Eight Dead, a Thousand Broken—How Many More Before We Act?

Council moves to test bold pavement markings at crash sites. Five spots per borough. Focus: places where drivers have killed or hurt the most. The city must report back. The law dies when the pilot ends. Streets remember every scar.

Int 1154-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced December 19, 2024, the bill orders a pilot for high visibility pavement markings. The official title: 'A Local Law in relation to establishing a high visibility pavement marking pilot program and the repeal of this local law upon the expiration thereof.' Council Member Yusef Salaam leads as primary sponsor, joined by Menin, De La Rosa, Brooks-Powers, Cabán, Brannan, and Hanif. The bill demands at least five marked sites per borough, targeting places with the most injuries and deaths from bad driving. After the pilot, the city must report on results and recommend next steps. The law sunsets when the pilot ends. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 1154-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

City Council passed a law forcing DOT to check with FDNY before approving open streets, bike lanes, or big street changes. Firehouses get notified. Council members and boards get updates. The law aims for more eyes, more voices, but adds hurdles for street redesigns.

Bill Int 0104-2024, now Local Law 6 of 2025, was enacted by the City Council on January 18, 2025, after passing both the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the full Council in December 2024. The law requires the Department of Transportation to consult with the Fire Department before approving open street applications, bicycle lane projects, or major transportation projects. The official matter title states the law amends the city code to require DOT to consult with FDNY and notify affected firehouses before moving forward. Primary sponsor Kalman Yeger, with co-sponsors including Joann Ariola, Robert Holden, Lynn Schulman, and others, pushed the bill through. The law expands notification and comment rights for firehouses and community boards, adding new steps before any street or lane changes. No safety analyst assessed the direct impact on vulnerable road users. The law’s effect: more agencies weigh in, but the process for safer streets grows longer and more complex.

• File Int 0104-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

Council bill Int 1138-2024 would ban parking and standing within 20 feet of crosswalks. It forces the city to install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections each year. The bill sits in committee. Sponsors include Bottcher, Won, and the Public Advocate.

Int 1138-2024, introduced December 5, 2024, is under review by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill is 'Laid Over in Committee.' Its title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.' Council Member Erik D. Bottcher is the primary sponsor, joined by Julie Won, Jumaane Williams, and others. The bill prohibits standing or parking within 20 feet of crosswalks and mandates the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections per year. The law also requires citywide outreach and reporting. This measure aims to keep sightlines clear at crossings, a known danger zone for people on foot and bike. The bill has not yet received a vote.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

Council bill Int 1131-2024 would create a task force to study safer street design as e-bike use surges. The group must report back in 270 days. The bill sits in committee. Streets remain unchanged. Vulnerable road users wait for action.

Int 1131-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, calls for a task force to study street design and infrastructure safety in response to rising electric bicycle use and related collisions. The bill was introduced December 5, 2024, with Council Member Gale A. Brewer as primary sponsor and Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Julie Won, Julie Menin, Shekar Krishnan, Farah N. Louis, Chi A. Ossé, Nantasha M. Williams, Alexa Avilés, Crystal Hudson, Carlina Rivera, and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams as co-sponsors. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law in relation to the establishment of a task force to study options for making street design and infrastructure safer in consideration of increased use of electric bicycles and related collisions.' The committee laid the bill over on December 11, 2024. The task force, if created, must deliver recommendations for legislation and policy within 270 days. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, e-bike riders—remain at risk while the city studies its next move.

• File Int 1131-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

A 25-year-old man died when his BMW tore apart on Nassau Expressway. The car sped east, too fast for the dark. Metal twisted, silence followed. No other lives touched, but the road bore witness to reckless velocity.

A deadly single-car crash on Nassau Expressway claimed the life of a 25-year-old man, according to the police report. The incident involved a 2023 BMW sedan traveling eastbound. The report states the vehicle was moving at an 'Unsafe Speed.' The driver was ejected from the car and suffered fatal injuries to his entire body. The police narrative describes the aftermath: 'A 2023 BMW sped east, too fast for the dark. The driver, 25, was thrown from the wreck. His body broke on impact. No sirens, no cries. Just twisted metal cooling under the silence.' The only contributing factor cited is excessive speed. No mention is made of other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclist involvement. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors. The focus remains on the lethal consequences of unsafe speed on city roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769290, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 47-year-old man bent over a stalled car on 228th Street. An SUV, driver distracted, came south. The right front bumper hit flesh and bone. The man collapsed, bleeding, unconscious, broken on Queens pavement. The driver kept going straight.

