when the impact tore open the airbag and left her bleeding out in her seat. The crash occurred at 4:09 a.m. The report explicitly lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor. The pickup was traveling straight ahead, while the sedan was also moving westbound. The police narrative states: 'A pickup struck a westbound sedan’s side. The front passenger, 29, belted and still, bled out in her seat. Airbag torn open. Harness tight across her chest. Alcohol was involved.' No evidence in the report suggests any contributing behavior on the part of the victim. The focus remains on the lethal combination of driver action and alcohol involvement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4705035 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 23-year-old man, riding in the back of a Nissan SUV on Northern Boulevard, was thrown from the car. His head shattered. His body twisted. The SUV rolled on, untouched. He never woke up.

A fatal crash occurred on Northern Boulevard near 82nd Street in Queens. According to the police report, a 23-year-old man riding as a rear seat passenger in a 2015 Nissan SUV was ejected from the vehicle. The report states: 'A 23-year-old man, rear seat of a 2015 Nissan SUV, was thrown from the car. Head shattered. Body twisted. The SUV rolled on, untouched. He never woke up.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The vehicle sustained no damage and continued moving after the passenger was ejected. The victim suffered fatal head injuries and was found unconscious. No driver errors are specified in the report, but the ejection and death of a rear seat passenger underscore the lethal risks present for vehicle occupants. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700221 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sixty-year-old woman crossed 37th Avenue. An SUV, speeding, hit her. Steel met flesh. She fell, blood spreading on the cold street. She died before help arrived. The city’s danger revealed in a moment’s impact.

According to the police report, a 60-year-old woman was killed at the corner of 37th Avenue and 90th Street in Queens when an SUV struck her as she crossed the street. The report states the SUV was traveling at an 'Unsafe Speed.' The narrative describes the vehicle coming fast, with the impact causing fatal injuries to the pedestrian, who died before emergency responders arrived. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor for the driver. The report also notes the pedestrian was 'Crossing Against Signal,' but this is mentioned only after the driver’s excessive speed is cited. The collision underscores the lethal consequences when drivers operate at unsafe speeds, especially at intersections where pedestrians are present.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699492 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Advocates stormed Albany for Sammy’s Law. They want New York City to set its own speed limits. Last year, Speaker Heastie blocked a vote. Mothers starved in protest. Lawmakers stalled. Now, survivors and families demand action. Data shows lower speeds save lives.

On January 23, 2024, advocates launched a renewed push for Sammy’s Law in Albany. The bill, which would let New York City control its own speed limits, stalled last year when Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie refused to allow a vote, despite majority support. Brooklyn Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, a strong supporter, noted, 'Even [lawmakers] who had City Council members from their districts supporting the bill were still not interested.' Queens Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, recently injured by a driver, said, 'Had the car been going faster ... I might not be here.' Amy Cohen of Families for Safe Streets highlighted broad support: 'We have organizations from across the city supporting Sammy’s Law.' City data shows a 36% drop in pedestrian deaths after the 2014 speed limit reduction. The bill remains in limbo, but advocates are not backing down.

• This Year’s Mettle: The Push for Sammy’s Law Begins — With or Without Carl Heastie, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-23

A driver hit Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas in a Jackson Heights crosswalk. She broke her arm. The driver failed to yield. The intersection lacked daylighting. González-Rojas vows to fight for lower speed limits and more protected bike lanes. Danger remains for all.

On January 7, 2024, Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas was struck by a driver while crossing 78th Street near 35th Avenue in Jackson Heights. She suffered a broken arm and bruises. The driver received a summons for failure to yield. González-Rojas called the intersection dangerous, citing poor visibility and lack of daylighting. She stated, "If we had universal daylighting—he could have seen me." González-Rojas renewed her push for Sammy’s Law, which would let New York City set speed limits below 25 mph, and called for more protected bike lanes. She said, "I absolutely had the right of way. He just turned right into me—and the next thing you know I was on the floor." The incident highlights the ongoing risk to pedestrians and the urgent need for systemic street safety reforms.

