Mar 31 - After a deadly Brooklyn crash, lawmakers push a bill to force speed limiters on cars of repeat reckless drivers. The devices would cap speed, targeting those with long records of violations. The aim: stop killers behind the wheel.

Bill to mandate speed limiters for repeat reckless drivers was introduced after a fatal Brooklyn crash. The measure, announced March 31, 2025, would require drivers with 11+ license points in two years or six camera tickets in a year to install speed-control devices for one year. The bill is sponsored by State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher. Gounardes said, 'My legislation would require repeat reckless drivers to install speed limiters, so they can no longer use their vehicles as a deadly weapon.' Gallagher added, 'We have the tools and the knowledge to prevent these tragedies from happening.' Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Families for Safe Streets support the bill, calling it a powerful tool to protect everyone from super speeders. The bill awaits committee action.

• After deadly Brooklyn crash, pols push for ‘speed limiters’ on vehicles owned by notoriously reckless drivers to force safe travel, amny.com, Published 2025-03-31

Mar 23 - Luis Cruz stepped from his car. An e-bike delivery worker sped through a stop sign. The crash was sudden. Cruz died on the street. The rider stayed. The intersection has seen this before. The system pushes speed. The danger remains.

Gothamist reported on March 23, 2025, that Luis Cruz, 49, died after an e-bike delivery worker "sped through a stop sign" and struck him as he exited his double-parked car in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Witness Jack Collins said, "He died basically on the spot." The e-bike rider remained at the scene. No arrests were made. The article notes this intersection is known for frequent stop sign violations: "It's not a unicorn incident. It's happened a lot." The piece highlights systemic issues, including delivery app pressures and gaps in e-bike regulation. City data shows e-bikes account for less than 2% of traffic deaths, but the policy debate continues. Lawmakers have called for tighter rules, as delivery workers face incentives to rush.

• E-Bike Rider Runs Stop, Kills Pedestrian, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-23

Mar 21 - A 49-year-old man lay dying on Franklin Street after an unlicensed e-bike rider struck him head-on. Headlights flashed, steel met flesh, and blood pooled on the Brooklyn pavement. The night swallowed the noise. He did not rise.

A 49-year-old pedestrian was killed on Franklin Street at India Street in Brooklyn when an unlicensed e-bike rider traveling south struck him head-on, according to the police report. The report states the e-bike driver was 'unlicensed' and identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The impact occurred at the center front end of the e-bike, causing severe head injuries and fatal bleeding to the pedestrian. The police report describes the victim as 'crossing, no signal, or crosswalk' and 'not at intersection,' but the primary focus remains on the unlicensed status of the e-bike operator and the disregard for traffic control. The narrative details a quiet night interrupted by the crash, with the victim left motionless on the pavement. No other contributing factors from the pedestrian are cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800420 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Mar 6 - Community Board 1 voted 18-15 to cut speed limits in Greenpoint and Williamsburg to 20 mph. Residents and officials demand action after deadly crashes. DOT has yet to respond. The fight pits safety against drivers. Lives hang in the balance.

On March 6, 2025, Brooklyn Community Board 1 voted 18-15 to request a 20 mph speed limit for Greenpoint and Williamsburg. The measure, supported by 40 groups and nearly all local elected officials, marks the first neighborhood-wide slow zone request since the passage of Sammy's Law. The board's action follows letters from Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez, and U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. They cited CB1's high fatality rate—3.27 deaths per 10,000 residents, above the city average. The board's vote was contentious, with pro-driving members opposing the change. DOT spokesperson Mona Bruno acknowledged the support and promised more information on slow zones for outer boroughs. Council Member Lincoln Restler later joined the call for lower speeds. The measure now awaits DOT action.

• Greenpoint and Williamsburg Beg DOT for 20MPH Slow Zone, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-06

Mar 3 - A dump truck turned right on Withers Street. It struck a man crouched in the road. The driver fled. The man died at Elmhurst Hospital. Police are still investigating. Brooklyn’s streets claim more lives. The toll grows.

Gothamist reported on March 3, 2025, that a dump truck driver fatally struck a man in his 20s on Withers Street near Woodpoint Road in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The man was 'crouched in the street to pick up food' when the northbound truck turned right and hit him, according to NYPD officials. The driver, a 49-year-old man, left the scene. No arrests have been made. The NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. The article notes this crash followed two other recent fatal collisions in Brooklyn. The incident underscores persistent dangers for pedestrians and ongoing issues with drivers leaving crash scenes. NYPD data shows at least 10 traffic deaths in Brooklyn so far this year, matching last year’s pace.

