Blood on the Crosswalk: No More Delays, No More Deaths

Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

A 42-year-old man crossing with the signal suffered a head injury after an e-bike struck him at a Brooklyn intersection. The e-bike driver disregarded traffic control and traveled at unsafe speed, causing a concussion and serious harm to the pedestrian.

According to the police report, a 42-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 3 Avenue and 3 Street in Brooklyn at 5:30 PM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when an e-bike traveling westbound struck him at the center front end. The report cites the e-bike driver's failure to obey traffic control and unsafe speed as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained a head injury resulting in a concussion and was conscious at the scene. The e-bike showed no damage, indicating the impact was severe enough to injure the pedestrian but not the vehicle. The report explicitly notes 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' as driver errors, underscoring systemic dangers posed by e-bike operators ignoring traffic laws.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731208 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Council orders DOT to reveal bike and micromobility numbers. Streets and bridges get counted. Riders’ paths mapped. City must show where safety fails and where it works. Data goes public. No more hiding the truth.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and became law September 14, 2024, as Local Law 88. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Schulman, Hudson, Restler, and others. The law forces DOT to publish monthly and annual data on bike and micromobility use, plus crash and safety project details. The city must show where riders go, where danger lurks, and what it does to fix it. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it stands.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-11

A sedan struck its own passenger on Van Brunt Street in Brooklyn. The 46-year-old man suffered a contusion to his elbow and lower arm. The vehicle’s left side doors bore the impact, highlighting a violent collision inside the car.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:00 AM on Van Brunt Street in Brooklyn. The vehicle involved was a 2018 Audi sedan traveling north. The point of impact was the left side doors, indicating the collision affected the passenger side. The injured party was a 46-year-old male occupant, described as conscious but suffering a contusion and bruising to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report notes no ejection from the vehicle and no safety equipment used by the passenger. The contributing factors are unspecified, but the damage and injury suggest a significant impact on the passenger side. No driver errors or victim behaviors were explicitly cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715733 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A distracted driver operating a 2016 SUV collided with a sedan on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. The SUV driver suffered head injuries and whiplash but was not ejected. Both vehicles were traveling west when the crash occurred.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:10 on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn involving a 2016 Nissan SUV and a 2011 Toyota sedan. Both vehicles were traveling westbound when the SUV's left front bumper struck the sedan's left rear quarter panel. The driver of the SUV, a 47-year-old male occupant, sustained head injuries and whiplash, classified as injury severity 3. He was conscious and properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor, repeated twice, indicating the SUV driver failed to maintain proper attention. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The collision caused center front end damage to the SUV and center back end damage to the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4714854 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 48-year-old woman was hit while crossing outside the intersection on Warren Street. She suffered bruises to her knee, leg, and foot. The car showed no damage. Police list no driver errors.

According to the police report, a 48-year-old female pedestrian was struck near 149 Warren Street in Brooklyn at 14:09. She was crossing outside an intersection and suffered contusions to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The vehicle involved was traveling west and showed no damage. The police report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. No driver errors, such as Failure to Yield, are cited. The report does not mention any safety equipment or signals as contributing factors. The focus remains on the pedestrian's injuries, with no blame assigned.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4713192 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

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

A motorcycle traveling north on Clinton Street hit a 57-year-old man crossing at an intersection. The pedestrian suffered a hip and upper leg injury. The crash involved a failure to yield right-of-way by the motorcycle driver, who held a permit license.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling north on Clinton Street struck a 57-year-old male pedestrian at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal and sustained a contusion bruise to his hip and upper leg, classified as injury severity 3. The motorcycle driver, operating with a permit license, was going straight ahead at the time of impact. The point of impact was the motorcycle's left front bumper. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor on the driver's part. No vehicle damage was reported. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision. The data highlights driver error in yielding right-of-way as central to the crash, with the pedestrian's crossing behavior noted but secondary.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712431 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Two sedans collided head-to-tail on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Both drivers suffered neck injuries with whiplash. Police cite outside car distraction as the primary cause. Both occupants were conscious and restrained, avoiding ejection despite impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 2:30 AM on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway involving two sedans traveling westbound. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the lead vehicle and the right rear bumper of the trailing vehicle. Both drivers, a 21-year-old male and a 20-year-old female passenger, sustained neck injuries consistent with whiplash. Both occupants were conscious and properly restrained with lap belts and harnesses, and neither was ejected. The report identifies 'Outside Car Distraction' as the primary contributing factor for both drivers, indicating driver error related to attention diverted from the road. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision caused damage to the front and rear bumpers of the vehicles involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4711867 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Drivers rack up speed and red light camera tickets. No points. No suspensions. Gianaris backs a bill to yank registrations after five violations. Victims’ families and DOT demand action. The loophole leaves reckless drivers free to kill.

Queens Senator Michael Gianaris, with Assemblymember William Magnarelli, introduced a bill to suspend vehicle registrations after five speed or red light camera violations in one year. The measure remains in committee. The bill responds to a fatal flaw: 'We have no mechanism right now, under law, to crack down on extremely reckless drivers,' said Brooklyn State Sen. Andrew Gounardes. The current law lets drivers rack up dozens of camera tickets and keep driving, since no points are added to licenses. Gianaris’s bill aims to close this loophole. DOT and crash victims’ families, including Juliane Williams, whose daughter was killed by a speeding driver, press for stronger penalties and expansion of the red light camera program. The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program expired with little effect. The city’s vulnerable road users remain at risk while repeat offenders face few real consequences.

