No More Excuses: Barriers Now, Lives Saved Tomorrow

A 42-year-old female bicyclist suffered severe whole-body injuries after an SUV collided with her on Church Avenue in Brooklyn. The impact demolished the bike’s right side and trapped the rider, who was conscious but fractured and dislocated.

According to the police report, at 18:25 on Church Avenue in Brooklyn, a 2016 Honda SUV traveling east struck a female bicyclist also traveling east. The collision impacted the SUV’s right side doors and demolished the bike. The bicyclist, age 42, was trapped and sustained severe injuries including fractures and dislocations affecting her entire body. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not cite any driver errors explicitly. The bicyclist was conscious at the scene. The SUV had two occupants and the driver was licensed. The crash involved a direct side impact, indicating a failure to avoid collision. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718812 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Council moves to hike fines for illegal ATVs and dirt bikes. First offense: $375–$750. Repeat: $750–$1,500. Law aims at reckless riders who menace city streets and endanger lives.

Bill Int 0856-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety. Introduced April 18, 2024, it seeks to amend city code to raise fines for unlawful ATV and dirt bike use. The bill states: 'The first offense would be punishable by a fine and/or a civil penalty of at least 375 dollars and up to 750 dollars. Any subsequent offense would be punishable by a fine and/or a civil penalty of at least 750 dollars and up to 1500 dollars.' Council Member Carmen N. De La Rosa leads as primary sponsor, joined by Salamanca Jr., Gennaro, Brannan, Louis, Ung, Restler, and Farías. The bill was referred to committee the same day. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0856-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Council bill orders DOT to factor traffic enforcement agents into city safety plans. The move targets deadly streets. Sponsors demand action, not words. Vulnerable New Yorkers wait for safer crossings.

Int 0842-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced April 18, 2024, the bill amends city law to require the Department of Transportation to consider where traffic enforcement agents are placed when drafting the interagency roadway safety plan. The bill summary states: 'require DOT to specifically consider placement of traffic enforcement agents in certain areas.' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Council Members Brannan (primary), Louis, Restler, and the Queens Borough President sponsor the measure. The bill responds to Local Law 12 of 2011, which already mandates a five-year safety plan. Now, the council demands DOT put enforcement on the map, aiming to cut injuries and deaths.

• File Int 0842-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Council pushes for borough-based DOT teams. Staff must answer traffic requests fast. Response tied to need. Three-month deadline. Action targets slow fixes. Vulnerable road users wait less.

Int 0853-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on April 18, 2024. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to creating borough-based traffic request response teams,' requires the Department of Transportation to assign staff to each borough, matching staff numbers to request volume. Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary sponsor), Amanda Farías, and Rafael Salamanca, Jr. back the measure. The teams must respond to traffic requests within three months. The bill aims to cut delays that leave dangerous conditions unaddressed, giving vulnerable road users a better shot at safer streets.

• File Int 0853-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

A 15-year-old boy was struck at an intersection on Avenue L in Brooklyn while crossing with the signal. The sedan involved showed no damage. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries but remained conscious after the impact.

According to the police report, a 15-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Avenue L and East 13 Street in Brooklyn at 11:20 AM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when he was struck by a northbound 2023 Honda sedan. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the vehicle. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, described as contusions and bruises, and remained conscious after the collision. The sedan showed no damage, and the driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian but does not specify driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The focus remains on the collision circumstances without attributing fault to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719223 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A sedan hit a 46-year-old man on Nostrand Avenue. The car struck his lower leg. He was bruised but stayed conscious. The driver went straight. The crash happened outside an intersection.

