Brooklyn Heights Bleeds: Speed Kills, Leaders Stall

A repeat offender killed Xia Ying Chen, 66, in Bath Beach. Senator Gounardes called for tougher laws and real consequences for reckless drivers. He slammed weak enforcement. Streets remain deadly. Calls for redesign and accountability echo. The system failed again.

On September 19, 2023, after a deadly crash in Bath Beach, State Senator Andrew Gounardes demanded action. The driver, Faheem Shabazz, had a record of speeding violations. Gounardes, a safe streets advocate, said, 'That's really what this conversation should be about—how are we holding people accountable when they have violations to their record and zero consequences for it.' He supports lowering speed limits and tougher penalties but stressed that enforcement is lacking. Senator Iwen Chu urged the NYC DOT to study the area for safety upgrades, stating, 'We must recognize that our streets need to be designed with safety in mind.' The DOT is reviewing the intersection. The call is clear: repeat offenders face little consequence, and street design still puts pedestrians at risk.

• ‘A real damn shame’: After grandmother killed in Bath Beach crash, pol says reckless drivers must be held accountable, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-09-19

DOT stripped protected bike lanes from Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue. Cyclists now dodge cars and illegal parking. Elected officials and advocates demand action. DOT cites traffic, but danger grows. Pedestrians lose safe crossings. The agency stays silent. Streets stay deadly.

On September 18, 2023, a coalition of elected officials and advocates called out the Department of Transportation for removing protected bike lanes on Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue during construction. The matter, described as 'DOT continues to ignore dangers it created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave,' centers on DOT’s decision to replace bike lanes with a second car lane, violating a city law that requires temporary bike lanes during such work. Council Members Lincoln Restler, Alexa Aviles, Shahana Hanif, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and groups like Bike New York and Transportation Alternatives sent a letter demanding the bike lane’s return and physical barriers to stop illegal parking on pedestrian islands. The letter urges DOT to 'ensure curb lanes be preserved for safe cyclist passage' and to 'deploy quick-build physical elements' for pedestrian safety. DOT has not responded. Cyclists and pedestrians remain at risk.

• DOT Continues to Ignore Dangers it Created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-18

Council waits. DOT stalls. The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program limps toward expiration. Thousands of reckless drivers dodge consequences. Few take the safety course. Council members call for answers, action, and stronger laws. Vulnerable New Yorkers remain exposed.

On September 18, 2023, the City Council reviewed the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program (DVAP), which is set to expire on October 26. The Transportation Committee, led by Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, pressed the Department of Transportation (DOT) for a final report on the program’s effectiveness. The bill required drivers with 15 speed-camera or five red-light tickets in a year to take a safety course or risk vehicle seizure. Council Member Shahana Hanif voiced disappointment, noting, 'We need to not only reauthorize this program, but strengthen it.' Despite over 34,000 drivers meeting the threshold in the last year, only about 1,200 took the course in three years. DOT has not explained the reporting delay or provided outcome data. The lack of enforcement leaves dangerous drivers on the road and vulnerable road users at risk.

• Council Needs Info from DOT So it Can Rescue (or Ignore) Fading ‘Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-18

DOT stripped protected bike lanes from Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue. Cyclists now dodge cars and illegal parking. Elected officials and advocates demand action. DOT cites traffic, but danger grows. Pedestrians lose safe crossings. The agency stays silent. Streets stay deadly.

On September 18, 2023, a coalition of elected officials and advocates called out the Department of Transportation for removing protected bike lanes on Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue during construction. The matter, described as 'DOT continues to ignore dangers it created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave,' centers on DOT’s decision to replace bike lanes with a second car lane, violating a city law that requires temporary bike lanes during such work. Council Members Lincoln Restler, Alexa Aviles, Shahana Hanif, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and groups like Bike New York and Transportation Alternatives sent a letter demanding the bike lane’s return and physical barriers to stop illegal parking on pedestrian islands. The letter urges DOT to 'ensure curb lanes be preserved for safe cyclist passage' and to 'deploy quick-build physical elements' for pedestrian safety. DOT has not responded. Cyclists and pedestrians remain at risk.

• DOT Continues to Ignore Dangers it Created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-18

A box truck struck the left rear quarter panel of a sedan on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The sedan’s right rear passenger suffered head injuries and whiplash. The crash involved improper lane usage by the truck driver. Both vehicles traveled westbound.

