No More Names on the Asphalt: Demand Safe Streets Now

A three-year-old boy died on College Point Boulevard. The child crossed outside the crosswalk. A southbound Infiniti sedan pulled from parking. Tinted windows. The car struck him head-on. His skull crushed on the asphalt. He died at the scene.

A three-year-old boy was killed on College Point Boulevard when a southbound Infiniti sedan, pulling out from parking, struck him head-on. According to the police report, the sedan had tinted windows and the driver held only a permit. The child crossed outside the crosswalk. The impact crushed his skull. The report lists 'Tinted Windows' as a contributing factor. The driver’s permit status is noted. No other injuries were reported. The boy died at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4683366, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 2019 Range Rover slammed headfirst on Union Street. Metal folded. Two young men pinned in front. Necks broken. Crush injuries. Sirens cut the silence. The street held its breath. Both survived, belts locked, eyes open.

Two young men were seriously injured when a 2019 Range Rover crashed headfirst on Union Street near District 20. According to the police report, 'A 2019 Range Rover slammed headfirst. Two young men pinned in the front. Belts locked. Necks broken. Eyes open. The metal folded inward. The street held its breath. No sound but the sirens.' The driver, 23, and the front passenger, 21, both suffered neck and crush injuries but remained conscious. No contributing driver errors were listed in the report. Both occupants wore lap belts and harnesses. The impact crushed the left front quarter panel, pinning the men inside the SUV.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680916, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Hyundai drifted down 164 Street. The driver, 66, lost consciousness. His car struck a parked Honda. His chest hit the belt. The street went silent. He died at the scene. No one else was hurt.

A 66-year-old man driving a Hyundai south on 164 Street lost consciousness at the wheel. According to the police report, his car drifted forward and struck a parked Honda sedan. The impact crushed his chest against the seatbelt. The report lists 'Lost Consciousness' as the contributing factor. The driver was killed in the crash. No other injuries were reported. The parked Honda was unoccupied at the time. The police report does not list any other contributing factors or mention helmet or signal use.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680918, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan veered on College Point Boulevard. Its bumper slammed into an e-bike. The unlicensed rider flew from the frame. He hit the pavement hard. Blood pooled in the dark. He was awake, broken, and bleeding.

A sedan struck an e-bike on College Point Boulevard. The sedan changed lanes and hit the e-bike’s center front end. The 42-year-old e-bike rider was ejected and suffered crush injuries across his body. According to the police report, 'A sedan veered while changing lanes, its bumper crushing into an e-bike. The unlicensed rider, 42, flew from the frame. No helmet. He landed hard, broken across the pavement, awake and bleeding in the dark.' The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. Both drivers were unlicensed. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. The primary cause was the sedan driver’s failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677035, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Midnight. College Point Boulevard. A Ford SUV hit a turning Honda. Steel bent. Blood spilled. A 39-year-old man gripped his head, bleeding but awake. The belt held him. Speed did not. The street stayed silent, except for pain.

A Ford SUV struck a Honda sedan on College Point Boulevard just after midnight. The SUV was heading straight. The Honda was turning left. According to the police report, 'A Ford SUV slammed into a turning Honda. Steel twisted. A 39-year-old man in the front seat clutched his head. Blood ran. He stayed conscious. The belt held him. Speed did not.' The 39-year-old front passenger in the Honda suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor in the crash. No other contributing factors were cited. The injured man was wearing a lap belt and harness.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676637, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Harley slammed a sedan’s rear on the Long Island Expressway. The rider flew from his bike. His leg was crushed. He lay helmeted, conscious, on the cold asphalt. Traffic thundered by. The road did not stop for him.

A 31-year-old man riding a 2011 Harley motorcycle struck the rear of a sedan while traveling westbound on the Long Island Expressway. According to the police report, the rider was ejected from his motorcycle and suffered crush injuries to his leg. He remained conscious and was wearing a helmet. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data. The sedan’s right rear bumper and the motorcycle’s left front bumper were damaged. No other injuries are reported. The crash left the motorcyclist injured and exposed as traffic continued past.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673916, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 1215-2023 orders new signs. Bicycles, e-bikes, and scooters get clear warnings: stay off sidewalks, park paths, and boardwalks. Fines and penalties spelled out. Filed at session’s end. No change yet for street safety.

Int 1215-2023 was introduced in the City Council on October 5, 2023, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the posting of signs notifying operators of bicycles, bicycles with electric assist, and electric scooters of the prohibition against operating such devices on sidewalks, park walkways, and boardwalks, and of related fines and penalties," would require the Department of Transportation and the Department of Parks and Recreation to post signs warning riders of these restrictions and the consequences. Council Member Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Hudson, Hanif, Brewer, Ung, Abreu, Brooks-Powers, Gutiérrez, and Schulman. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. No direct safety analysis was provided. The measure aims for clarity, not infrastructure change.