According to the police report, a 46-year-old male pedestrian was struck by a northbound 2023 Jeep sedan on Nostrand Avenue at 19:50. The collision took place outside an intersection while the pedestrian was performing 'other actions in roadway.' The sedan's right front bumper hit the pedestrian, causing contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. His injury severity was rated 3. The driver, a licensed female from New York, was traveling straight ahead at the time. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors for either party. The vehicle was undamaged. The pedestrian remained conscious after the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716346 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 64-year-old woman suffered a head contusion after an SUV backing up hit her outside an intersection in Brooklyn. The driver caused the crash by reversing, leaving the pedestrian injured but conscious. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a 64-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a 2011 Honda SUV backed up and struck her at 1623 Church Avenue in Brooklyn. The crash occurred at 16:10. The pedestrian was located outside an intersection and sustained a head contusion, classified as injury severity 3, and remained conscious after the impact. The vehicle was traveling west and the point of impact was the center back end of the SUV. The report identifies the driver’s pre-crash action as backing, indicating driver error in vehicle movement. No vehicle damage was recorded. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian but does not attribute fault to her. The driver held a valid New York license and had two occupants in the vehicle at the time.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716079 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 21-year-old bicyclist was injured when an SUV making a left turn struck him on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. The impact caused knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited the SUV driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:50 on Bedford Avenue near Clarkson Avenue in Brooklyn. A 21-year-old male bicyclist, traveling southbound straight ahead, was struck by a northbound 2019 Audi SUV making a left turn. The point of impact was the right front quarter panel of the SUV and the center front end of the bike. The bicyclist sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3, and was conscious at the scene. The police report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the SUV driver as a contributing factor. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet, but no other victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The SUV driver was licensed and operating the vehicle at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716175 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A bus struck the rear of a slowing SUV on Farragut Road in Brooklyn. The SUV’s 16-year-old front passenger suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The crash exposed the dangers of tailgating in heavy vehicle traffic.

According to the police report, at 7:20 a.m. on Farragut Road in Brooklyn, a bus traveling west collided with the center back end of a slowing or stopping SUV also heading west. The bus driver failed to maintain a safe distance, with 'Following Too Closely' cited as the contributing factor. The impact injured a 16-year-old male front passenger in the SUV, who sustained neck injuries and whiplash but was not ejected and was conscious. The passenger was restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report highlights driver error in the bus’s failure to yield adequate stopping space, leading to the rear-end collision. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4714696 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 21-year-old passenger suffered a back contusion after an SUV struck a sedan’s right rear bumper on Newkirk Avenue at 10:17 p.m. Both vehicles were traveling straight. The collision caused significant damage to the sedan’s rear quarter panel.

According to the police report, at 22:17 on Newkirk Avenue, a 2024 Nissan SUV traveling south collided with the right rear bumper of a 2020 Nissan sedan traveling east. The SUV sustained front-end damage, while the sedan’s right rear quarter panel was heavily damaged. The impact injured a 21-year-old male passenger in the sedan, who suffered a back contusion but was not ejected and remained conscious. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of the crash. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The passenger was secured with a lap belt and harness. The collision’s cause remains unspecified in the police data, but the SUV’s front-end impact to the sedan’s rear indicates a rear-end collision scenario.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4714157 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

A taxi struck a sedan from behind on Stratford Road in Brooklyn. Both drivers suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The crash occurred as both vehicles traveled westbound. Police cited the taxi driver's failure to maintain safe distance as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash happened on Stratford Road in Brooklyn at 10:49 AM. The collision involved a taxi and a sedan, both traveling westbound. The point of impact was the center front end of the sedan and the center front end of the taxi. The taxi driver was cited for "Following Too Closely," indicating failure to maintain a safe distance behind the sedan. Both drivers were injured, sustaining neck injuries and whiplash, and were conscious at the scene. Both drivers were wearing lap belts and were not ejected from their vehicles. The report explicitly attributes the crash to the taxi driver's error, with no contributing factors listed for the sedan driver or other parties.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4713095 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A sedan traveling west on Ditmas Avenue struck the center back end of another vehicle. The driver of the struck vehicle, a 62-year-old woman, suffered a concussion and head injury. No contributing driver errors were cited in the police report.

