Two Dead, Still No Fix: City Lets Third Avenue Kill

Speed cameras slash reckless driving. At school zones, speeding drops 94 percent. But the program expires soon. DOT Commissioner Rodriguez urges Albany to act. State Sen. Gounardes backs expansion. Cameras save lives. Delay risks more deaths. Lawmakers hold the key.

Bill to reauthorize New York City's speed camera program is pending in Albany. The program, covering 750 school zones, needs state approval before June. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez calls speed cameras 'one of the most effective tools' to stop deadly driving. State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, who sponsored the last reauthorization, says, 'my bill to expand the speed camera program has saved lives.' The city wants stronger penalties for repeat offenders and action on license plate fraud, which lets millions of violations go unpunished. The report shows cameras cut speeding by 94 percent and reduce injuries and deaths. The program faces political hurdles, but the evidence is clear: speed cameras protect people on foot and bike. Lawmakers must decide whether to keep this life-saving tool.

• DOT to Albany: Don’t Forget to Reauthorize Our Life-Saving Speed Cameras, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-24

Senator Gounardes pushes S 2504. The bill hikes fines for repeat speed camera violations. It targets reckless drivers. The aim: slow cars, save lives. No direct safety impact noted yet.

Senate bill S 2504 was introduced on January 21, 2025, and is at the sponsorship stage. The bill, sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, proposes 'increasing fines for subsequent speed camera violations in the city of New York.' No committee referral or vote has occurred yet. Gounardes leads the push to penalize repeat offenders. There is no formal safety analyst note on the impact for vulnerable road users at this stage.

• File S 2504, Open States, Published 2025-01-21

A female sedan driver suffered head injuries and whiplash after a rear-end collision on the Gowanus Expressway. The crash involved two vehicles traveling southbound. The driver was conscious and protected by an airbag, but the impact left her injured.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:38 on the Gowanus Expressway involving two southbound vehicles. A 30-year-old female sedan driver, with a permit license, was injured with head trauma and whiplash. The airbag deployed during the collision, and she was not ejected from the vehicle. The point of impact was the left rear bumper of the sedan, indicating a rear-end collision. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not specify driver errors or victim behaviors. The female driver was conscious after the crash, but sustained serious injuries. The collision caused damage to the center back end of the sedan and the center front end of the other vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787380 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

A distracted driver struck a 43-year-old man crossing with the signal on 55th Street in Brooklyn. The pedestrian suffered facial abrasions but remained conscious. The crash exposed driver inattention as a critical threat at intersections.

According to the police report, at 10:30 PM on 55th Street in Brooklyn, a vehicle traveling south struck a pedestrian at the intersection. The pedestrian, a 43-year-old male, was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The point of impact was the vehicle's left front bumper, causing abrasions to the pedestrian's face. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a primary contributing factor. The pedestrian's role was noted as 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian at Intersection,' and he was conscious after the crash. While the report also lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a secondary factor, the critical driver error was distraction. The vehicle was going straight ahead, and the damage was limited to the left front bumper. This incident underscores the persistent danger posed by distracted driving in urban intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785719 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 70-year-old woman crossed 7th Avenue with the signal. A northbound Toyota turned left, its bumper striking her head. She fell, motionless, and died in the cold midday sun. The driver failed to yield. The street swallowed another life.

According to the police report, a 70-year-old woman was crossing 7th Avenue at 44th Street in Brooklyn with the pedestrian signal when a northbound Toyota sedan made a left turn. The vehicle's left front bumper struck her head, causing her to fall and suffer fatal injuries. The report states the driver failed to yield the right-of-way, listing 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. The pedestrian was described as 'unconscious' at the scene and died there. The police report explicitly notes the pedestrian was 'crossing with signal,' making clear she had the legal right to be in the crosswalk. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver inattention and failure to yield during turning movements at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785620 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate bill S 1675 would force carmakers to face the facts. Every vehicle gets a pedestrian safety score. The public sees it. No more hiding danger behind steel and glass.

Senate bill S 1675, now at the sponsorship stage, sits with the New York State Senate. Filed January 13, 2025, it aims to 'create a pedestrian safety rating system for motor vehicles which shall be posted on the department of motor vehicles' website.' Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Leroy Comrie, Michael Gianaris, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, Zellnor Myrie, Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar, Luis R. Sepúlveda, and Toby Ann Stavisky. The bill demands transparency. It would show the public which cars endanger walkers and which spare them. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but the intent is clear: expose the risk, protect the vulnerable.

• File S 1675, Open States, Published 2025-01-13

Two sedans slammed together on 60 Street. A 19-year-old woman took a blow to the head. She suffered a concussion. Both cars crumpled at the front. The crash came with a right turn and confusion.

