No One Is Safe Until Streets Change

Feb 14 - A moped driver was thrown from his vehicle on 9th Avenue. He suffered severe leg injuries and lost consciousness. The crash left the moped’s rear crushed. Impact was sudden, brutal, and unforgiving.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old male moped driver was ejected and injured in a crash on 9 Avenue at 56 Street in Brooklyn at 18:25. The moped, traveling west, was struck in the right rear bumper by another vehicle’s right front bumper. The driver was found unconscious with serious injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report does not list any contributing factors or victim fault. The impact to the moped’s rear suggests the other driver failed to maintain control or distance. The moped driver was not wearing safety equipment, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The crash left the rider with severe trauma.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792625 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 14 - Assembly bill A 5440 targets reckless drivers. It makes car owners pay when their vehicles run red lights. Cameras catch the lawbreakers. The aim: fewer crashes, safer streets for all.

Assembly bill A 5440 was introduced on February 14, 2025, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled "Imposes owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic control indicators within the city of New York," seeks to hold vehicle owners accountable when their cars violate traffic signals, using camera enforcement. Assembly Member Steven Raga sponsors the bill, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Tony Simone, Yudelka Tapia, Karines Reyes, and Marcela Mitaynes as co-sponsors. No safety analyst note is available. The bill aims to curb dangerous driving and protect vulnerable road users by making owners answer for violations caught on camera.

• File A 5440, Open States, Published 2025-02-14

Feb 13 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Feb 13 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Jan 26 - A cargo van turned left on Cropsey Avenue. It struck Mayya Gil, 95, and her aide. Gil died. The aide survived. No charges for the driver. Another senior lost to city traffic. The street remains dangerous for the old and frail.

Gothamist (2025-01-26) reports that Mayya Gil, 95, was killed while crossing Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn with her home health aide. According to the NYPD, 'a man driving a cargo van struck both of them while making a left turn.' Gil died from her injuries; her aide was hospitalized. Police did not arrest or charge the driver. The article notes that Gil was the second elderly pedestrian killed in Brooklyn this year, and cites Transportation Alternatives: '46 senior pedestrians were killed in car crashes across the city last year.' The crash highlights the ongoing risk seniors face on city streets, especially at intersections where turning vehicles endanger those crossing on foot.

• Elderly Woman Killed Crossing Cropsey Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-01-26

Jan 23 - A 63-year-old woman was injured crossing with the signal when an SUV making a right turn hit her. The driver failed to yield right-of-way and was distracted. The pedestrian suffered bruises and arm injuries but remained conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:52 in Brooklyn on 46th Street near 9th Avenue. A 63-year-old female pedestrian was crossing with the signal when she was struck by a 2022 Honda SUV making a right turn. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand but remained conscious. The SUV showed no damage despite the center front end impact. The driver was licensed and traveling westbound. This collision highlights driver errors in yielding and attention, with no contributing fault attributed to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787871 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 23 - Council wants every cyclist in New York to wear a helmet. No helmet, pay a $50 fine. The bill targets riders not already covered by other laws. Debate now sits with the transportation committee.

Bill Int 1173-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced January 23, 2025. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of New York, in relation to requiring bicyclists to wear protective headgear.' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams leads as primary sponsor, joined by Council Members Holden, Vernikov, Narcisse, Moya, Schulman, Louis, Hanks, Brannan, and Zhuang. The measure would fine cyclists up to $50 for riding without a helmet, unless already required by other laws. The bill awaits further action in committee.

• File Int 1173-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-23

Jan 16 - Assembly bill A 2299 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets in a year triggers forced speed control tech. Lawmakers move to curb repeat speeders. Streets demand fewer deadly risks.

