Staten Island Bleeds While Lawmakers Look Away

A 25-year-old man on a bike hit a parked sedan on Fingerboard Road. He flew from his bike. Chest and internal injuries. He stayed conscious. The sedan was empty. Metal and flesh met hard on Staten Island.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old male bicyclist traveling north on Fingerboard Road in Staten Island struck the left side doors of a parked 2007 BMW sedan at 10:15. The sedan was unoccupied and stationary. The impact ejected the bicyclist, causing chest injuries and internal complaints. He remained conscious at the scene. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the bicyclist. No driver errors or violations are cited for the sedan, which was parked. The crash underscores the severe harm that can result when a bicyclist collides with a parked vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764496 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 31-year-old man driving a 2017 Hyundai sedan on Staten Island suffered chest injuries in a crash caused by driver inattention. The vehicle struck an unspecified object or vehicle, damaging the sedan’s front end. The driver remained conscious but bruised.

According to the police report, at 5:50 AM on Staten Island near 141 Maine Avenue, a 31-year-old male driver operating a 2017 Hyundai sedan traveling north was involved in a crash. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The sedan’s center front end sustained damage, indicating a frontal collision. The driver was not ejected and remained conscious but suffered a chest contusion and bruising. The report does not specify other vehicles or objects involved but notes the presence of an unspecified vehicle or object. The driver held a valid New York license and was slowing or stopping before impact. No victim behaviors or pedestrian involvement were reported as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764495 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 22-year-old woman was struck in the face by an SUV turning right on Vanderbilt Avenue. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing a contusion and injury at the intersection.

According to the police report, at 17:48 on Vanderbilt Avenue in Staten Island, a 22-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a 2020 Nissan SUV made a right turn and struck her with the right front bumper. The pedestrian was crossing at the intersection with the signal. The report explicitly cites the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered a facial contusion and was conscious at the scene. The driver was licensed and traveling west with two occupants in the vehicle. Vehicle damage was limited to the right front bumper. The collision underscores the danger posed by drivers failing to yield to pedestrians legally crossing intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764146 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A pedestrian crossing with the signal was struck by a sedan making an improper right turn on Staten Island. The 18-year-old male suffered contusions and upper leg injuries. The driver’s failure to execute a proper turn caused the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 5:00 PM on Fingerboard Road near Narrows Road North in Staten Island. An 18-year-old male pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2014 Infiniti sedan, traveling east and making a right turn, struck him with the vehicle’s left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his hip and upper leg, classified as injury severity level 3. The report explicitly cites 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factor twice, indicating driver error in executing the turn. No damage was reported to the vehicle, and the pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The report does not attribute any contributing factors to the pedestrian’s actions beyond crossing with the signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765678 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Two sedans traveling southwest collided on Hylan Boulevard. The impact struck the front of one vehicle and the rear of the other. A 72-year-old rear passenger suffered neck injuries and contusions, enduring shock but was not ejected from the vehicle.

According to the police report, two sedans were traveling southwest on Hylan Boulevard when they collided. The first vehicle, a 2012 Dodge sedan, was impacted at its center front end, while the second vehicle, a 2010 Toyota sedan, sustained damage to its left rear bumper. The crash occurred at 12:20. A 72-year-old male occupant seated in the left rear passenger position of one vehicle was injured, suffering neck contusions and shock. He was restrained by a lap belt and was not ejected. Both drivers were licensed in New York and were going straight ahead prior to the collision. The report does not specify contributing factors or driver errors, but the damage pattern suggests a rear-end collision. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763798 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A sedan traveling south on Jewett Avenue crashed due to outside car distraction. The 41-year-old female driver suffered a back contusion but remained conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The crash caused front-end vehicle damage.

According to the police report, a 41-year-old female driver was operating a 2021 sedan southbound on Jewett Avenue at 9:00 AM when the crash occurred. The report identifies 'Outside Car Distraction' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error. The driver was injured with a back contusion but was conscious and secured by a lap belt and harness. The vehicle sustained damage to the center front end, consistent with a frontal collision. No other vehicles or pedestrians were reported involved. The driver's distraction was the sole cited cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the victim or other road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763796 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Electric cars are not the clean break promised. A new NBER study finds EVs only 10 percent less harmful than gas vehicles. Heavier batteries mean deadlier crashes. Smokestack pollution from charging outweighs tailpipe gains. The toll on life and air remains high.

On October 15, 2024, researchers from Duke, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and the University of Chicago published a working paper through the National Bureau of Economic Research. The report, titled 'The Effects of 'Buy American': Electric Vehicles and the Inflation Reduction Act,' analyzes the full societal costs of electric vehicles (EVs) versus gasoline vehicles (GVs). The study finds, 'U.S. electric vehicles are only slightly less harmful to the environment and society than conventional gasoline cars.' The analysis aggregates climate damage, crash deaths, and pollution. It reveals that EVs’ heavier weight leads to more fatal crashes, and their battery production is energy-intensive. Charging EVs on carbon-heavy grids causes six times more harmful pollution than gas tailpipes. The authors conclude that, factoring in all harms, EVs are only 10 percent less damaging than GVs. The report urges policymakers to reconsider subsidies and warns that the real-world toll of cars—electric or not—remains immense.