• Dump Truck Kills Pedestrian In Williamsburg, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-03

Feb 11 - A man flew from his TEYIN on Manhattan Avenue. Metal buckled. Blood spilled. His knee shattered. He swerved for a car that never struck him. The street stayed hard and indifferent. He remained conscious, pain flooding the winter dusk.

According to the police report, a 55-year-old man driving a TEYIN southbound near 783 Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn was ejected from his vehicle after swerving in reaction to an uninvolved vehicle. The narrative states, 'He swerved for a ghost — a car that never touched him.' The crash left the left front of the vehicle crumpled and resulted in the driver suffering a shattered knee and severe bleeding. The report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as the primary contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The man was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. No other vehicles made contact, and no other injuries were reported. The incident underscores the danger posed by sudden evasive maneuvers and the unpredictable hazards drivers introduce to city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796851 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Feb 2 - A taxi loses grip on the slick Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Metal buckles. Two rear passengers bleed, faces cut and bruised. The cab’s front end is crushed. Rain turns routine travel into chaos.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling west on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway skidded on slippery pavement. The report states, 'A taxi skids on wet blacktop. Metal folds. A man, 56, sits in the back. Blood spills from his head. He is awake. The cab's front end is crushed.' Two rear passengers were injured: a 54-year-old woman suffered a facial contusion, and a 56-year-old man sustained severe head lacerations. Both remained conscious. The only contributing factor listed is 'Pavement Slippery.' No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield are cited. The crash highlights the danger wet roads pose to passengers, with the impact crushing the cab’s front end and leaving blood on the seats.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790513 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Feb 1 - A box truck rolled down Lorimer Street. The driver, alone, lost consciousness at the wheel. The truck did not swerve. The right front bumper struck. The driver died in the cab. The street stayed quiet, darkness holding the scene.

According to the police report, a box truck was traveling south on Lorimer Street near 517 Lorimer St in Brooklyn at 3:08 a.m. when the 51-year-old male driver lost consciousness. The report states, 'The driver, 51, lost consciousness. The right front bumper struck. He died alone in the cab.' The vehicle continued straight ahead, with no swerving reported. The official contributing factor listed is 'Lost Consciousness.' The point of impact and vehicle damage were both at the right front bumper. No other persons or vehicles were involved, and no victim behaviors are cited as contributing factors. The fatal outcome underscores the systemic dangers present when a driver loses control of a large vehicle on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789851 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jan 28 - Night on Kent Avenue. A moped barrels into a stopped sedan. The rider, helmeted, is hurled and bleeds hard onto the cold blacktop. The sedan sits untouched. The man does not. Steel and flesh meet. Only one is spared.

A 34-year-old moped rider was severely injured after crashing into a stopped sedan near 157 Kent Avenue in Brooklyn at 8:00 p.m., according to the police report. The report states the moped 'slams a stopped sedan,' with the rider 'thrown, helmeted, bleeding hard from the arm.' The police cite 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor in the crash. The moped's front end struck the right side doors of the sedan, which was stopped in traffic and sustained no damage. The moped rider was partially ejected and suffered severe bleeding to the lower arm. According to the police, the sedan remained stationary and was not physically impacted, while the moped absorbed the full force. The report notes the rider was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790274 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jan 16 - Assembly bill A 2299 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets in a year triggers forced speed control tech. Lawmakers move to curb repeat speeders. Streets demand fewer deadly risks.

Assembly bill A 2299, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Assembly. Introduced January 16, 2025, the bill 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during a 24 month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Primary sponsor Emily Gallagher leads a bloc of co-sponsors, including Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, and others. The measure aims to clamp down on repeat speeders with mandatory speed-limiting tech. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 2299, Open States, Published 2025-01-16

Jan 8 - A young man on a motorcycle slammed into the back of a Jeep on Freeman Street. His leg shattered, helmet still on, pain raw and immediate. The street bore witness as distraction and close following left him broken, breathing, and awake.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old unlicensed motorcycle rider struck the rear of a Jeep SUV on Freeman Street in Brooklyn. The report states the rider was 'partially ejected' and suffered 'crush injuries' to his leg, remaining conscious at the scene. The police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors in the crash. The motorcycle's point of impact was the left front bumper, colliding with the Jeep's center back end. The rider was wearing a helmet, as documented in the report. No contributing factors are attributed to the Jeep driver. The collision underscores the dangers when driver attention lapses and following distances vanish, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to devastating harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784559 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03