Assembly bill A 2299, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Assembly. Introduced January 16, 2025, the bill 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during a 24 month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Primary sponsor Emily Gallagher leads a bloc of co-sponsors, including Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, and others. The measure aims to clamp down on repeat speeders with mandatory speed-limiting tech. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 2299, Open States, Published 2025-01-16

Jan 8 - A 41-year-old woman suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a sedan traveling north hit her while she crossed a marked crosswalk without a signal. The impact caused contusions and shock, highlighting driver failure to yield outside intersection zones.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on 8th Avenue in Brooklyn struck a 41-year-old female pedestrian crossing at a marked crosswalk but not at an intersection. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, described as contusions and bruises, and was in shock at the scene. The vehicle's point of impact was the center back end, indicating the driver did not stop or yield to the pedestrian. The report lists no contributing factors from the pedestrian but notes unspecified contributing factors overall. The absence of driver yielding to a pedestrian outside an intersection is a critical error leading to this injury. No helmet or crossing signal use was cited as a factor. This crash underscores the dangers posed by drivers failing to yield to pedestrians crossing legally outside intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784581 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 8 - Assembly bill A 803 aims to keep cars out of bike lanes. Cameras would catch violators. Streets could clear. Cyclists might breathe easier. Lawmakers back the crackdown. The fight for safe passage continues.

Assembly bill A 803, now in sponsorship, proposes a bicycle lane safety program for New York City. It would enforce restrictions on bike lane use with photo devices. The bill summary reads: 'Establishes in the city of New York a bicycle lane safety program to enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and/or protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' Primary sponsor Zohran Mamdani leads, joined by Brian Cunningham, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Harvey Epstein, Amy Paulin, and others. The bill was introduced January 8, 2025. No safety analyst note was provided. The measure targets drivers who block or endanger cyclists.

• File A 803, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 2 - A 69-year-old woman suffered leg fractures when an SUV backed into her near 51st Street. The driver reversed unsafely. The crash left the pedestrian with severe injuries.

According to the police report, a 69-year-old female pedestrian was struck by a 2017 Kia SUV backing south near 51st Street in Brooklyn at 13:48. The SUV hit her with its right rear bumper as she emerged from behind a parked vehicle. The report lists "Backing Unsafely" as the contributing factor, pointing to the driver’s failure to ensure a clear path before reversing. The pedestrian suffered fractures and dislocations to her knee, lower leg, and foot. No pedestrian actions were cited as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and alone in the vehicle. The crash highlights the risk posed by unsafe backing in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783358 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 1 - A white Audi struck Michael Foster on Caton Avenue. The car dragged him for blocks. The driver never stopped. Foster died in the street. The Audi vanished into the night. No arrests. The city’s danger stays.

NY Daily News reported on January 1, 2025, that Michael Foster, 64, was killed after a white Audi hit him on Caton Ave. near Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn. The driver, described as speeding, dragged Foster for half a mile before leaving him near Linden Blvd. and Nostrand Ave. The article quotes a witness: "I saw him at the stop light. He would go out to the cars and beg for change." The driver fled the scene and has not been caught. No arrests have been made. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians in city streets and the ongoing issue of hit-and-run drivers evading responsibility.

• Audi Driver Drags Man Half Mile, NY Daily News, Published 2025-01-01

Dec 31 - A 78-year-old woman was injured crossing with the signal in Brooklyn. The SUV driver made a left turn and struck her at the intersection. Glare impaired visibility, contributing to the crash. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries.

According to the police report, a 78-year-old female pedestrian was crossing with the signal at the intersection of 47 St and 8 Ave in Brooklyn at 9:20 AM when she was struck by a westbound SUV making a left turn. The point of impact was the vehicle's center front end. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, with injury severity rated at level 3. The report cites glare as a contributing factor, indicating impaired visibility for the driver. The SUV driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally, but the left turn maneuver combined with glare led to the collision. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but was not at fault. No vehicle damage was reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782880 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 30 - A 35-year-old woman crossing with the signal was struck at a Brooklyn intersection. The sedan, traveling east and making a right turn, hit her with its right front bumper. She sustained facial contusions but remained conscious after the impact.

According to the police report, a 35-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing at an intersection in Brooklyn on 9 Avenue near 58 Street. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2016 Toyota sedan, traveling east and making a right turn, struck her with the right front bumper. The pedestrian suffered facial contusions and was conscious at the scene. The report lists no explicit driver contributing factors such as failure to yield, but the collision occurred during the vehicle's turning maneuver. The vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian's crossing with the signal is noted, but no contributing factors from the pedestrian were cited. The incident highlights the dangers posed by turning vehicles at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782845 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 18 - Metal groaned on Nostrand Avenue. Two cars trapped, one stacked atop the other. A bus driver, a woman, a girl—hurt but alive. Emergency crews worked fast. The street bore the scars. The cause stayed hidden in the wreckage.