• File Int 1215-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-10-05

A Mazda sped south on Clearview Expressway. It merged hard. The roof folded under the force. A 28-year-old man, trapped inside, bled from deep cuts. He stayed awake. No one else was hurt. The crash left metal and blood behind.

A 2016 Mazda sedan, traveling southbound on Clearview Expressway, crashed while merging at high speed. According to the police report, 'A 2016 Mazda, southbound and merging fast, struck hard. The roof folded. A 28-year-old man, trapped inside, bled from deep cuts. Hurt all over. He was awake. No one else was there.' The only occupant, a 28-year-old man, suffered severe lacerations and injuries across his entire body. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The impact crushed the roof and left the driver trapped. No other vehicles or people were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4664889, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council pushed for 500 solar-lit crosswalks. The bill demanded action—100 new devices each year. It called for a hard look at results. But the session ended. The bill died. Streets wait. Pedestrians keep crossing in the dark.

Int 1151-2023, introduced August 3, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to require the Department of Transportation to install at least 100 illuminated, solar-powered traffic control devices at crosswalks each year for five years—a total of 500. The bill also ordered a study comparing these devices to unlit signs, probing their power to deter traffic violations and mapping out logistical hurdles. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of solar-powered crosswalks.' Council Member Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Menin, Brooks-Powers, Rivera, and over thirty others. The bill was filed at session’s end on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided. The city’s crosswalks remain unchanged. Vulnerable road users remain exposed.

• File Int 1151-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-08-03

A sedan turned right on Farrington Street. An e-scooter kept straight. The rider flew, leg crushed, blood on the pavement. Twenty-five years old, conscious, hurt bad. The car was untouched. The man was not.

A sedan collided with an e-scooter on Farrington Street. The sedan turned right as the e-scooter traveled straight. According to the police report, 'A sedan turned right. An e-scooter kept straight. No helmet. No chance. The rider flew, hit hard, leg crushed. Twenty-five, conscious, bleeding on the pavement. The car was fine. The man was not.' The e-scooter rider, a 25-year-old man, suffered crush injuries to his leg and was ejected from his vehicle. The report lists 'Outside Car Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. No helmet was noted, but driver errors came first. The sedan sustained no damage. The e-scooter rider was left injured and bleeding.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646731, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man on a bike slammed into a parked SUV on 189th Street. He flew off, hit the pavement, and lay still. Blood pooled on the asphalt. Sirens wailed. The street fell silent except for the sound of pain.

A 47-year-old man riding a bike crashed into the left side doors of a parked SUV on 189th Street near Underhill Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the cyclist was ejected from his bike, struck the pavement, and suffered severe bleeding from his leg. He was found unconscious at the scene. The SUV was parked and unoccupied except for the driver. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are noted in the data. The police report states the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the absence of any listed driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4644061, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 61-year-old man fell from his e-scooter on Jasmine Avenue. No other vehicles. No crash. He struck his head. The scooter stood untouched. The street was silent. He died there, under the cold lights.

A 61-year-old man riding an e-scooter on Jasmine Avenue was killed after being ejected from his vehicle. According to the police report, 'Jasmine Avenue, under cold streetlights — a 61-year-old man thrown from his e-scooter, headfirst to pavement. No crash, no wreckage. Just silence, and a still body in the dark. The scooter stood untouched.' The man suffered fatal head injuries. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No other vehicles or persons were involved. The e-scooter showed no damage. The man was the sole occupant and driver. No helmet use or signaling is mentioned as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4644509, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council sought to clear streets of cars with missing or obscured plates. The bill ordered quick towing of vehicles blocking space or hiding identity. Filed at session’s end, it aimed to cut hazards for those on foot or bike. No action taken.

Int 1116-2023 was introduced on June 22, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Sanitation and NYPD to tow vehicles that block streets or lack visible, valid license plates, registration, or inspection stickers. The matter summary reads: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to towing vehicles that are an encumbrance on the street or that lack, improperly display, or obscure valid license plates, registration stickers, inspection stickers, or vehicle identification numbers.” Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers sponsored the bill, joined by Salamanca, Brannan, Feliz, Stevens, Ung, Riley, and Schulman. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, with no further action. Removing untraceable or abandoned vehicles could have reduced street dangers for pedestrians and cyclists, but the measure stalled.

