May 28 - Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

May 24 - A motorcycle collided head-on with an SUV on Highland Boulevard. The unlicensed motorcyclist was ejected, suffering severe leg injuries. The SUV driver was slowing. Unsafe speed by the motorcycle was cited as a contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Highland Boulevard at 19:15. A 19-year-old male motorcyclist, driving without a license, collided head-on with a southbound SUV that was slowing or stopping. The motorcycle's point of impact was the center front end, matching the SUV's right front bumper. The motorcyclist was ejected from the vehicle and sustained a fractured, distorted, and dislocated injury to the knee, lower leg, and foot, with injury severity rated at 3. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor, specifically implicating the motorcycle driver. The SUV driver was licensed and had three occupants. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The crash highlights the dangers posed by unlicensed, speeding motorcyclists in NYC traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727242 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 18 - A 10-year-old boy suffered back abrasions after being struck at a marked crosswalk on Fulton Street in Brooklyn. The driver, going straight ahead, showed inattention and inexperience. The pedestrian was conscious and injured at the scene.

According to the police report, a 10-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing at a marked crosswalk on Fulton Street, Brooklyn, at 5 p.m. The pedestrian was conscious and suffered abrasions to his back. The vehicle involved was traveling straight ahead and struck the pedestrian with its center front end. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal but at a marked crosswalk. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the pedestrian's behavior. The crash highlights driver errors, specifically distraction and lack of experience, as the primary cause of the injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725550 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 16 - Queens lawmakers demand more express buses before the $15 congestion toll hits. They say MTA left Queens behind. Riders in transit deserts face long, costly trips. Lawmakers call the exclusion unacceptable. They want fair service before new fees begin.

On May 16, 2024, ten Queens lawmakers, including Julia Salazar (District 18), urged the MTA to expand express bus service to Queens before the $15 Manhattan congestion toll starts. The group wrote to MTA chairman Janno Lieber, stating, "Express buses play a vital role in Queens’ public transit network and only stand to become even more pivotal in the near and distant future." They criticized the MTA for boosting express bus service in Brooklyn and Staten Island but not Queens, calling the exclusion "unacceptable." The lawmakers stressed that many southeast and northeast Queens residents lack subway access and rely on express buses to reach Midtown. They argued the 10 percent LIRR discount is no substitute for robust bus service. Salazar and her colleagues support congestion pricing but insist its success depends on expanded, equitable transit for all vulnerable riders.

• Queens lawmakers demand more MTA bus service to Manhattan before $15 congestion toll begins, nypost.com, Published 2024-05-16

May 16 - Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

May 13 - Two vehicles collided at Ridgewood Avenue in Brooklyn. Both drivers suffered whiplash injuries. The crash involved a sedan and an SUV, with impact on the sedan’s left front bumper and the SUV’s right side doors. Driver distraction caused the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:10 on Ridgewood Avenue in Brooklyn involving a 2020 Ford sedan traveling east and a 2015 Dodge SUV traveling south. Both drivers were licensed New York residents. The sedan sustained damage to its left front bumper from a center front end impact, while the SUV was damaged on its right side doors. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both drivers. The sedan carried two occupants: a 25-year-old female passenger injured with hip and upper leg trauma and whiplash, and a 50-year-old male driver who also suffered whiplash and neck injuries. Neither occupant was ejected. The driver of the sedan was female, and the SUV driver was male. Both drivers were going straight ahead prior to the collision. The report does not list any victim behaviors contributing to the crash. The collision highlights the dangers of driver distraction leading to serious injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724320 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 6 - A northbound SUV struck the left side of a parked sedan on Van Siclen Avenue. The sedan’s driver, a 73-year-old woman, suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries. The SUV sustained damage to its left side doors. No clear driver errors were cited.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:25 on Van Siclen Avenue in Brooklyn. A 2007 SUV traveling north struck the left side doors of a parked 2023 BMW sedan. The sedan’s driver, a 73-year-old female occupant, was injured with contusions and bruises to her shoulder and upper arm but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The SUV was moving straight ahead, while the sedan was stationary. Damage was limited to the right rear bumper of the sedan and the left side doors of the SUV. The report notes unspecified contributing factors for the injured driver but does not assign fault or blame to the victim.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722646 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 1 - A moped driver was badly hurt in a violent Brooklyn crash. The moped was demolished. The driver, age 20, suffered abrasions over his whole body. He stayed conscious after the crash. The street bore the mark of impact.

