Blood on Neptune Avenue: How Many More Must Die Before Leaders Act?

Jun 13 - Two sedans collided on W 8 St in Brooklyn. One driver and a passenger suffered injuries. Police cite driver inattention. The street saw metal twist, glass break, lives shaken. The system failed to protect those inside.

A crash involving two sedans occurred on W 8 St near Sheepshead Bay Road in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. One driver, a 60-year-old woman, suffered back injuries and shock. A 26-year-old female passenger was also injured. The report lists no contributing factors for the victims. The collision involved multiple vehicles, but only the sedan occupants were hurt. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus behind the wheel. No helmet or signal use was cited as a factor. The toll fell on those inside the cars, not on the distracted driver alone.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820466 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 13 - A crash on Neptune Avenue left a man with neck injuries. Three vehicles tangled. Police blamed driver distraction. Metal bent. One driver hurt. The street stayed dangerous. No pedestrians or cyclists involved. The system failed to protect.

A collision on Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn involved a sedan, an SUV, and a parked pickup truck. One man, age 46, suffered a neck injury and whiplash. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor. The crash involved two licensed male drivers and several other occupants, including a child. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported among the injured. The impact points show the SUV struck the left front bumper, the sedan was hit at the right rear, and the parked truck was damaged on the left side doors. The report does not list helmet or signal use as factors. The data points to driver distraction as the key failure.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820464 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 13 - Two SUVs collided on Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn. One driver suffered a neck injury. The crash came as one vehicle made a U-turn and the other changed lanes. Police cite improper turning as the cause. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous.

A crash involving two SUVs unfolded on Neptune Avenue at West 25th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, one vehicle was making a U-turn while the other was changing lanes. The impact left a 43-year-old woman, driving one of the SUVs, with a neck injury and whiplash. Three other occupants, including both drivers, were listed with unspecified injuries. Police identified 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factor. The report notes both vehicles sustained damage, with one struck on the right side doors and the other at the center front end. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820463 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 13 - City will rip out a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. The lane calmed a deadly stretch. Drivers still parked illegally. Children darted into traffic. Now, cyclists and pedestrians face more danger. Policy shifts, safety slips. Streets stay lethal.

Streetsblog NYC reported on June 13, 2025, that Mayor Adams will remove the protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue, a corridor known for high crash rates. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'before this bike lane from 2018 to 2022 this is the area that had the second largest numbers of pedestrian fatalities and crashes in the city.' The lane faced opposition from some Hasidic leaders, citing children running into the lane from illegally parked cars and buses. Despite tweaks—school bus zones, daylighted corners, no standing areas—drivers kept parking illegally, blocking sightlines and endangering children. The city rarely removes protected lanes, but Adams acted after political pressure. Moving the lane to Classon Avenue, as some demand, would force cyclists onto a chaotic BQE ramp. The decision highlights persistent driver violations and policy gaps that leave vulnerable road users exposed.

• Adams Removes Bedford Avenue Bike Lane, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-13

Jun 13 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Schenectady schools. The bill passed both chambers. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program ends in 2030. Streets near schools may get safer. The vote was not unanimous.

Senate Bill S 5677, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The Senate passed it on June 12, with primary sponsor James Tedisco (District 44) and co-sponsor Patricia Fahy (District 46) leading the push. The Assembly approved it on June 13. The bill sets up automated speed enforcement near schools and sunsets December 31, 2030. The measure aims to catch speeding drivers near children. Some lawmakers voted no, but most supported the move. No formal safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets a known danger zone for vulnerable road users.

• File S 5677, Open States, Published 2025-06-13

Jun 13 - Senate and Assembly clear S 6815. MTA workers get a pass for driving in bus lanes while on duty. Law shields agency vehicles from tickets. Streets grow more crowded. Vulnerable users face more risk.