According to the police report, a 2023 box truck traveling westbound on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway collided with the left rear quarter panel of a 2015 sedan also traveling westbound. The truck driver was cited for improper passing or lane usage. A 35-year-old female occupant seated in the right rear of the sedan was injured, sustaining head trauma and whiplash. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness at the time of the crash. The impact occurred at the right front bumper of the truck and the left rear bumper of the sedan. No ejections were reported. The report lists no contributing factors from the passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4662978 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

An 18-year-old bicyclist was injured in a crash with an SUV on Cadman Plaza West. The cyclist suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. The collision involved a failure to obey traffic controls. The bicyclist was conscious and not ejected.

According to the police report, an 18-year-old male bicyclist traveling east on Cadman Plaza West collided with a northbound 2020 Toyota SUV. The bicyclist sustained abrasions to his elbow and lower arm but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating a failure to obey traffic signals or signs. Additionally, the bicyclist was noted to be 'Listening/Using Headphones' at the time, which may have affected his awareness. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the bike and the left front bumper of the SUV. No helmet or signaling factors were mentioned.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4662372 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

MTA promised faster R trains in Brooklyn. Riders waited up to 16 minutes. Senator Gounardes called out the agency for misleading the public. Track work on another line delayed improvements. Riders left stranded. Trust broken. Transparency demanded.

On September 7, 2023, the MTA faced backlash for failing to deliver on its pledge of eight-minute weekday headways for the R train in southern Brooklyn. The issue, reported by State Senator Andrew Gounardes, surfaced after riders complained of waits as long as 16 minutes. The MTA had announced service upgrades, but later changed its press release, citing F line track work as the cause for delay—work unrelated to the R train. Gounardes, who fought for MTA funding in Albany, accused the agency of misrepresenting the improvements, saying, 'I’m shocked and frustrated that the MTA would misrepresent these service upgrades to the riding public.' Transit advocates like Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance echoed calls for honesty: 'Public transit shouldn’t be a rollercoaster of mismatched expectations.' The incident has strained relations between the MTA and its legislative supporters, highlighting the need for transparency and reliability in transit service.

• MTA ‘Bungles’ Increased R Train Service Promise, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-07

A 35-year-old man driving a sedan was injured in a rear-end collision on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The SUV driver, traveling west, struck the sedan’s right front bumper. The sedan driver suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway involving a sedan and an SUV, both traveling west. The SUV struck the sedan from behind, impacting the sedan’s right front bumper and causing damage to the SUV’s left rear quarter panel. The sedan driver, a 35-year-old male, was injured with abrasions to his elbow and lower arm but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists the contributing factors as unsafe speed and following too closely, both attributed to the SUV driver. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657236 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A van slammed into the back of an SUV on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The van’s driver, 48, lost consciousness and died, still belted in. No skid marks. No swerve. Just impact, metal, and silence on a sunlit afternoon.

A van struck the rear of a Toyota SUV on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, westbound. The van’s driver, a 48-year-old man, lost consciousness and died at the scene. According to the police report, 'A van struck the back of a Toyota SUV. The van’s driver, 48, lost consciousness and died belted in. No skid marks. No swerve.' The listed contributing factor is 'Lost Consciousness.' No driver errors such as speeding or distraction are cited in the data. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness. No other injuries were reported. The crash left the van’s front and the SUV’s rear damaged, marking another fatal toll on New York City’s roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4655820 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A speeding driver ran a red light on Atlantic Avenue, killing an 18-year-old passenger and injuring three others. The crash happened outside Trader Joe’s in Cobble Hill. Council Member Lincoln Restler called for urgent safety fixes. Atlantic Avenue remains deadly. No changes yet.

"We can’t fix Atlantic Ave fast enough, and we need a hell of a lot more accountability for drivers who speed and run red lights." -- Andrew Gounardes

On August 18, 2023, a speeding driver in a Mercedes ran a red light at Atlantic Avenue and Court Street, killing an 18-year-old woman and injuring three others. This stretch of Atlantic Avenue is notorious for deadly crashes. Council Member Lincoln Restler responded, stating, “Our community is unified in demanding immediate changes to dramatically slow down traffic, improve safety at intersections, and install new mid block crossings.” The incident marks the second fatal crash on this corridor in 2023. Despite calls from Restler and other local officials for mid-block crossings and traffic calming after previous deaths, the city has not acted. The bill or action is a public statement, not legislation, but it highlights urgent demands for redesign and enforcement to protect vulnerable road users. No safety improvements have been implemented yet.