According to the police report, near 145-27 228th Street in Queens, a 47-year-old man was leaning over a stalled car when a southbound SUV struck him with its right front bumper. The report states the driver was inattentive and distracted at the time of the crash. The pedestrian suffered severe bleeding and injuries to his entire body, and was found unconscious on the street. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the sole contributing factor. The man was not at an intersection and was working on a car, but the report does not cite these as contributing factors. The impact left the victim collapsed and motionless, underscoring the danger posed by distracted driving.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769400, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A pickup truck flipped on South Conduit Avenue. Metal screamed, glass shattered. A 73-year-old man bled from the head, belted in the front seat. The sedan’s front left crumpled. Blood on the belt. The road fell silent.

A violent collision unfolded on South Conduit Avenue near 153-70 in Queens when a pickup truck overturned after a lane change, according to the police report. The crash involved a pickup and a sedan, both traveling east. The report states, 'A pickup flipped after a lane change. A 73-year-old man, belted in the front seat, bled from the head.' The sedan’s front left quarter panel was crushed. Police cite 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The 73-year-old male passenger in the pickup, restrained by a lap belt and harness, suffered severe head bleeding but remained conscious. The report details blood on the belt and silence on the road. Driver error—specifically unsafe lane changing—stands at the center of this crash’s violence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766064, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council passed a law forcing DOT to show traffic device and speed reducer requests on its website. Now, every case number, status, and decision must be public. The move cracks open city data, exposing delays and denials that shape street danger.

Int 0468-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The Council passed it on October 23, 2024; it became law November 22, 2024, as Local Law 113. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the department of transportation posting information on traffic-control device and speed reducer requests on its website.” Council Member Kalman Yeger led as primary sponsor, joined by dozens of co-sponsors. The law orders DOT to publish every request for traffic signals and speed humps—case number, subject, status, resolution, reason for approval or denial, and timeline if approved. The public can now track what the city does, or fails to do, when streets need taming. This transparency exposes the machinery behind every crosswalk, signal, and speed bump—vital for anyone who walks, bikes, or rides in New York.

• File Int 0468-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-10-23

A Jeep with faulty brakes slammed into a Cadillac’s rear on Belt Parkway. The front passenger, 45, suffered a crushed neck. He stayed conscious. The Jeep showed no damage. The man did. Systemic failure left flesh broken and steel untouched.

According to the police report, a 1997 Jeep traveling westbound on Belt Parkway struck the rear of a Cadillac sedan. The collision occurred when the Jeep, identified as having 'Brakes Defective' as a contributing factor, crashed into the Cadillac’s center back end. The front passenger in the Cadillac, a 45-year-old man, was injured with severe neck crush injuries and remained conscious at the scene. The report notes that the passenger wore only a lap belt. The Jeep showed no damage, while the Cadillac sustained damage to the right rear bumper. The police report explicitly cites 'Brakes Defective' as the primary cause, highlighting a clear driver-related mechanical failure. No victim behaviors are listed as contributing factors. The crash underscores the lethal risk posed by defective vehicle systems and the systemic dangers present on New York City roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759323, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 1069-2024 slashes legal parking time for tractor-trailers and similar trucks to 90 minutes. Commercial vehicles clogging curbs will face tighter limits. The measure targets streets where hulking rigs linger, blocking sightlines and endangering walkers and riders.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." It limits parking for tractor-trailer combinations, tractors, truck trailers, and semi-trailers to 90 minutes, down from three hours. Council Member Kevin C. Riley leads as primary sponsor, joined by Nantasha M. Williams, Darlene Mealy, Sandy Nurse, and others. The bill was referred to committee the day it was introduced. No safety analyst has yet assessed the direct impact on vulnerable road users, but the measure aims to keep large trucks from blocking curbs and crosswalks, where they threaten pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Council passed a law letting pedestrians cross streets anywhere, at any time. Jaywalking is now legal. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks or against signals. The law shifts blame from walkers to drivers. Streets belong to people again.

