Queens Streets Run Red—Your Silence Is Their License

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

Two sedans collided on Austin Street in Queens. The driver of a moving sedan suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited driver inattention and failure to yield right-of-way as causes. The injured driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 20:38 on Austin Street in Queens involving two sedans traveling west. The driver of the moving Buick sedan, a 36-year-old female occupant, sustained neck injuries and whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. She was restrained by a lap belt. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors to the collision. The Buick sedan impacted the left front quarter panel of a parked Mazda sedan with its right front bumper. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The collision highlights driver errors, specifically inattention and failure to yield, as central causes of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727111 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A moped driver was ejected and injured in a collision with a parked sedan in Queens. The sedan’s left front quarter panel struck the moped’s right front bumper. Driver distraction by the sedan operator was a key factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 67 Avenue near Queens Boulevard in Queens at 7:20 PM. A sedan, parked and facing north, was struck on its left front quarter panel by a northbound moped. The moped driver, a 22-year-old male, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained injuries to his hip and upper leg, classified as injury severity level 3. The sedan driver, also male and licensed, was identified as inattentive or distracted at the time of the collision. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The moped driver was not wearing safety equipment and was the sole occupant of his vehicle. The impact and ejection highlight the dangers posed by driver distraction in urban traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727113 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

SUV turned left, struck a 21-year-old man in a marked Queens crosswalk. Impact hit his leg and foot. Driver failed to yield. Pedestrian injured but conscious. System failed to protect him.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old male pedestrian was crossing a marked crosswalk near 91-30 Metropolitan Avenue in Queens when a southbound 2021 Mercedes SUV made a left turn and struck him. The point of impact was the SUV’s left rear quarter panel. The pedestrian suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, described as internal, but remained conscious. The report lists the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the contributing factor. No vehicle damage was reported. The pedestrian’s crossing behavior was noted but not cited as a cause. This crash shows the danger when drivers fail to yield to people in crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725208 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Senate bill S 9490 raises penalties for endangering highway workers. It pushes work zone safety and funds more enforcement. Lawmakers move to shield workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 9490 was introduced on May 16, 2024, and is at the sponsorship stage. The bill aims to 'increase penalties for endangerment of a highway worker; promote work zone safety awareness; establish a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement.' Senator Jeremy Cooney leads as primary sponsor, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, and James Skoufis as co-sponsors. The bill targets drivers who threaten highway workers, seeking to make work zones less deadly. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9490, Open States, Published 2024-05-16

Queens lawmakers demand more express buses before the $15 congestion toll hits. They say MTA left Queens behind. Riders in transit deserts face long, costly trips. Lawmakers call the exclusion unacceptable. They want fair service before new fees begin.

On May 16, 2024, ten Queens lawmakers, including Julia Salazar (District 18), urged the MTA to expand express bus service to Queens before the $15 Manhattan congestion toll starts. The group wrote to MTA chairman Janno Lieber, stating, "Express buses play a vital role in Queens’ public transit network and only stand to become even more pivotal in the near and distant future." They criticized the MTA for boosting express bus service in Brooklyn and Staten Island but not Queens, calling the exclusion "unacceptable." The lawmakers stressed that many southeast and northeast Queens residents lack subway access and rely on express buses to reach Midtown. They argued the 10 percent LIRR discount is no substitute for robust bus service. Salazar and her colleagues support congestion pricing but insist its success depends on expanded, equitable transit for all vulnerable riders.

• Queens lawmakers demand more MTA bus service to Manhattan before $15 congestion toll begins, nypost.com, Published 2024-05-16

Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

A 36-year-old woman suffered head injuries and bruises after a GMC pick-up truck struck her at a Queens intersection. The driver was making a left turn and distracted. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the crash occurred.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Yellowstone Boulevard and 68 Avenue in Queens at 8:47 AM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2020 GMC pick-up truck, traveling west and making a left turn, struck her with its left front bumper. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian sustained head injuries and contusions but remained conscious. The vehicle showed no damage, indicating a low-speed impact. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally, but his distraction led to the collision. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725215 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A 63-year-old woman suffered severe whole-body injuries and lost consciousness after a BMW sedan hit her at an intersection. The driver, holding only a permit, struck her with the vehicle’s right front bumper while traveling northbound late at night.