• FATAL FLAW: NYC reckless motorists can keep driving no matter how many speed camera tickets they get, amny.com, Published 2024-03-24

A box truck struck the rear of a bus traveling south on Van Brunt Street in Brooklyn. The truck driver suffered a back injury but remained conscious. Police cite driver inattention as the cause. Both vehicles sustained center-end damage.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling south on Van Brunt Street rear-ended a bus also moving south at approximately 2 p.m. in Brooklyn. The point of impact was the center back end of the bus and the center front end of the truck. The truck driver, a 59-year-old man, was injured with back trauma but remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report attributes the collision to 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' on the part of the truck driver. Both vehicles were damaged at their center ends. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4711658 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

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

Council bill orders DOT to repair broken curbs during street resurfacing. Hazardous curbs trip, trap, and injure. The fix is overdue. Pedestrians need solid ground. Council moves to force action.

Int 0724-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced March 19, 2024, the bill commands DOT to repair broken curbs that pose safety hazards during any resurfacing project. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... requiring that the department of transportation repair broken curbs as part of resurfacing projects.' Council Members Schulman, Gennaro (primary), Gutiérrez, Louis, Brewer, and Avilés sponsor the measure. The bill targets a simple danger: shattered curbs that trip and injure. If passed, DOT must fix these hazards as routine, not afterthought. The law would take effect 120 days after enactment.

• File Int 0724-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-19

Council wants bold signs at every school entrance. Paint on pavement. Metal overhead. The aim: warn drivers, shield kids. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait. Danger does not.

Bill Int 0714-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced March 19, 2024. The bill reads: 'installing safety signs near schools.' Council Member Susan Zhuang leads, joined by Rivera, Gennaro, Won, Hanif, Gutiérrez, Louis, Cabán, Restler, Farías, Banks, Riley, and Feliz. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to paint and hang school safety signs on every street with a school entrance. The goal: alert drivers to children and pedestrians. The bill awaits further action. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0714-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-19

An SUV turning right on Hamilton Avenue struck a 41-year-old woman crossing the street. The pedestrian suffered hip and upper leg injuries and was left in shock. Police cited driver failure to yield and unsafe speed as crash factors.

According to the police report, at 8:00 PM on Hamilton Avenue in Brooklyn, an SUV making a right turn hit a 41-year-old female pedestrian crossing the street at an intersection. The point of impact was the vehicle's right front bumper, causing center front end damage. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her hip and upper leg, experienced shock, and complained of pain or nausea. The report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors attributed to the driver. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk indication, but the report emphasizes driver errors, particularly failure to yield and unsafe speed, as the primary causes. No other victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709930 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A Brooklyn subway shooting jolted lawmakers. Jo Anne Simon called the National Guard’s presence unwarranted, stoking fear instead of safety. Calls for more policing, mental health funding, and gun control echoed. Riders remain wary. No clear path to safer commutes.

On March 15, 2024, following a deadly subway shooting, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon (District 52) and other lawmakers responded with urgency. The incident came days after Governor Hochul’s National Guard deployment in the transit system. Simon stated, 'The Governor's recent deployment of the National Guard was unwarranted and caused fear rather than a sense of safety.' Other officials, including Brian Cunningham and Lester Chang, debated the effectiveness of increased policing and called for more investment in mental health and gun safety. The matter, titled 'NYC subway shooting a ‘wake up call’,' underscores deep divides on how to protect riders. Simon’s stance highlights the risk of heavy-handed security measures fueling anxiety, not safety, for vulnerable New Yorkers.

• NYC subway shooting a ‘wake up call’ — coming on heels of NY Gov. Kathy Hochul’s National Guard safety plan: lawmakers, nypost.com, Published 2024-03-15

Assembly bill A 9415 orders $90 million for faster, more reliable buses and fare-free rides. Sponsors demand the MTA report every dollar. Streets could shift. Riders wait.

Assembly bill A 9415, introduced March 14, 2024, sits in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Enacts the get congestion pricing right act,' directs the MTA to spend $45 million to improve bus frequency and reliability, and another $45 million to expand fare-free bus pilots in New York City. Sponsors Zohran Mamdani (36), Yudelka Tapia (86), Jo Anne Simon (52), and Alex Bores (73) back the move. The bill requires the MTA to report on these investments. No safety analyst has yet assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• File A 9415, Open States, Published 2024-03-14

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

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

Council moves to outlaw fake plates. Fraud hides reckless drivers. Bill targets sellers, sets fines. Streets need truth. Law aims to strip shields from danger.

Bill Int 0178-2024 sits with the Committee on Public Safety after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the sale or distribution of fraudulent license plates," makes it illegal to sell or distribute fake or temporary plates, with civil penalties for violators. Council Member Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Feliz, Schulman, Ung, Marte, Hudson, Brewer, Brannan, and Avilés. The bill was referred to committee the same day. Fraudulent plates let reckless drivers vanish. This measure aims to close that escape, exposing those who endanger lives.

• File Int 0178-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28