Int 0346-2024, now Local Law 98 of 2024, was enacted by the City Council on October 26, 2024, after passing 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 pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way," lets pedestrians cross roadways at any point, even against traffic signals. It erases penalties for so-called jaywalking. Sponsors include Tiffany Cabán (primary), Lincoln Restler, Crystal Hudson, Shahana K. Hanif, Julie Won, Mercedes Narcisse, Darlene Mealy, Erik D. Bottcher, and Farah N. Louis. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor. The law requires the Department of Transportation to educate all road users about these new rights. By ending jaywalking enforcement, the city removes a tool often used to blame victims and target the vulnerable. The law marks a shift: streets are for people, not just cars.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

City Council pulled the jaywalking bill before a vote. Advocates warned new language could blame pedestrians for crashes. The bill would have let people cross mid-block, but now demands they yield to drivers. Racial bias in enforcement remains unaddressed.

On September 12, 2024, the City Council delayed action on a bill to legalize jaywalking. The measure, sponsored by Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, passed the Transportation Committee but was withdrawn before a full Council vote. The bill’s summary stated it would 'legalize crossing outside crosswalks and require a pedestrian education campaign.' Advocates objected to last-minute changes that would force pedestrians to yield to drivers, fearing it could criminalize those struck by cars. Narcisse highlighted 'systemic bias in how these laws are enforced.' Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers said, 'There is little evidence to support the claim that criminal or civil offenses for jaywalking change pedestrian behavior or increase pedestrian safety,' and noted racial disparities in ticketing. The NYPD and DOT opposed the bill, citing safety concerns. The bill’s fate remains uncertain, with advocates demanding stronger protections for pedestrians.

• Council Balks on Legalizing ‘Jaywalking’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-12

A woman stepped down from a car on 147th Road. An SUV tore into her right leg. Flesh ripped. She stayed conscious. The driver sped off, leaving blood and silence behind.

According to the police report, a 30-year-old woman was injured on 147th Road near 235th Street in Queens when she exited a vehicle and was struck by a 2023 Toyota SUV. The report states the SUV hit her right leg, causing severe lacerations, but she remained conscious at the scene. The driver did not stop after the impact. The police report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the crash. The vehicle sustained no damage and continued eastbound, according to the report. The victim was not at an intersection and was getting on or off a vehicle at the time. The focus remains on the driver's failure to yield, as cited by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757610, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford pickup slammed into a parked SUV on Beach 19th. The woman inside, forty-five, died in her seat. Police cite driver distraction. The truck showed no damage. The road stayed quiet, but the toll was final.

According to the police report, a Ford pickup truck struck a parked SUV near 233 Beach 19th Street in Queens at 3:45 p.m. The SUV's occupant, a 45-year-old woman, was killed in the crash. The report states, 'A Ford pickup struck a parked SUV. The woman inside, 45, wore no seatbelt. She died there, still in her seat.' Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the collision. The pickup truck showed no damage, while the SUV was struck on the left rear quarter panel. The woman was not ejected from the vehicle. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The deadly impact underscores the consequences of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4753464, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two SUVs crashed at a Queens intersection in daylight. A six-year-old girl, strapped in the back seat, suffered facial lacerations from shattered glass. The collision exposed the danger of blocked views where heavy vehicles meet, leaving blood on the asphalt.

At the intersection of Beach Channel Drive and Beach 45 Street in Queens, two sport utility vehicles collided at 12:05 PM. According to the police report, both vehicles were 'going straight ahead' when the collision occurred. The report cites 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor, indicating limited visibility played a key role. A six-year-old girl, restrained in a child seat in the rear of one SUV, sustained severe facial lacerations from shattered glass. The report notes the girl was 'strapped in the back,' emphasizing she was a passenger, not at fault. The drivers were licensed and traveling straight, with no other driver errors such as speeding or distraction listed. This crash highlights the systemic danger posed by obstructed views at intersections, where heavy vehicles collide and vulnerable passengers suffer serious injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752713, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorcycle fleeing police crashed into an SUV’s rear on Beach 45th Street. The unlicensed rider, helmetless, flew headfirst onto the asphalt. He bled from a torn scalp, conscious but alone. Aggressive driving and road rage tore through Queens.