• Speeding Driver Runs Red Light and Kills 18-Year-Old on Deadly Atlantic Avenue Speedway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-18

A reckless driver ran a red light on Atlantic Avenue. He killed an 18-year-old passenger and injured four others. Council Member Lincoln Restler called the strip deadly. He demanded urgent safety fixes. Another life lost. The street remains a threat.

On August 18, 2023, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) responded to a fatal crash at Atlantic Avenue and Court Street. An 18-year-old woman died after a driver sped through a red light and struck another car. Restler stated, 'This is one of the most dangerous strips in Brooklyn & we need safety improvements on Atlantic Ave NOW.' He called for immediate action: slower traffic, mid-block crossings, and better protections for all. State Sen. Andrew Gounardes echoed the demand for accountability and urgent fixes. No council bill is attached, but Restler’s public statement highlights the deadly pattern on Atlantic Avenue and the urgent need for systemic change to protect vulnerable road users.

• Cops cuff driver after Brooklyn crash kills 18-year-old woman: NYPD, amny.com, Published 2023-08-18

Civic groups blasted Mayor Adams’s BQE plan. They called it car- and truck-centric. The city wants more lanes and a new off-ramp. Critics say this endangers communities and ignores transit. Local leaders demand fewer cars, safer streets, and real change.

On August 18, 2023, civic groups and local officials criticized Mayor Adams’s Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) plan. The Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled three concepts for the Atlantic Avenue interchange, restoring three lanes each way and adding a new off-ramp on Hicks Street. The coalition’s letter called this 'extremely misguided.' Former DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman said the proposals 'don’t improve safety, they don’t improve traffic, and they certainly don’t improve any of the surrounding communities.' Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon backed a corridor-wide approach and prolonging the cantilever’s life for better planning. The groups urge immediate repairs, less traffic, and more transit. DOT Press Secretary Vin Barone defended the plan, citing federal funding and green space. The community’s message is clear: the city’s current approach puts vulnerable road users at risk and fails to meet safety or environmental needs.

• Civic Groups Slam Mayor’s ‘Car- and Truck-Centric’ BQE Plan, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-18

Assembly bill A 7979 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets triggers a speed limiter. Lawmakers move to curb repeat danger. No more unchecked speeding. Streets demand it.

Assembly bill A 7979, now in sponsorship, sits before the New York State Assembly. Introduced August 18, 2023, it 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during an eighteen month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Assemblymember Emily Gallagher leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, Tony Simone, Jo Anne Simon, and others. The bill aims to force chronic speeders to slow down. No safety analyst note is available, but the intent is clear: rein in repeat offenders, protect those outside the car.

• File A 7979, Open States, Published 2023-08-18

Senate bill S 7621 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets trigger mandatory speed control tech. Sponsors push to curb repeat danger. No votes yet. Streets stay tense.

Senate bill S 7621, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Senate. Filed August 2, 2023, it 'relates to requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits.' Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Jeremy Cooney, Michael Gianaris, Kristen Gonzalez, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill forces drivers with eleven points in eighteen months, or six speed/red light camera tickets in a year, to install speed-limiting devices. No safety analyst note yet. The measure aims to cut repeat speeding and protect those outside the car.

• File S 7621, Open States, Published 2023-08-02

State Sen. Gounardes and Assembly Member Gallagher push a bill to force repeat speeders to install limiters. The tech would cap speed, targeting drivers with six or more tickets. Advocates say it could cut deaths. Reckless drivers face real consequences.

On August 2, 2023, State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher announced new legislation targeting recidivist reckless drivers. The bill, introduced in the New York State Legislature, would require drivers with at least six speeding tickets in a single year, or 11 points in 18 months, to install speed limiter devices in their vehicles. The matter summary states: "We are going to literally force you to slow down by requiring you to install a speed limiter on your car." Gounardes led the announcement at the Atlantic Avenue intersection where a driver killed Katherine Harris. Gallagher, co-sponsor, said, "Cars and trucks can act as weapons when used recklessly." The bill aims to bypass bureaucratic hurdles and act automatically, modeled after ignition interlock devices for drunk drivers. Advocates and city officials joined the call, citing data that speed limiters can reduce traffic deaths by 37 percent. The bill targets the most dangerous drivers, seeking to end impunity for repeat offenders.

• In-Car Tech Would Force NYC’s Worst Drivers to Slow Down Under New Proposal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-02

Lawmakers push a bill to force speed-limiting devices on repeat reckless drivers. The measure targets those with a record of speeding and red-light violations. It aims to slow down the worst offenders and curb the rising toll of traffic deaths.