Two sedans collided on Brooklyn’s 60 Street at 8:25 a.m. A 19-year-old female driver was injured, suffering a head wound and concussion. According to the police report, one sedan was making a right turn while the other was involved in an unspecified pre-crash action. The impact struck the left front bumpers, mangling both vehicles. The injured driver was not ejected but was in shock. The police report lists contributing factors as unspecified. No pedestrians were involved. The crash underscores the danger of unclear maneuvers and failed coordination between drivers at the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785716 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 34-year-old male sedan driver suffered a head contusion after colliding with a northbound tow truck in Brooklyn. The sedan struck the tow truck’s left front bumper while traveling east. The driver remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:50 AM in Brooklyn near 141 47th Street. A 34-year-old male sedan driver traveling east collided with a northbound tow truck. The point of impact was the center front end of the sedan and the left front bumper of the tow truck. The sedan sustained damage to its left front bumper, while the tow truck showed no damage. The sedan driver was injured, suffering a head contusion and was conscious throughout the incident. Safety equipment including an air bag and lap belt were deployed and used. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not indicate any pedestrian involvement or victim fault. The collision highlights risks posed by vehicle interactions at intersections and the potential for serious injury even when drivers are licensed and traveling straight ahead.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785266 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans crashed on the Gowanus Expressway. Defective brakes and alcohol fueled the impact. One driver suffered neck injuries and shock. Systemic danger left scars on steel and flesh.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at 5:35 AM on the Gowanus Expressway in Brooklyn. A 35-year-old male driver was injured, suffering neck trauma and shock. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Brakes Defective' as contributing factors. The crash struck the left front bumper of one sedan and the right rear bumper of the other, showing a rear-end impact. Both drivers were licensed and headed north. Defective brakes and alcohol use stand out as critical driver errors and mechanical failures that led to this injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786157 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly bill A 803 aims to keep cars out of bike lanes. Cameras would catch violators. Streets could clear. Cyclists might breathe easier. Lawmakers back the crackdown. The fight for safe passage continues.

Assembly bill A 803, now in sponsorship, proposes a bicycle lane safety program for New York City. It would enforce restrictions on bike lane use with photo devices. The bill summary reads: 'Establishes in the city of New York a bicycle lane safety program to enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and/or protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' Primary sponsor Zohran Mamdani leads, joined by Brian Cunningham, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Harvey Epstein, Amy Paulin, and others. The bill was introduced January 8, 2025. No safety analyst note was provided. The measure targets drivers who block or endanger cyclists.

• File A 803, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

A tractor truck struck a sedan’s left rear quarter panel as it made a left turn on Hamilton Ave. The sedan driver, a 63-year-old man, suffered back injuries and whiplash. The truck driver was traveling straight westbound at the time.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 20:25 on Hamilton Ave involving a tractor truck and a sedan. The sedan driver, a 63-year-old man, was making a left turn when the tractor truck, traveling straight ahead westbound, collided with the sedan’s left rear quarter panel. The truck’s point of impact was its right front quarter panel. The sedan driver was injured, suffering back injuries and whiplash, and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report cites "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as a contributing factor, indicating driver error related to lane use or passing maneuvers. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles legally. There is no mention of victim fault or contributing victim behaviors in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784799 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two SUVs crashed at 48th Street in Brooklyn. The front passenger in one vehicle suffered a knee and lower leg injury. Both drivers were licensed women. Impact occurred at the center front end and right front bumper of the vehicles. Passenger in shock.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided at 48th Street and 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn at 1:43 PM. One SUV was traveling north going straight ahead when it impacted the other SUV on its right front bumper. The collision caused center front end damage to the first vehicle and right front bumper damage to the second. A 51-year-old female front passenger in the first vehicle sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, described as contusions and bruises, and was reported to be in shock. Both drivers were licensed females from New York. The report does not specify contributing factors or driver errors, listing them as unspecified. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The focus remains on the collision between the two vehicles and the resulting passenger injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783594 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A white Audi struck Michael Foster on Caton Avenue. The car dragged him for blocks. The driver never stopped. Foster died in the street. The Audi vanished into the night. No arrests. The city’s danger stays.

NY Daily News reported on January 1, 2025, that Michael Foster, 64, was killed after a white Audi hit him on Caton Ave. near Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn. The driver, described as speeding, dragged Foster for half a mile before leaving him near Linden Blvd. and Nostrand Ave. The article quotes a witness: "I saw him at the stop light. He would go out to the cars and beg for change." The driver fled the scene and has not been caught. No arrests have been made. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians in city streets and the ongoing issue of hit-and-run drivers evading responsibility.