According to the police report, a motorcycle operated by an unlicensed 27-year-old male was fleeing police on Beach 45th Street near Beach Channel Drive when it crashed into the rear of a Honda SUV. The report states the motorcycle was involved in 'aggressive driving/road rage' and was being pursued by police at the time of the collision. The rider, who was not wearing a helmet, was ejected and suffered severe head lacerations, described as a torn scalp, but remained conscious at the scene. The SUV, driven by a licensed male, sustained damage to the right rear quarter panel. The police report highlights 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as a contributing factor, underscoring the systemic danger posed by reckless vehicle operation. The victim’s lack of helmet use is noted in the report, but the focus remains on the aggressive driving and police pursuit that led to this violent crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752675, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A northbound Kia SUV hit a 44-year-old woman head-on on Laurelton Parkway. Her skull broke. She died alone, far from any crosswalk. The SUV’s front end crumpled. The road stayed still. No driver errors were specified in the report.

A 44-year-old woman walking in the roadway on Laurelton Parkway was struck head-on by a northbound Kia SUV, according to the police report. The impact broke her skull and she died at the scene, far from any crosswalk. The report states, 'A northbound Kia SUV struck her head-on. Her skull broke. She died there, alone, far from any crosswalk. The SUV’s front crumpled.' The vehicle sustained damage to its center front end. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. No specific driver errors, such as failure to yield or distraction, are cited in the data. The focus remains on the fatal impact and the absence of explicit driver accountability in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750204, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

The council passed a law forcing DOT to reveal bike and micromobility numbers. Streets and bridges get counted. Protected lanes get tracked. The city must show where riders go and where danger lurks. Data goes public. Riders get seen.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity,' was introduced April 11, 2024. It passed committee and full council votes on August 15, 2024, and became law September 14, 2024, as Local Law 88 of 2024. Council Members Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary sponsor), Amanda Farías, Lynn C. Schulman, Crystal Hudson, Lincoln Restler, and others backed the measure. The law compels DOT to publish monthly and annual data on bike and micromobility use, including counts from automated sensors. DOT must also describe safety projects and analyze crash and usage data to guide improvements. This law forces transparency. It puts the movement and safety of vulnerable riders on record.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

DOT will drop speed limits to 20 mph on 49 streets this September. Only a sliver of city roads get safer. Regional slow zones start in lower Manhattan. Council Member Marte backs the move. Advocates want faster, broader action. Most streets stay risky.

On June 27, 2024, the NYC Department of Transportation announced it will use new powers from Sammy's Law to lower speed limits from 25 to 20 mph on 49 street segments starting September 2024, with 201 more to follow by late 2025. The measure covers just 0.13% of city streets, possibly reaching 0.8% if regional slow zones expand. The first such zone will be south of Canal Street in lower Manhattan. DOT can only lower limits street by street unless the City Council acts. Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers confirmed no citywide bill exists. Council Member Christopher Marte welcomed the slow zone in his district, citing rampant speeding off the bridges. Advocates and officials demand faster, broader action, saying, 'Twenty is plenty wherever you'll find people, and in New York that's everywhere.' DOT says it will prioritize areas near schools and neighborhoods with more non-white and low-income residents. The rollout is slow. Most streets remain unchanged.

• DOT Begins Slow Process of Lowering Speed Limits on a Small Number of Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-27

City officials fight to keep jaywalking illegal. They claim it protects pedestrians. Enforcement is rare but hits people of color hardest. Council Member Narcisse wants change. NYPD and DOT resist. Advocates say criminalization fails safety and justice.

On June 26, 2024, the City Council held a hearing on a bill to decriminalize jaywalking. The bill, proposed by Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, seeks to end criminal penalties for crossing streets outside crosswalks. The matter summary states officials argue, 'keeping it illegal protects pedestrian safety.' DOT First Deputy Commissioner Margaret Forgione testified against full legalization, supporting only a reduction to a civil offense. NYPD Deputy Chief Thomas Alps defended targeted enforcement in high-crash areas. Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers questioned the law's fairness, noting most tickets go to Black and Brown New Yorkers. Advocates criticized the city's stance, saying criminalization does not improve safety and harms communities of color. The bill remains under debate, with no clear path forward.

• City Wants To Keep ‘Jaywalking’ Illegal For Pedestrians’ Own Good, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-26