Bill S 6815, titled 'Relates to bus lane restrictions in New York city,' passed the Senate on June 12, 2025, and the Assembly on June 13, 2025. The bill states, 'it shall be a defense to any prosecution for a violation of a bus lane restriction ... when an employee of the metropolitan transportation authority is performing authorized duties.' Sponsored by Senator Leroy Comrie and co-sponsored by Nathalia Fernandez, the measure exempts MTA employees from bus lane tickets while working. No safety analysis was provided. The bill opens bus lanes to more agency vehicles, crowding space meant for buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.

• File S 6815, Open States, Published 2025-06-13

Jun 13 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-13

Jun 12 - Senate backs S 4045. Repeat speeders face forced installation of speed assistance tech. Eleven points or six camera tickets triggers action. Law targets reckless drivers. Streets may get safer for those outside the car.

Senate bill S 4045, sponsored by Andrew Gounardes and co-sponsored by over two dozen senators, passed committee votes on June 11 and June 12, 2025. The bill, titled 'Relates to requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits,' mandates these devices for drivers who rack up eleven or more points in 24 months, or six speed or red light camera tickets in a year. The measure aims to curb repeat dangerous driving. Senators including Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, and others voted yes. The bill targets drivers with a pattern of violations, seeking to cut risk for pedestrians and cyclists by limiting repeat speeding.

• File S 4045, Open States, Published 2025-06-12

Jun 12 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Schenectady schools. The bill passed both chambers. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program ends in 2030. Streets near schools may get safer. The vote was not unanimous.

Senate Bill S 5677, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The Senate passed it on June 12, with primary sponsor James Tedisco (District 44) and co-sponsor Patricia Fahy (District 46) leading the push. The Assembly approved it on June 13. The bill sets up automated speed enforcement near schools and sunsets December 31, 2030. The measure aims to catch speeding drivers near children. Some lawmakers voted no, but most supported the move. No formal safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets a known danger zone for vulnerable road users.

• File S 5677, Open States, Published 2025-06-12

Jun 12 - Senate and Assembly clear S 6815. MTA workers get a pass for driving in bus lanes while on duty. Law shields agency vehicles from tickets. Streets grow more crowded. Vulnerable users face more risk.

Bill S 6815, titled 'Relates to bus lane restrictions in New York city,' passed the Senate on June 12, 2025, and the Assembly on June 13, 2025. The bill states, 'it shall be a defense to any prosecution for a violation of a bus lane restriction ... when an employee of the metropolitan transportation authority is performing authorized duties.' Sponsored by Senator Leroy Comrie and co-sponsored by Nathalia Fernandez, the measure exempts MTA employees from bus lane tickets while working. No safety analysis was provided. The bill opens bus lanes to more agency vehicles, crowding space meant for buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.

• File S 6815, Open States, Published 2025-06-12

Jun 11 - City will block cars from corners. Barriers, granite, planters will clear sightlines. DOT acts after half of deaths hit at intersections. Brooklyn gets first fixes. Cyclists and walkers may see drivers before impact. Steel and stone replace painted lines.

The Brooklyn Paper reported on June 11, 2025, that NYC DOT will redesign intersections to protect cyclists and pedestrians. The plan uses 'hardened daylighting'—physical barriers, granite blocks, and planters—to stop cars from parking near corners. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'Using barriers to clear space at the intersection will help ensure pedestrians, cyclists and turning vehicles can see each other and enhance safety.' Nearly half of city traffic deaths happen at intersections, often due to blocked sightlines and turning vehicles. The redesign targets high-crash Brooklyn intersections first, including Ocean Avenue at Church Avenue. The move highlights the city's shift from painted lines to physical infrastructure, aiming to reduce systemic risk for vulnerable road users.

• NYC DOT Targets Intersection Danger Zones, The Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 11 - White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 11 - Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 10 - Senate backs S 8117. Oneida County gets school speed zone cameras. Law sunsets in 2030. Lawmakers act. Streets near schools may slow. Children walk safer. Drivers face new eyes.

