No More Victims: Streets for People, Not for Pain

Council moves to form a board on school crossing guard deployment. NYPD, DOT, and DOE must report twice a year. The aim: more eyes on street danger where kids cross.

Bill Int 0448-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to an advisory board on crossing guard deployment," calls for NYPD, DOT, and DOE to join an advisory board. The board must send biannual reports on crossing guard needs to the Mayor, Council Speaker, and Police Commissioner. Council Member Kamillah Hanks leads as primary sponsor, joined by Stevens, Schulman, Salaam, and others. The Bronx Borough President requested the bill. The board’s reports could spotlight gaps and push for better protection at dangerous crossings.

• File Int 0448-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council wants DOT to study how street design can keep commercial trucks out of residential blocks. The bill sits in committee. Streets should shelter people, not heavy traffic.

Int 0114-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to report on 'the utility and feasibility of using street design as a means to limit or reduce the use by commercial vehicles of streets in residential neighborhoods.' Jennifer Gutiérrez leads as primary sponsor, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate, and others. The bill was referred to committee on the day of introduction. It demands a clear look at how design can push trucks off streets where people walk, bike, and live.

• File Int 0114-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council targets fake and expired plates. Bill sets fines. Ten-day grace for expired tags. Crackdown aims at cars that dodge law and endanger streets. Committee on Public Safety holds the measure.

Int 0177-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates,' makes it illegal to drive with fake or expired plates, including temporary ones. Civil penalties apply, but drivers with expired plates get a 10-day cure period. Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Feliz, Salamanca, Powers, Restler, Won, Brewer, Schulman, Ung, Marte, Hudson, Avilés, De La Rosa, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The bill targets drivers who hide behind illegal plates, a tactic often linked to hit-and-runs and reckless driving.

• File Int 0177-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council urges Albany to pass SAFE Streets Act. Lower speed limits. Rights for crash victims. Safe passing for cyclists. Complete streets. City demands action as deaths rise. Streets remain deadly. Lawmakers must act.

Resolution 0090-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it calls on the state to pass S.2422 ('Sammy’s Law') and A.1901, part of the SAFE Streets Act. The matter title: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.2422... allowing New York city to establish a lower speed limit, and A.1901, enacting a crash victims bill of rights.' Council Member Shahana K. Hanif leads, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Nurse, and others. The resolution demands lower speed limits, crash victim rights, safe passing for cyclists, and complete street design. It cites rising traffic deaths and the failure of current measures. The Council wants Albany to give the city real power to protect people on its streets.

• File Res 0090-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council passed a law forcing taxis and for-hire cars to post bold warnings on doors. The signs tell passengers: look for cyclists before you open up. A small step. The city hands out the decals. No cost to drivers.

Int 0193-2024 became law on May 31, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' was sponsored by Lincoln Restler and co-sponsored by over twenty council members, including Gutiérrez, Hudson, and Rivera. The law mandates clear warning decals on all rear passenger doors of taxis and for-hire vehicles. The Taxi and Limousine Commission will provide the signs at no cost. The measure aims to cut down on 'dooring'—a threat to cyclists citywide. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it became law.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to force brighter sidewalks. Bill orders 500 corridors lit each year. Shadows shrink. Pedestrians gain ground. Committee holds the bill. Streets wait.

Int 0079-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The bill demands the city install pedestrian lighting in at least 500 commercial corridors per year, aiming for a minimum of 1 footcandle (11 lux) on every sidewalk. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installation of pedestrian lighting fixtures.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Krishnan, Bottcher, and others. The committee has not yet voted. The bill’s text sets clear targets for coverage and contiguity, but action is stalled. Vulnerable road users remain in the dark until the city acts.

• File Int 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

A driver killed Dolma Naadhun, age seven, in Astoria. The DA dropped felony charges. The driver got probation. The city changed the intersection. Activists called for daylighting. The system failed to protect the most vulnerable. The street remains dangerous.

On January 22, 2024, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz’s office quietly downgraded charges against Claudia Mendez-Vasquez, who killed 7-year-old Dolma Naadhun in Astoria. Mendez-Vasquez, initially charged with criminally negligent homicide, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless driving and received probation. The DA’s office cited the family’s wishes, but advocates and family friends called the outcome a slap on the wrist. The crash sparked local activism: the community board passed a resolution for universal daylighting—removing parked cars from corners to improve visibility. Mayor Adams pledged to daylight 1,000 intersections a year, but the Department of Transportation has resisted full implementation, citing concerns about driver behavior. The city installed a traffic signal and banned parking at two corners, but systemic danger remains. The case highlights how lenient prosecution and slow policy change leave vulnerable road users at risk.