• EVs — What Are They Good For?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-15

The 11th Edition of the MUTCD brings overdue changes. It allows more crosswalks, green bike lanes, and transit lanes. But it still puts cars first. Pedestrians and cyclists remain at risk. The rules demand human perfection, not safer streets. The danger continues.

On December 2023, the Federal Highway Administration released the 11th Edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), the first update since 2009. This federal document, over 1,000 pages, sets the standards for road markings, signals, and signs nationwide. The update, described as 'important steps toward a safer, more people-focused transportation system,' modernizes speed zone setting and allows more crosswalks, green bike lanes, and red transit lanes. But it still falls short. The MUTCD expects pedestrians and cyclists to act 'alertly and attentively,' ignoring human error and the diversity of street users. It keeps high barriers for pedestrian signals and prioritizes car movement over safety. The new section on autonomous vehicles raises concerns about streets being built for machines, not people. No council members are named; this is a federal action. Advocates and cities submitted over 25,000 comments demanding stronger reforms. The next update is due by December 2027.

• The 1,000-Page Document That Decides Your Street Designs Just Got a Refresh, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-11

Two SUVs collided head-to-back on Forest Avenue at 7 a.m. The driver of the rear vehicle suffered back injuries and shock. Police cite a reaction to an uninvolved vehicle as the cause. Both drivers were licensed and traveling eastbound.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:00 a.m. on Forest Avenue involving two sport utility vehicles traveling east. The lead SUV was merging when the rear SUV struck it at the center back end. The driver of the rear vehicle, a 51-year-old woman, was injured with back pain and shock but was not ejected. She was wearing a lap belt and harness. The report identifies the contributing factor as "Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle," indicating the rear driver’s response to an external stimulus caused the collision. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The rear vehicle sustained center front end damage, while the lead vehicle was damaged at the center back end. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762290 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A sedan with defective brakes collided with a stopped vehicle on Clove Road, Staten Island. The driver suffered a head contusion but was conscious and restrained. The crash exposed mechanical failure as a critical factor in the impact and injury.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:32 AM on Clove Road, Staten Island, involving two sedans traveling east. The driver of a 2009 Cadillac sedan was going straight ahead when the vehicle's defective brakes contributed to a rear-end collision with a stopped 2023 Mazda sedan. The impact point was the center front end of the Cadillac and the center back end of the Mazda. The Cadillac driver, a 31-year-old female occupant, was injured with a head contusion but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The report explicitly cites 'Brakes Defective' as a contributing factor, highlighting mechanical failure as the primary cause. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The crash underscores the systemic danger posed by vehicle maintenance failures.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761793 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 9-year-old boy riding a bike was injured when a sedan traveling northeast struck him with its left front bumper. The boy suffered contusions and lower leg injuries. Both vehicles were moving straight ahead at the time of collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on VanDuzer Street in Staten Island at 11:50 AM. A 9-year-old male bicyclist was injured, sustaining contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The bicyclist was conscious and not ejected from his bike. The sedan, driven by a licensed female driver, and the bike were both traveling northeast, going straight ahead. The point of impact was the sedan's left front bumper. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. Vehicle damage was minimal or not reported. The data highlights the collision impact and injuries without assigning fault to the bicyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762793 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A sedan driver on Staten Island suffered chest injuries when another sedan backed unsafely into her vehicle. The crash at Castleton Avenue involved following too closely and unsafe backing, causing bruising and contusions to the 59-year-old woman.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:40 on Castleton Avenue, Staten Island. A 59-year-old female driver was injured when a sedan backed unsafely into her parked vehicle, striking the left rear bumper. The report cites 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The injured driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained a chest contusion and bruising but was not ejected and remained conscious. The other vehicle was traveling east going straight ahead at the time of impact. The collision highlights driver errors related to unsafe backing maneuvers and close following distances, which directly led to the injury of the occupant. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760984 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A sedan driver on Staten Island fell asleep at the wheel, crashing into a fixed object with his right front bumper. The 29-year-old male driver suffered injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, experiencing shock and pain after the impact.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old male driver operating a 2003 Nissan sedan on Hylan Boulevard fell asleep while driving northbound at 5:38 AM. The vehicle impacted with its right front bumper, damaging the right front quarter panel. The driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report lists 'Fell Asleep' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The driver sustained injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, and was in shock with complaints of pain or nausea. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The crash highlights the critical danger posed by driver fatigue and loss of vehicle control on Staten Island roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762016 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Two sedans collided at Walker Street as one made a left turn. The driver who turned suffered chest injuries and bruising. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention as key factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:00 PM on Walker Street involving two sedans traveling east and west. One driver was making a left turn while the other proceeded straight ahead. The driver making the left turn failed to yield right-of-way and was distracted, contributing to the collision. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the turning vehicle and the center front end of the other sedan. The 32-year-old female driver who made the left turn was injured, sustaining chest contusions and bruises. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report highlights driver errors including failure to yield and inattention, with no mention of victim fault or pedestrian involvement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760843 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 10-year-old boy suffered knee and lower leg abrasions after an SUV struck him at an intersection. The driver’s inattention caused the collision as the pedestrian crossed against the signal. The impact damaged the vehicle’s left front bumper.