• Queens Pol Recovering From Broken Arm, Bruises After Driver Strikes Her in Crosswalk, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-07

A BMW hit a man on 85th Street. His head was crushed. He died where he fell. No intersection, no crowd, no noise. The street stayed quiet. No one else was hurt. The city moved on. The loss stayed.

A 43-year-old man walking near 25-17 85th Street in Queens was struck and killed by a BMW. According to the police report, 'A BMW struck a 43-year-old man. His head was crushed. He died where he fell, alone, not at an intersection. The street stayed quiet. No one else was hurt.' The crash occurred away from any intersection. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors. No other injuries were reported. The victim, a pedestrian, suffered fatal head injuries. No mention of helmet use or signaling appears in the data. The deadly impact ended one life and left the street unchanged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679552 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans met mid-turn. Steel tore. A baby boy, strapped in, bled from the head. He sat silent, eyes wide. The world roared. Traffic control was ignored. The crash left wounds and shock behind.

Two sedans collided on Northern Boulevard. One sedan went straight. The other turned left. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Turning Improperly' contributed to the crash. A baby boy, an occupant, suffered severe head lacerations and shock. He was strapped in with a lap belt and harness. The report describes the child sitting still, eyes wide, bleeding from the head. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash underscores the danger when drivers ignore traffic controls and turn improperly. The impact left lasting injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678296 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A BMW turned right on Astoria Boulevard before dawn. The street was empty. A man walked outside the crosswalk. The car struck him. His body lay broken in the dark. Two sedans, one parked, one moving. One life ended. The city kept moving.

A 50-year-old man was killed when a BMW sedan, making a right turn on Astoria Boulevard near Steinway Street, struck and crushed him at 4:02 a.m. According to the police report, 'A 50-year-old man crushed beneath a turning BMW at 4:02 a.m. Two sedans, one parked, one moving. No intersection. The street was empty. Then it wasn’t. His body lay broken in the dark.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'other actions in roadway.' The BMW’s right front bumper was the point of impact. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. The second vehicle, a Nissan sedan, was parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash. No mention of helmet or signal use is included.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672149 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped slammed into a parked sedan on Ditmars Boulevard. The rider’s legs tore open. Blood spilled on the quiet street. He stayed conscious. No one else was hurt. The crash left flesh and bone exposed in the midnight dark.

A 46-year-old moped rider crashed into a parked sedan near 38-11 Ditmars Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, the collision happened at midnight. The moped struck the right front quarter panel of the sedan. The rider suffered severe lacerations to his knees and feet but remained conscious. No other people were injured. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The sedan was parked and undamaged. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor. The crash left the rider with serious injuries, underscoring the danger faced by vulnerable road users on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658369 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly bill A 7979 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets triggers a speed limiter. Lawmakers move to curb repeat danger. No more unchecked speeding. Streets demand it.

Assembly bill A 7979, now in sponsorship, sits before the New York State Assembly. Introduced August 18, 2023, it 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during an eighteen month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Assemblymember Emily Gallagher leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, Tony Simone, Jo Anne Simon, and others. The bill aims to force chronic speeders to slow down. No safety analyst note is available, but the intent is clear: rein in repeat offenders, protect those outside the car.

• File A 7979, Open States, Published 2023-08-18

A 21-year-old man crashed into parked sedans on Grand Central Parkway. His back broke. He stayed conscious. The lap belt held him. Amputation followed. The Mazdas and Fords stood still. He moved, then stopped.

A 21-year-old male driver crashed into parked sedans on Grand Central Parkway. According to the police report, the driver suffered a broken back and an amputation but remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience,' 'Following Too Closely,' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The parked Mazdas and Fords did not move; the impact came from the moving sedan. The police report notes the driver wore a lap belt. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left the driver with severe injuries, underscoring the risks posed by inattention and inexperience behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645971 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Albany failed New York’s streets. Lawmakers blocked Sammy’s Law and other safety bills. Cyclists, pedestrians, and bus riders lost. Car culture ruled. Advocates called it a wasted session. Only transit funding and a bus pilot survived. No real progress for the vulnerable.