• Driver Who Killed 7-Year-Old Gets Probation After DA Katz Quietly Downgraded Charges, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-22

A pickup truck hit a 65-year-old woman in Queens. She crossed with the signal. The truck turned left, steel against flesh. Her leg split open. Blood pooled. She stayed conscious. The driver kept going. The street held her pain.

A 65-year-old woman was struck by a pickup truck at the corner of 99th Street and 65th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, she was crossing with the signal when the pickup, making a left turn, hit her. She suffered severe lacerations to her lower leg but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The driver continued without stopping. The vehicle showed no damage. The woman was left injured in the intersection, her blood on the asphalt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4671505 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Mazda slammed parked cars on 95th Avenue. Two men, 28 and 34, were flung partway out. Blood soaked the seats. Both stayed conscious. The street fell silent. Metal and flesh met hard. No one walked away clean.

Two men were injured when a 1988 Mazda veered into parked cars on 95th Avenue near 113th Street in Queens. According to the police report, both the driver, 28, and the front passenger, 34, were partially ejected and suffered severe head bleeding but remained conscious. The crash involved a reaction to an uninvolved vehicle, as listed under contributing factors. The Mazda struck a parked SUV and a parked BMW, damaging both. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report states: 'A 1988 Mazda veered into parked cars. Two men, 28 and 34, were flung partway out. Blood soaked the seats. Both were awake.' The data lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as a driver error. Both injured men wore lap belts and harnesses.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4668951 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Nissan sedan hit a 77-year-old man on Liberty Avenue. He crossed mid-block. The car’s right front bumper split his face. Blood pooled on the street. He stayed conscious. The driver moved too fast. The car failed to stop in time.

A 77-year-old man was struck by a westbound Nissan sedan while crossing Liberty Avenue near 104th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the car’s right front bumper hit the pedestrian mid-block, causing severe facial lacerations and leaving blood on the pavement. The man remained conscious after the impact. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The driver did not stop in time to avoid the collision. The data does not mention any helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash highlights the danger posed by speeding vehicles to people crossing city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4661486 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A teenager on an e-bike crashed into a parked garbage truck on Atlantic Avenue. His head split open. Blood pooled on the steel. He lay semiconscious, battered, helmetless. The truck did not move. The street stayed silent. The boy did not.

A 19-year-old riding an e-bike struck a parked garbage truck near Atlantic Avenue and 100th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the e-bike rider suffered severe head lacerations and was found semiconscious on the pavement. The report states the crash was caused by 'Passing Too Closely.' The garbage truck was parked and sustained no damage. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary contributing factor listed is 'Passing Too Closely.' No other injuries were reported. The truck remained stationary throughout the incident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657592 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Mercedes hit a box truck head-on at Lefferts Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue. The front of the car folded. A 36-year-old man in the passenger seat died, belted in place. The night was silent. Metal and glass marked the spot.

A deadly crash unfolded at Lefferts Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a Mercedes sedan struck a box truck headfirst. The sedan’s front end crumpled. A 36-year-old man, riding as a front passenger and wearing a seatbelt, was killed. The report states, 'A Mercedes slammed headfirst into a box truck. The front crumpled like paper. In the passenger seat, a 36-year-old man died, belted and still.' Both vehicles were traveling straight. The data lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the report. The victim’s use of a lap belt and harness is noted, but the cause remains unclear in the official record.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643448 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A motorcycle and SUV slammed head-on on Liberty Avenue. The rider, 49, flew from his bike. He wore a helmet. His body broke. Paralysis followed. The night swallowed the noise. Wreckage and silence remained.

A motorcycle and a sport utility vehicle collided head-on on Liberty Avenue near 114th Street in Queens. The 49-year-old motorcycle rider was ejected and suffered paralysis, with injuries to his entire body. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling straight when they struck each other. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the data. No other serious injuries were reported among the occupants. The crash left the scene shattered and quiet, with the consequences of inexperience clear in the aftermath.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4577472 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Police arrested Ibrahim Chaaban in Bay Ridge after he did donuts on Shore Road. His car had racked up 12 school-zone speeding tickets since June. Council Member Brannan and DA Katz slammed weak penalties. Most reckless drivers still face little consequence. Streets remain dangerous.