According to the police report, at 20:06 in Brooklyn on Ditmas Avenue, a 2007 Hyundai sedan traveling west went straight ahead and impacted the center back end of another vehicle. The driver of the struck vehicle, a 62-year-old female occupant, was injured with a head injury and concussion. She was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or reckless driving. The sedan's point of impact and vehicle damage were both at the center back end. The injured driver was not using any safety equipment. The report does not indicate any victim behaviors as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4711992 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A sedan turned right on Flatbush Avenue and struck a 68-year-old woman crossing mid-block. She suffered a head bruise. The car showed no damage. No driver errors listed. Danger remains for those on foot.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Flatbush Avenue made a right turn onto East 29 Street and struck a 68-year-old female pedestrian who was crossing outside a crosswalk. The pedestrian suffered a head contusion and was conscious at the scene. The point of impact was the center front end of the sedan, which showed no damage. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian. No driver errors, such as failure to yield or speeding, are noted in the data. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. This crash underscores the persistent risk faced by pedestrians crossing busy streets in Brooklyn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4711889 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A tow truck rolled down Clarendon Road. Its right front bumper tore into a woman’s leg. Blood spilled. Lane markings failed. The truck did not stop. The woman, 59, stood in the street, far from any crosswalk.

According to the police report, a tow truck traveling east on Clarendon Road struck a 59-year-old woman with its right front bumper, causing severe lacerations to her lower leg. The report states the woman was standing in the roadway, not at an intersection or crosswalk, when the collision occurred. The police cite 'Lane Marking Improper/Inadequate' as a contributing factor, highlighting the systemic failure of street design. The report also lists 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as a driver error. The narrative notes the tow truck did not stop after the impact. The woman was conscious but bleeding heavily from deep cuts. The crash underscores the danger posed by inadequate lane markings and aggressive driving, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4711991 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A sedan turning left on Avenue L struck a 49-year-old pedestrian crossing with the signal. The pedestrian suffered a back contusion and remained conscious. The driver’s failure to yield right-of-way caused the collision at a Brooklyn intersection.

According to the police report, a 2013 Hyundai sedan was making a left turn on Avenue L in Brooklyn at 12:13 PM when it struck a 49-year-old female pedestrian crossing the intersection with the signal. The pedestrian sustained a back contusion and was conscious after the impact. The report explicitly cites the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the contributing factor to the crash. The vehicle’s point of impact was the center front end, and despite the collision, the sedan showed no damage. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal is noted but not listed as a contributing factor. The driver was licensed in New York and the sole occupant of the vehicle. This crash underscores the dangers posed by driver errors at intersections, particularly failure to yield to pedestrians.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4711400 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-03-20

Council wants bold signs at every school entrance. Paint on pavement. Metal overhead. The aim: warn drivers, shield kids. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait. Danger does not.

Bill Int 0714-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced March 19, 2024. The bill reads: 'installing safety signs near schools.' Council Member Susan Zhuang leads, joined by Rivera, Gennaro, Won, Hanif, Gutiérrez, Louis, Cabán, Restler, Farías, Banks, Riley, and Feliz. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to paint and hang school safety signs on every street with a school entrance. The goal: alert drivers to children and pedestrians. The bill awaits further action. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0714-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-19

Council bill orders DOT to repair broken curbs during street resurfacing. Hazardous curbs trip, trap, and injure. The fix is overdue. Pedestrians need solid ground. Council moves to force action.

Int 0724-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced March 19, 2024, the bill commands DOT to repair broken curbs that pose safety hazards during any resurfacing project. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... requiring that the department of transportation repair broken curbs as part of resurfacing projects.' Council Members Schulman, Gennaro (primary), Gutiérrez, Louis, Brewer, and Avilés sponsor the measure. The bill targets a simple danger: shattered curbs that trip and injure. If passed, DOT must fix these hazards as routine, not afterthought. The law would take effect 120 days after enactment.

• File Int 0724-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-19