• File Int 1116-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-06-22

Dealers clog streets with cars for sale and repair. Council bill Int 1097-2023 targets this. Fines and impoundment threaten violators. Owners get legal cover if ticketed while dealers hold their cars. The bill died at session’s end.

Bill Int 1097-2023 was introduced June 8, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill sought to make it unlawful for any dealer to park, store, or maintain vehicles on city streets for sale, repair, or while awaiting return to owners, except for emergencies. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to limiting the parking of motor vehicles by dealers.' Council Members Francisco P. Moya (primary sponsor), Sandra Ung, Lincoln Restler, Kevin C. Riley, Nantasha M. Williams, and Shahana K. Hanif sponsored the bill. The bill imposed fines of $250–$400 per day and allowed for vehicle impoundment. Owners could defend against tickets if their car was with a dealer. The bill was filed at the end of session and did not become law.

• File Int 1097-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-06-08

A Mercedes SUV flipped turning south on Main Street. The unbelted driver, 38, was thrown out, bleeding and broken but conscious. The SUV hit a parked Honda. Metal and bodies scattered. The street bore the scars of violence.

A 2022 Mercedes SUV overturned while making a right turn southbound on Main Street. According to the police report, the 38-year-old driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle and suffered severe bleeding across his body. The SUV struck a parked 2011 Honda, damaging its right rear quarter panel. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors are cited in the data. The crash left the Mercedes demolished and the street marked by injury and wreckage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4633747, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Nissan sedan turned left at 58 Road and 142 Street. Its bumper struck a 56-year-old woman in the crosswalk. Her arm was crushed and partly lost. She stayed awake through the pain. Police cite driver inexperience.

A crash at 58 Road and 142 Street in Queens left a 56-year-old woman with a crushed and partially amputated arm. According to the police report, a Nissan sedan made a left turn and its left front bumper hit the woman as she crossed in a marked crosswalk. She remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The driver, a 62-year-old woman, was licensed and stayed at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The crash shows the danger pedestrians face in crosswalks when drivers lose control.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4628110, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Toyota SUV struck a 66-year-old man crossing 41st Avenue near 147th Street. The impact crushed his head and organs. He died at the scene. The street was dark. The city claimed another life.

A 66-year-old man was killed when a Toyota SUV hit him on 41st Avenue near 147th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the man was crossing the street without a signal when the SUV, traveling east, struck him with its right front bumper. The pedestrian suffered fatal head trauma and internal injuries. The police report lists 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor, with no specific driver error cited. No mention of helmet or signal use appears as a contributing factor. The driver was licensed and continued straight ahead. No injuries were reported among the vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4624334, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 1030-2023 would force DOT to show its hand. Every traffic signal and speed bump request, tracked online. Status, reason, and timeline—no more black box. The bill died in committee, but the demand for sunlight remains.

Int 1030-2023 was introduced on April 27, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to post details of all traffic control device and speed reducer requests on a public website. The matter summary reads: 'The required website would include, but need not be limited to, the following information: case number, general topic, issue, status, resolution, reason for approval or denial of traffic control device, and if approved, the timeline for completion.' Council Member Farah N. Louis sponsored the bill, joined by 21 co-sponsors including Williams, Hanif, and Yeger. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided, but the measure aimed to end secrecy around life-saving street changes. Public access to this data could expose delays and denials that keep streets deadly.

• File Int 1030-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-27

Council moved to ban driving with fake or expired plates. Civil fines would hit drivers hard. Sponsors spanned the city. The bill died at session’s end. Streets remain exposed to untraceable cars and reckless drivers.

Int 0987-2023 was introduced in the New York City Council on April 11, 2023, and referred to the Committee on Public Safety. The bill aimed to prohibit operating a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates, including temporary ones. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates.' Civil penalties ranged from $300 to $1,000, with a 10-day cure period for expired plates. The bill was sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over thirty council members, including Feliz, Salamanca, Powers, Yeger, Menin, and others, as well as the Brooklyn and Bronx Borough Presidents. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not become law. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• File Int 0987-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-11

A BMW crashed into a parked sedan on the Long Island Expressway. Metal twisted. The driver, 51, bled from the head but stayed awake. No warning. Blood and glass marked the night. The crash left silence and injury behind.

A BMW sedan, traveling east on the Long Island Expressway, struck a parked sedan. According to the police report, 'A BMW drove east and struck a parked sedan. Metal crumpled. The driver, 51, bled from the head. He stayed conscious.' The driver suffered severe head bleeding but remained alert at the scene. Police listed 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. The parked sedan was unoccupied. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left blood and glass scattered on the asphalt. The report does not mention helmet use or turn signals as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4613690, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15