On October 21, 2022, police in Bay Ridge arrested Ibrahim Chaaban for reckless driving after he performed donuts on Shore Road. The car had received at least 12 school-zone speeding tickets since June 21, but authorities failed to intervene until this incident. Council Member Justin Brannan reported the arrest, saying, "It seems the various systems currently in place to deter this type of behavior have failed here." Brannan and Queens DA Melinda Katz both criticized the current penalties, calling them too weak to deter dangerous drivers. Katz said, "There is a strong need for tougher penalties for those who choose to use our city streets as raceways." The article notes that only after 15 camera-issued speeding tickets in a year must drivers take a safety course, and few cars are seized under the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program. Community complaints led to the arrest, but most reckless drivers still evade real consequences.

• One Down, Thousands to Go: Cops Bust A Really Bad Driver For Doing Less-Dangerous Stupid Thing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-10-21

A woman lay dying on 120th Street. Blood pooled on the asphalt. Her head struck. A man, broken back, survived. Two parked SUVs gashed and empty. No driver found. Sirens cut the silence. The street held only wreckage and loss.

A 31-year-old woman was killed and a 40-year-old man suffered a fractured back on 120th Street near 97th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the woman lay dying in the road with a severe head injury and bleeding, while the man was conscious but injured. Two parked SUVs were found with heavy damage to their left sides. No driver was present at the scene. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' There is no mention of helmet use or signaling as a factor. The crash left the street scarred and silent, with only the injured and the dead.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4567693 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A pickup’s door swung open on Jamaica Avenue. An e-bike rider hit it head-on. He flew hard, head cracked, blood on the street. The bike’s frame bent. The truck’s door twisted. Driver inattention marked the moment. The city’s danger showed its teeth.

A 32-year-old man riding an e-bike was injured after colliding with the open door of a parked pickup truck near 118-14 Jamaica Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the e-bike rider struck the truck’s left-side door, was ejected, and suffered a severe head injury with heavy bleeding. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but this is mentioned only after the driver error. The pickup truck was parked at the time. The crash left the bike’s front end folded and the truck’s door bent. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4563282 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Yamaha motorcycle slammed into a turning Subaru at Atlantic Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard. The rider, 31, flew from the bike. He wore a helmet. He did not have a license. He died at the scene. The sedan driver survived.

A deadly crash unfolded at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, a Yamaha motorcycle struck a Subaru sedan making a left turn. The 31-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected from his bike and killed. He was wearing a helmet but did not have a license. The sedan’s driver, a 30-year-old woman, survived. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The impact was severe, with the motorcycle hitting the sedan’s left front bumper. No pedestrians were involved. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of driver inexperience and the dangers at busy intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4562615 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Ford pickup struck a parked box truck and a Nissan on 101st Avenue. Metal crumpled. A 26-year-old woman in the back seat bled from the head. She stayed conscious. Driver inattention cut through the morning quiet. Pain and blood marked the scene.

A Ford pickup traveling east on 101st Avenue near 111th Street crashed into a parked box truck and a Nissan sedan. According to the police report, the driver had looked away before impact. The collision left a 26-year-old woman in the back seat with severe head bleeding; she was conscious at the scene. Two drivers, aged 34 and 40, suffered injuries to the body and arm. Multiple other occupants reported pain or unspecified injuries. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The force of the crash tore through metal and flesh, leaving pain and blood behind. All injured parties wore lap belts and harnesses, as noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4552877 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Nissan sedan, moving too fast, struck a man crossing Jamaica Avenue. The car hit head-on. The man’s leg split open. Blood pooled on the street. The driver had no license. The night held its breath.

A 29-year-old man was crossing near 117-13 Jamaica Avenue in Queens when a Nissan sedan struck him head-on. According to the police report, the driver was unlicensed and traveling at unsafe speed. The impact caused severe lacerations to the pedestrian’s lower leg, leaving him conscious but bleeding on the pavement. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The sedan’s center front end took the brunt of the crash. No injuries were reported for the occupants inside the vehicle. The system failed the man on the street. The driver’s lack of license and reckless speed turned a crossing into a scene of violence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4545750 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Chrysler sedan tore down 121st Street. It flipped, smashed parked cars, struck a stopped Jeep. The driver died. A pedestrian and several others were hurt. Speed and distraction ruled the night. The street fell silent after the crash.

A violent crash on 121st Street in Queens left one man dead and several people injured. According to the police report, a Chrysler sedan traveling at unsafe speed flipped, hit parked cars, and struck a stopped Jeep. The 27-year-old driver died from head injuries. A 20-year-old pedestrian suffered hip and leg injuries. Other occupants and passengers, including a 24-year-old woman and a 55-year-old woman, were also hurt. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No mention of helmet use or turn signals appears in the report. The crash shows the deadly consequences when speed and distraction take over city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4544296 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04