• Audi Driver Drags Man Half Mile, NY Daily News, Published 2025-01-01

A sedan struck the left front quarter panel of a tractor truck on the Gowanus Expressway. The sedan driver, a 34-year-old man, suffered contusions and full-body injuries. Both vehicles were traveling southbound at the time of impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on the Gowanus Expressway at 2:10 a.m. A 34-year-old male sedan driver, licensed in New York, was injured with contusions and bodily trauma after colliding with the left side doors of a southbound tractor truck. The truck, a 2014 VNL model registered in New Jersey, was also traveling southbound and struck on its left front quarter panel. Both drivers were going straight ahead prior to the collision. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The sedan driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782182 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan and SUV collided on 4th Avenue in Brooklyn. Both women in the sedan suffered whiplash and head injuries. The crash tore into metal and left both vehicles battered. No pedestrians were involved.

According to the police report, a 2020 Ford sedan traveling south and a 2018 Toyota SUV traveling west collided at 4th Avenue and 47th Street in Brooklyn at 12:15 a.m. The sedan struck the SUV's right front quarter panel, damaging both vehicles. Two women in the sedan were injured: the 31-year-old driver suffered head injuries and whiplash, and the 23-year-old front passenger suffered whiplash and whole-body injuries. Both were conscious and restrained. The report lists unspecified contributing factors. No pedestrians were involved, and no driver errors beyond 'Other*' and 'Going Straight Ahead' were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781288 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan struck the rear of a tractor truck on the Gowanus Expressway shortly after midnight. Both sedan occupants suffered back injuries and concussions. The truck sustained left front bumper damage. Driver errors remain unspecified in the police report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:18 a.m. on the Gowanus Expressway involving a sedan and a tractor truck diesel. The sedan, traveling eastbound, collided with the center back end of the tractor truck, which was also traveling eastbound. The truck sustained damage to its left front bumper. The sedan had two male occupants, both injured with back injuries and concussions, described as conscious and wearing lap belts. The driver of the sedan was licensed in New York. The police report lists contributing factors for both occupants as unspecified, with no explicit driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding noted. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The focus remains on the collision dynamics between the vehicles and the resulting injuries to the sedan occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781854 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Metal groaned on Nostrand Avenue. Two cars trapped, one stacked atop the other. A bus driver, a woman, a girl—hurt but alive. Emergency crews worked fast. The street bore the scars. The cause stayed hidden in the wreckage.

NY Daily News reported on December 18, 2024, that a multi-vehicle crash at Nostrand Ave. and Park Ave. in Brooklyn left three people injured. The article states, 'Three people were injured, including an MTA bus driver and a young girl, in a collision that pinned two cars between a box truck and a city bus.' Footage showed two vehicles sandwiched between the bus and truck, with one car stacked atop another. The injured included a 59-year-old MTA driver, a 33-year-old woman, and a 9-year-old girl. All were hospitalized in stable condition. The cause of the crash was not determined at the time of reporting. The incident highlights the risks at busy intersections and the dangers posed by large vehicles in dense urban traffic.

• Cars Crushed Between Bus And Truck, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-18

A distracted SUV driver collided with a stopped moped on 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. The moped driver, a 22-year-old man, was ejected and suffered a serious back injury. The crash exposed dangers of driver inattention in busy city streets.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 2:30 AM on 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. A 22-year-old male moped driver was stopped in traffic when a northbound SUV, driven by a licensed female driver, struck the moped's right rear quarter panel with its center front end. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for the SUV driver. The moped driver was ejected from his vehicle and sustained a serious back injury, classified as injury severity 3, and was in shock at the scene. The moped driver was wearing a helmet, but no other victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The collision highlights the systemic danger posed by distracted driving in urban environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780206 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Chevy SUV struck a 47-year-old man riding an e-bike on 6th Avenue near 62nd Street. His face hit the pavement. Blood pooled. He stayed conscious, broken and bleeding, as dusk settled over Brooklyn’s streets.

According to the police report, a Chevy SUV collided with a 47-year-old man operating an e-bike on 6th Avenue near 62nd Street in Brooklyn. The report states, 'A Chevy SUV struck a 47-year-old man on an e-bike. His face hit first. Blood pooled on the pavement.' The victim suffered severe facial bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. Both vehicles were reported as 'going straight ahead' before the crash. The SUV's point of impact was the right front bumper, while the e-bike was struck on its left side. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' providing no detail on the exact driver error, but the narrative centers the violence of the impact and the vulnerability of the e-bike rider. Helmet use is noted only to state 'No helmet.' The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when a heavy vehicle meets a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777923 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04