On August 1, 2023, lawmakers introduced a bill requiring speed-limiting devices for repeat reckless drivers. The bill, sponsored by State Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, targets drivers with six or more automated speed or red light tickets, or eleven license points in 18 months. The measure would force these drivers to install devices that cap speed at five miles per hour above the limit. Gounardes said, 'There is a persistent cohort of drivers... driving on our streets recklessly without any consequences.' The bill was unveiled at the site of a fatal pedestrian crash in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program, which mandates safety courses for repeat offenders, has faced criticism for weak enforcement. This new bill seeks to close those gaps and directly slow down the most dangerous drivers on city streets.

• State lawmakers unveil bill to put speed limiting devices in reckless drivers’ cars, amny.com, Published 2023-08-01

New York stands firm on congestion pricing. New Jersey sues. Assemblymember Carroll calls the suit a stunt. Officials defend the plan’s review. The fight is sharp. Streets remain dangerous. Vulnerable road users wait for real change.

On July 21, 2023, Assemblymember Robert Carroll (District 44) responded to New Jersey’s lawsuit against New York’s congestion pricing plan. The matter, titled “New York Doubles Down on Congestion Pricing After New Jersey Sues,” saw Carroll label the suit a 'stunt' and accuse Governor Murphy of ignoring environmental and quality-of-life concerns. State Senator Andrew Gounardes called the lawsuit a cynical move to control New York’s roads. MTA officials, including John McCarthy, defended the environmental review, citing extensive outreach and public hearings. The bill’s status is an official response to legal challenge, not a council vote or committee action. No direct safety impact assessment for vulnerable road users was provided. The debate underscores the ongoing struggle to make streets safer for those outside cars.

• New York Doubles Down on Congestion Pricing After New Jersey Sues, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-07-21

New York leaders stand firm on congestion pricing. They dismiss New Jersey’s lawsuit as political theater. Officials say the environmental review was thorough. The MTA promises mitigation for affected communities. The fight centers on who controls city streets and who pays the price.

On July 21, 2023, New York officials responded to a lawsuit from New Jersey over congestion pricing. The matter, titled 'New York Doubles Down on Congestion Pricing After New Jersey Sues,' saw Governor Kathy Hochul, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, and Assemblymember Robert Carroll defend the plan. Gounardes called the suit 'a cynical attempt' by New Jersey to interfere. Carroll labeled it 'a stunt.' MTA spokesperson John McCarthy said the environmental assessment 'covered every conceivable potential traffic, air quality, social and economic effect.' The MTA also pledged mitigation for environmental justice communities. The bill’s status is active, with strong support from New York’s leadership and ongoing opposition from New Jersey.

• New York Doubles Down on Congestion Pricing After New Jersey Sues, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-21

A young rider hit a parked car in Brooklyn. He flew from the bike and landed hard. His leg and foot took the worst. Police cite inexperience and distraction. The sedan never moved.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old male motorcyclist traveling south on Willow Street collided with a parked sedan near Orange Street in Brooklyn. The rider was partially ejected and suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists driver inexperience and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The motorcycle struck the sedan's left rear bumper with its right front quarter panel. The sedan was stationary at the time of the crash. The rider was wearing a helmet and remained conscious. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4647727 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Brooklyn officials demand equal tolls on all Manhattan crossings. They warn free bridges funnel traffic into certain neighborhoods. Their letter calls for fairness. The MTA stays silent. The Traffic Mobility Review Board will decide. Streets hang in the balance.

On July 18, 2023, Council Member Shahana Hanif and other Brooklyn officials called for 'equalized tolling on all crossings into Manhattan' as congestion pricing nears. Their letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board states: 'No one community should disproportionately bear the burden of the cars and trucks passing through their neighborhood.' Hanif, along with Lincoln Restler, Alexa Avilés, Jennifer Gutiérrez, and Crystal Hudson, joined borough, state, and federal colleagues in this push. They propose a credit system to balance costs between DOT bridges and MTA tunnels, aiming to protect neighborhoods like the Brooklyn waterfront and the BQE corridor from traffic surges. The MTA declined comment. The Board will soon set final toll rates and rules. The federal government has approved the congestion pricing plan, with tolls for cars expected between $9 and $23. Over 100 exemption requests, including from taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers, are under review.

• Pols call for ‘equalized tolling’ on all crossings into Manhattan under congestion pricing on eve of board deliberations, amny.com, Published 2023-07-18