According to the police report, a 10-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Richmond Avenue and Forest Avenue around 17:10. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when he was struck by a northbound 2024 Jeep SUV. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash, with the pedestrian’s crossing against the signal listed as a secondary factor. The impact occurred at the vehicle’s left front bumper, causing damage to that area. The boy sustained abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of the collision. This crash highlights the critical role of driver distraction in pedestrian injuries at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760825 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Transit union boss John Samuelsen turned against congestion pricing. He blasted the MTA for failing to boost service before tolls hit. His opposition helped stall a plan meant to cut traffic and fund transit. Riders and streets remain at risk.

On October 3, 2024, John Samuelsen, president of TWU Local 100 and TWU International, publicly opposed New York’s congestion pricing plan. The matter, covered by Streetsblog NYC, details Samuelsen’s resignation from the Traffic Mobility Review Board on November 30, 2023, the day tolling recommendations were released. He argued, 'Congestion pricing alone will not reduce traffic to its fullest potential. Central business district tolling should absolutely be coupled with massive increases and improvements in public transit service.' Samuelsen criticized the MTA for not expanding service and called the toll 'classist.' His stance shifted from earlier support in 2019 to strong opposition, citing unmet promises and risks to transit funding. No council bill or committee action is noted. The union’s move leaves vulnerable road users facing the same old dangers: crowded streets, slow buses, and stalled safety reforms.

• Stop Making Sense: TWU’s Head-Scratching Opposition to Congestion Pricing Doesn’t Add Up, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-03

City will cut McGuinness Boulevard from four lanes to two. DOT reversed course after backlash. Advocates and Assembly Member Gallagher cheered the move. Fewer lanes mean slower cars, fewer crashes. The fight for safety on the rest of the boulevard continues.

On October 2, 2024, the Adams administration reversed its earlier decision and restored the road diet for McGuinness Boulevard between Calyer Street and Meeker Avenue. The Department of Transportation (DOT) will reduce the street from four lanes to two. The DOT cited community and elected officials' feedback as the reason for the change. Assembly Member Emily Gallagher said, "I'm just really grateful to the better angels of the Adams administration for coming back with this." The advocacy group Make McGuinness Safe called it a win for safety and vowed to keep pushing for improvements. Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi praised the city's willingness to listen. Local business Broadway Stages, which had opposed the plan, said it respects the process. Removing car lanes will slow traffic and protect all users, according to advocates.

• FLIP-FLOP: City Brings Back Road Diet For McGuinness Blvd., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-02

City reverses its own reversal. DOT will cut a traffic lane and add parking-protected bike lanes on McGuinness Boulevard’s southern half. Local officials and advocates forced the city’s hand. The northern half stays unchanged. Vulnerable road users get a win.

On October 2, 2024, the Department of Transportation announced a policy reversal on McGuinness Boulevard. The original lane reduction and protected bike lane plan, previously scrapped, will now move forward for the southern half of the street, between Calyer Street and Meeker Avenue. The matter, described as a return to 'the road diet it had previously finalized and then rejected,' follows months of community outcry and advocacy. Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) and other local officials celebrated the move, crediting the Make McGuinness Safe coalition for relentless pressure. Restler stated, 'this is a decision that enhances safety in our community, and that's what matters.' The northern half of the boulevard remains unchanged, with two traffic lanes and barrier-protected bike lanes. The city’s action signals a renewed commitment to street safety after repeated delays and political interference.

• Another U-turn on McGuinness Boulevard as city returns to original lane reduction plan, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-10-02

Two SUVs collided on Jewett Avenue, injuring three occupants. The rear vehicle struck the front one head-on at the center back end. Neck injuries and whiplash were reported. Driver distraction was cited as a key factor in the crash.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided on Jewett Avenue at 13:40. The rear vehicle, a 2017 Jeep SUV traveling south, impacted the center back end of a 2021 Chrysler SUV also traveling south. The collision injured three occupants in the front vehicle, including the 57-year-old male driver and two female passengers aged 50 and 18. All suffered neck injuries and whiplash, with injury severity rated at level 3. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for the rear vehicle driver. The front vehicle driver’s contributing factors are unspecified. All occupants were restrained with lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. The crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction leading to rear-end collisions and serious occupant injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760217 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 60-year-old man suffered head wounds and bleeding after a distracted, inexperienced driver turned right and hit him at a Staten Island intersection. The pedestrian was semiconscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 60-year-old male pedestrian was struck by a 2017 Ford as it made a right turn traveling south on Reon Avenue, Staten Island. The impact occurred at an intersection. The pedestrian suffered head injuries and minor bleeding and was found semiconscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. No pedestrian actions were cited. The driver was alone in the vehicle. This crash highlights the harm caused by driver distraction and lack of experience.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760638 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09