According to the police report, a 63-year-old female pedestrian was crossing 63 Drive at Queens Boulevard against the signal when she was struck by a northbound BMW sedan. The vehicle’s right front bumper made impact, causing severe injuries to the pedestrian’s entire body and rendering her unconscious. The driver, a male with a New York permit, was the sole occupant of the 2021 BMW. The report notes the pedestrian’s action of crossing against the signal but does not list any contributing driver errors explicitly. The collision occurred at 22:11. The pedestrian’s injury severity was rated level 3, indicating serious harm. The driver’s permit status and the pedestrian’s crossing behavior are documented, but no other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724440 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A 33-year-old woman died beneath the steel of an eastbound SUV on Grand Central Parkway. Her skull was crushed. She was walking outside the crosswalk, alone, in the darkness, when the vehicle hit her head-on. She died there.

A 33-year-old woman was killed on Grand Central Parkway near exit 24 when she was struck head-on by an eastbound SUV, according to the police report. The report states the pedestrian was 'walking outside the crosswalk' and was hit by the 'center front end' of a 2018 Toyota SUV. Her injuries were fatal, with the report noting her skull was crushed and she died at the scene. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are cited in the available data. The narrative describes the woman as being alone and in the dark at the time of the crash. The focus remains on the impact and the deadly consequences of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723692 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Two sedans slammed together on Grand Central Parkway. Right side doors crushed. One driver hurt, neck pain and whiplash. Police blame unsafe speed and reaction to another vehicle. System failed to protect.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Grand Central Parkway at 18:35. Both vehicles struck each other on the right side doors. A 30-year-old male driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. He was conscious, restrained by a lap belt, and airbags deployed. The report cites unsafe speed and reaction to an uninvolved vehicle as contributing factors. No errors were assigned to the injured driver. The crash exposes driver mistakes and systemic risks on this busy Queens roadway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722847 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A sedan making a left turn collided with a northbound e-bike on 108 Street in Queens. The 19-year-old e-bike rider suffered elbow and arm injuries and was left in shock. Police cited driver failure to yield right-of-way as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:05 on 108 Street in Queens. A 2013 Toyota sedan was making a left turn southwest when it struck a 2023 Zhilo e-bike traveling north. The e-bike rider, a 19-year-old male, sustained injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, resulting in minor bleeding and shock. The report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor attributed to the sedan driver. The e-bike rider was wearing a helmet, but no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. Vehicle damage was centered on the sedan's front end and the e-bike's left front bumper. The collision highlights the dangers posed by drivers failing to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721857 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A 70-year-old man alone in his Chevy lost control on Queens Boulevard. The sedan crashed forward, metal folding, his arm crushed. He stayed conscious, trapped in the wreckage, waiting for help in the night’s hush.

According to the police report, a 70-year-old man driving a 2011 Chevy sedan eastbound on Queens Boulevard near 64th Avenue fell ill behind the wheel. The report states the sedan 'slammed forward,' resulting in significant front-end damage and leaving the driver with crush injuries to his upper arm and shoulder. The driver remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle, but was pinned in the wreckage. The police report lists 'Illness' as the contributing factor in this crash. No other vehicles or road users were involved or injured. The incident underscores the dangers that can arise when a driver loses capacity while operating a vehicle, with the force of the crash causing serious harm to the lone occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720760 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A box truck struck the rear of an SUV on the Long Island Expressway. Two female passengers suffered chest and neck injuries, including whiplash. Unsafe lane changing and driver distraction contributed to the crash, causing serious trauma inside the SUV.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling east on the Long Island Expressway collided with the center back end of a 2009 Nissan SUV also traveling east. The crash occurred at 13:50. The SUV carried three occupants, including two female passengers aged 31 and 32, both conscious but injured with chest and neck trauma and complaints of whiplash. The report cites driver errors including "Unsafe Lane Changing" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as contributing factors. The box truck driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. Both injured passengers were restrained with lap belts and were not ejected. The collision's impact was centered on the rear of the SUV, indicating the truck struck it from behind. These details highlight the dangers of distracted driving and unsafe lane maneuvers on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719908 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06