""I'm pretty devastated. The opposition comes from members who might have more car-centered districts and may be more transportation deserts. They argue that this would create traffic and their constituents hate it, but there's a misunderstanding of the bill, because it gives basically the discretion to the city."" -- Jessica González-Rojas

In the 2023 legislative session, Albany lawmakers failed to pass major street safety bills, including Sammy’s Law (which would let New York City set its own speed limits). The session ended June 13, 2023, with most safety and transit measures stalled in committee or blocked from a vote. The matter summary reads: 'This year's legislative session in Albany was considered one of the worst for livable streets and street safety, largely due to the failure to pass key bills such as Sammy's Law.' Council members and advocates like Eric McClure, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Amy Cohen, and Sara Lind voiced anger and disappointment. McClure said, 'We have to give the state legislature an 'F' for wasting an entire session without advancing legislation to make streets safer or to improve public transit.' The Assembly’s inaction left vulnerable road users exposed. Only increased MTA funding and a free bus pilot moved forward. The rest—protection for cyclists, pedestrians, and bus riders—died in committee.

• The Albany Report Card: A Scoundrel’s ‘F’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-13

A Nissan sedan hit a 24-year-old cyclist from behind on Northern Boulevard. The driver was distracted. The cyclist, unlicensed and unhelmeted, suffered severe bleeding and lost consciousness. The street stayed silent as the crash left the rider broken.

A 24-year-old man riding a bike east on Northern Boulevard was struck from behind by a 2003 Nissan sedan. According to the police report, 'The driver was distracted.' The cyclist suffered severe, entire-body injuries and lost consciousness at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The cyclist was unlicensed and unhelmeted, but these details appear only after the primary driver error. No other injuries were reported. The crash highlights the lethal risk posed by distracted driving, especially to vulnerable road users like cyclists.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4636470 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A pickup struck an e-scooter from behind on Northern Boulevard. The rider flew. His head hit the street. Blood pooled. He did not rise. The truck followed too close. The city kept moving. The street stayed silent.

A pickup truck rear-ended an e-scooter at Northern Boulevard and 84th Street in Queens. The 30-year-old e-scooter rider was ejected and suffered severe head lacerations. According to the police report, the pickup was 'Following Too Closely' and traveling at an 'Unsafe Speed.' The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes listed are the driver’s errors. Both vehicles were moving east when the crash happened. The report describes the rider as conscious but bleeding on the asphalt after the violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4633300 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An SUV hit an 80-year-old woman crossing 31st Street in Queens. She suffered a head wound. Blood pooled on the pavement. The driver was young and distracted. The right side of the SUV crumpled. The woman stayed conscious.

An 80-year-old woman was struck by a northbound SUV on 31st Street near 23rd Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the crash happened under midday sun. The woman was crossing the street when the SUV hit her, causing a head injury and severe bleeding. She remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The right side of the SUV was damaged in the impact. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The report does not mention any contributing factors related to the pedestrian beyond her location and action.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4612056 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Governor Hochul’s budget dodges state duty. City pays more, gets less. Riders face fare hikes, no better service. State hoards surplus, starves transit. Lawmakers protest. Suburbs dodge taxes. The city shoulders the load. Riders pay the price. Streets stay dangerous.

Governor Hochul’s 2023 state budget proposal, analyzed March 3, 2023, keeps New York State’s long-running refusal to match MTA funding under law 18-b. The budget, now under legislative review, forces New York City to cover a $500 million gap, while the state sits on an $8.7 billion surplus. The matter: 'Hochul's budget not only asks city residents to cover the largest chunk of the MTA's budget gap, but does so in part by continuing long-running practices that essentially under-fund the MTA by millions of dollars each year.' Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas and State Sen. Andrew Gounardes both object, demanding the state honor its legal obligations. Riders Alliance and Reinvent Albany condemn the austerity. With fare hikes looming and no service improvements, city transit riders—often pedestrians and cyclists—bear the brunt. The budget leaves vulnerable road users exposed, as transit stagnates and car dominance persists.

• Analysis: Hochul Turns Her Back on Transit Riders With Her MTA Budget, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-03