According to the police report, a 20-year-old male moped driver traveling west on Jamaica Avenue was involved in a crash at Highland Place in Brooklyn. The moped was demolished. The driver suffered abrasions over his entire body and remained conscious after the collision. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified. No driver errors such as failure to yield were cited. The second vehicle involved showed no damage. The crash happened late at night, at 23:40. The data highlights the severe injuries to the moped driver and the destruction of his vehicle, underscoring the risks faced by vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721287 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 28 - A southbound SUV crashed into two parked SUVs in Brooklyn. The driver suffered abdominal and pelvic injuries. Police cited alcohol involvement. Parked vehicles took heavy damage. No other injuries reported.

According to the police report, a southbound SUV traveling on Highland Place in Brooklyn struck two parked SUVs at 5:19 AM. The moving vehicle hit the right front quarter panel of one parked SUV and the right rear quarter panel of another. The 37-year-old male driver was injured in the abdomen and pelvis and found incoherent at the scene. Police cited alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim actions were listed. The parked vehicles sustained significant damage. No pedestrians or passengers were hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720375 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 27 - Two sedans collided on Jamaica Avenue at 7:20 p.m. One driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police report cites unsafe speed as the contributing factor. The crash caused damage to the right front quarter panel and right side doors of the vehicles.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Jamaica Avenue at 19:20 involving two sedans traveling north and west. The collision impacted the right front quarter panel of one vehicle and the right side doors of the other. The report identifies unsafe speed as the contributing factor to the crash. A 55-year-old female occupant was injured, sustaining neck injuries and whiplash, and was conscious at the scene. She was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected from the vehicle. The drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles going straight ahead. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The crash highlights the dangers of speeding on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721464 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 26 - Two sedans traveling south on Linwood Street collided front-to-back. The driver of the front vehicle suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cite driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors in the crash that injured a 50-year-old woman.

According to the police report, two sedans were traveling southbound on Linwood Street in Brooklyn when they collided. The impact occurred at the center front end of the lead vehicle and the center back end of the trailing vehicle. The driver of the front sedan, a 50-year-old woman, sustained neck injuries described as whiplash and was conscious at the scene. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a primary contributing factor to the crash. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles going straight ahead at the time of impact. No ejections or other injuries were reported. The collision highlights the dangers of driver distraction and inattention on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720355 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 17 - Two SUVs slammed together on Atlantic Avenue. A seven-year-old boy in the back seat took the hit. He suffered a neck injury and concussion. Both vehicles struck left front. No driver errors listed.

According to the police report, two station wagons/SUVs collided on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. Both vehicles were heading west and hit each other with their left front bumpers. A seven-year-old male passenger in the rear seat of one SUV was injured. He suffered a neck injury and concussion but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report does not list any driver errors or contributing factors such as failure to yield or speeding. Both drivers were licensed and going straight at the time of the crash. The focus remains on the collision and the injury to the child passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718041 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 14 - A 24-year-old female front-seat passenger suffered a neck injury described as whiplash in a Brooklyn collision. The crash involved two vehicles traveling east, with impact on the left side doors of a sedan and right front bumper of an unspecified vehicle.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 1:39 AM near 1630 Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn. Two vehicles were involved: a 2022 Nissan sedan with two occupants traveling east and an unspecified vehicle also traveling east. The point of impact was the left side doors of the sedan and the right front bumper of the other vehicle. The injured party was a 24-year-old female front passenger in the sedan, who sustained a neck injury described as whiplash and was conscious at the scene. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The passenger was not ejected and her safety equipment use is unknown. The crash narrative and contributing factors remain unspecified, focusing attention on the collision impact and resulting injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4717017 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 13 - A Jeep moving south on Hemlock Street hit a boy of ten as he stepped from behind a parked car. Blood pooled on the cold pavement. The child lay conscious, head gashed, eyes open to the sky.