NY Daily News reported on December 18, 2024, that a multi-vehicle crash at Nostrand Ave. and Park Ave. in Brooklyn left three people injured. The article states, 'Three people were injured, including an MTA bus driver and a young girl, in a collision that pinned two cars between a box truck and a city bus.' Footage showed two vehicles sandwiched between the bus and truck, with one car stacked atop another. The injured included a 59-year-old MTA driver, a 33-year-old woman, and a 9-year-old girl. All were hospitalized in stable condition. The cause of the crash was not determined at the time of reporting. The incident highlights the risks at busy intersections and the dangers posed by large vehicles in dense urban traffic.

• Cars Crushed Between Bus And Truck, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-18

Dec 16 - A motorcycle rider was ejected and suffered upper arm injuries after a side collision with an SUV traveling west on 37th Street in Brooklyn. The impact struck the motorcycle's left front and the SUV's right side doors, causing internal injuries and shock.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 37th Street in Brooklyn at 15:05. A motorcycle and an SUV, both traveling west, collided with the motorcycle impacting the left front bumper and the SUV sustaining damage to its right side doors. The motorcycle driver, a 29-year-old male, was ejected from the vehicle and suffered injuries to his shoulder and upper arm, experiencing internal complaints and shock. The motorcycle driver was wearing a helmet. The SUV driver, a licensed male, was going straight ahead prior to the crash. No explicit contributing factors were listed, but the nature of the collision—side impact on the SUV's right side doors—indicates a failure in vehicle interaction. The report does not assign fault to the motorcycle rider or note any victim errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779260 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 16 - A sedan turned right on 9 Ave, striking a 62-year-old woman on a bike making a left. She was ejected, suffering back injuries and shock. The crash left her hurt and shaken on Brooklyn pavement.

According to the police report, a 2020 Nissan sedan, traveling south on 9 Ave near 37 St in Brooklyn, made a right turn and struck a bicyclist heading west and making a left turn. The impact hit the sedan's right rear quarter panel and the bike's center front. The bicyclist, a 62-year-old woman, was ejected and suffered back injuries and shock, with pain and nausea. The report lists unspecified contributing factors. The sedan driver was licensed. The collision underscores the danger of vehicle turns in shared traffic spaces.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779262 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 5 - Council bill bars cars from blocking crosswalks. No standing or parking within 20 feet. City must install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections yearly. Streets clear. Sightlines open. Danger cut.

Int 1138-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 5, 2024. The bill states: “prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.” Council Member Erik D. Bottcher leads, joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and over two dozen co-sponsors. The law orders the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections each year, up from 100. The city must also run outreach and education. The bill aims to keep crosswalks clear, improve visibility, and protect people on foot and bike. No more hiding behind parked cars. The committee laid the bill over on April 21, 2025.

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

Nov 27 - A driver struck three cars in Bed-Stuy. She dragged a person, hit a vehicle with a pregnant woman, then crashed into an empty car. No life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her at the scene. Charges include assault and reckless endangerment.

Gothamist reported on November 27, 2024, that a New York City Housing Authority employee was arrested after a chaotic crash in Brooklyn. According to police, the driver, Tanisha Simpson, "swiped an oncoming car," then "drove away, dragging the person several feet and hitting another car with a pregnant woman inside." She struck a third, empty car before New York City Sheriffs arrested her nearby. The pregnant woman was taken to the hospital for evaluation, but no serious injuries were reported. Simpson faces charges of reckless endangerment, assault, and leaving the scene. The incident highlights the dangers of hit-and-run behavior and the risks faced by vulnerable road users at busy intersections.

• Three-Car Brooklyn Crash Sparks Arrest, Gothamist, Published 2024-11-27

Nov 10 - A distracted SUV driver making a left turn struck a southbound moped on 8 Ave in Brooklyn. The moped driver, unlicensed, suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The SUV’s right front bumper collided with the moped’s center front end at night.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:25 on 8 Ave in Brooklyn. The SUV driver was making a left turn when the collision happened. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The moped, traveling southbound straight ahead, was struck on its center front end by the SUV’s right front bumper. The moped driver, a 52-year-old male, was unlicensed and sustained injuries to his knee and lower leg, including contusions and bruises. He was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The SUV driver was licensed and driving a 2023 Toyota SUV. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report. The collision highlights the dangers of distracted driving during turning maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770764 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19