Senate bill S 8117, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the county of Oneida,' passed committee votes on May 27 and June 10, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senator Joseph A. Griffo (District 53), sets up speed cameras near schools in Oneida County. The program ends December 31, 2030. The Senate voted yes, with only two no votes and several excused. The measure aims to slow drivers near schools and protect children. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

• File S 8117, Open States, Published 2025-06-10

Jun 9 - Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

Jun 1 - A BMW motorcycle sped west on Shore Parkway. The unlicensed driver lost focus. The crash left his passenger hurt, arm bruised. Police blamed distraction. The road stayed open. The city counted another wound.

A crash on Shore Parkway in Brooklyn involved a BMW motorcycle traveling west. According to the police report, the motorcycle driver was unlicensed and listed as distracted at the time of the crash. The 23-year-old male driver suffered a contusion to his arm but remained conscious and was wearing a helmet. His 23-year-old male passenger was also injured. The police report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main contributing factor. No other vehicles or road users were involved. The report does not mention any other contributing factors beyond distraction and the lack of a valid license for the driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816992 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 26 - A driver struck Tiffany Cifuni after a fender-bender in Bedford-Stuyvesant. She was pregnant. The driver dragged her down a one-way street, crashed again, then fled. Cifuni’s family mourns. The street holds the mark of violence and loss.

NY Daily News reported on May 26, 2025, that Tiffany Cifuni, 32, was killed after a Chevy Trax rear-ended her on Van Buren St. in Brooklyn. Cifuni exited her vehicle to confront the driver, who then ran her over and dragged her down the street. The driver fled, crashing into two more vehicles before abandoning the car. The article quotes Cifuni’s husband: “I lost my whole family tonight.” Surveillance footage captured the confrontation and the fatal impact. The incident highlights the lethal risk of driver aggression and the dangers of hit-and-run crashes. The driver’s decision to flee and drive the wrong way down a one-way street escalated the harm, underscoring systemic failures in street safety and enforcement.

• Pregnant Woman Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-26

May 25 - A sedan struck two pedestrians at W 23rd Street. Both suffered leg injuries. The crash happened after midnight. Police say the driver fell asleep. The street turned violent in a moment. Shock followed. Metal and flesh collided. Brooklyn paid the price.

Two pedestrians, a 32-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man, were injured when a sedan struck them at the intersection of 2945 W 23rd Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the driver 'fell asleep' before the crash. Both pedestrians suffered injuries to their knees, lower legs, and feet, and were left in shock. The report lists 'Fell Asleep' as the contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. No other contributing factors are noted. The crash involved multiple vehicles, but only the pedestrians sustained reported injuries. The data does not mention helmet or signal use as factors. The incident underscores the danger faced by people on foot when drivers lose control.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816940 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 25 - A maroon Chevy struck a car from behind in Brooklyn. The woman inside stepped out. The driver ran her over and dragged her. She died in the street. The driver fled. Police search for answers.

CBS New York reported on May 25, 2025, that a woman was killed in Brooklyn after a maroon Chevy rear-ended her car. According to police, 'when she got out to approach the vehicle she was run over and dragged.' The driver did not remain at the scene. The incident highlights the lethal risk posed by drivers who flee after collisions. The NYPD is searching for the suspect. The case underscores ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users and the urgent need for stronger enforcement and street design to prevent such deaths.

• Woman Run Down After Brooklyn Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-05-25

May 20 - Two SUVs collided on Belt Parkway ramp. One driver suffered head injury. Police cite following too closely. Impact struck center back end. System failed to protect occupants.

Two sport utility vehicles crashed on the Belt Parkway ramp in Brooklyn. One driver, a 35-year-old woman, sustained a head injury and whiplash. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Following Too Closely.' The impact struck the center back end of one SUV. Other occupants reported unspecified injuries. The report lists no other contributing factors. Systemic danger persists when drivers follow too closely, leaving little margin for error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814360 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19