According to the police report, a ten-year-old boy was struck by a southbound Jeep SUV near 54 Hemlock Street in Brooklyn. The report states the child 'stepped from behind a parked car' when the vehicle hit him with its right front bumper. The boy suffered severe head lacerations but remained conscious on the street. Police list the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' offering no further detail on driver behavior or specific errors. The report does not cite any pedestrian actions as contributing factors beyond the boy's location and movement. The impact location and injury details underscore the lethal risk vehicles pose to children in city streets, especially when visibility is compromised by parked cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718787 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 6 - A southbound SUV collided with another vehicle's right side doors on Jamaica Avenue in Brooklyn late at night. Both male occupants of the SUV suffered head and neck injuries, including whiplash. Police cited traffic control disregard as a key factor.

According to the police report, the crash occurred near Jamaica Avenue and Miller Avenue in Brooklyn at 11:58 PM. A 2010 Toyota SUV traveling southbound struck the right side doors of another vehicle traveling eastbound. The SUV driver, a 60-year-old man, and his 64-year-old male front passenger were both injured, sustaining head and neck injuries with whiplash. The driver was conscious and not ejected. The report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors, indicating driver error in failing to obey traffic signals or controls. The collision damage was concentrated on the right side doors of the SUV and the center front end of the other vehicle. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The incident highlights the dangers of disregarding traffic controls in Brooklyn's busy streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715354 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 27 - Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

Mar 24 - A sedan traveling west struck parked vehicles on Highland Boulevard in Brooklyn. The driver, a 32-year-old woman, suffered abrasions and injuries to her elbow and lower arm. Police cited following too closely as the primary cause of the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 21:44 on Highland Boulevard in Brooklyn. A westbound sedan driven by a 32-year-old female occupant collided with multiple parked vehicles. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor leading to the collision. The driver was injured, sustaining abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand, and was conscious at the scene. The driver was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected from the vehicle. The impact points included the sedan's right front bumper and damage to the parked cars' rear and quarter panels. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were cited. The crash highlights driver error in maintaining safe following distance as the cause of injury and damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712681 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 20 - Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-03-20

Mar 8 - A 32-year-old female driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries when her sedan was struck at the center front end. The crash occurred on Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn, highlighting confusion as a contributing factor in the collision.

According to the police report, a 32-year-old female driver was injured in a crash on Bushwick Avenue, Brooklyn, at 11:27 AM. The vehicle, a 2023 Dodge sedan traveling north, sustained center front end damage. The driver was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness. The report cites "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" as a contributing factor, indicating driver confusion played a role in the collision. No other driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were noted. The injured driver suffered contusions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The report does not attribute fault to the victim or mention any victim behaviors contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4708357 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 7 - Council bill demands DOT fix NYCHA sidewalks first. Seniors come before all. Broken walks trip, injure, kill. Law forces city to show its work. No more hiding behind red tape.

Bill Int 0504-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced March 7, 2024. It orders the DOT to prioritize sidewalk repairs at NYCHA sites, with senior housing first. The bill summary reads: 'establishing priority for sidewalk repairs at developments operated by the New York city housing authority.' Sponsors include Alexa Avilés (primary), Shaun Abreu, Shahana K. Hanif, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Sandy Nurse, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Pierina Ana Sanchez, Lincoln Restler, Rafael Salamanca, Jr., and Farah N. Louis. The law also requires public reporting of repairs and timelines. Sidewalk neglect endangers NYCHA residents—this bill aims to force action and transparency.

• File Int 0504-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07