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 - 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 22 - A southbound SUV plows into a 16-year-old boy on Nostrand Avenue. The bumper smashes his face. Blood pours onto the street. He is conscious, cut deep, stunned by the blow. Driver inattention marks the scene.

A 16-year-old pedestrian suffered severe facial lacerations after being struck by a southbound SUV on Nostrand Avenue near Avenue M in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The collision occurred at 18:06, when the teen stepped into the roadway outside a crosswalk or signal. The report states, 'A southbound SUV hits him head-on. The bumper strikes his face. He falls. Blood spills. He is awake, bleeding, cut deep.' Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, underscoring the driver’s failure to notice or respond to the pedestrian in time. The report also lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a secondary factor, but the primary cause remains the driver’s lack of attention. The impact left the teen conscious but badly injured, highlighting the persistent threat posed by inattentive driving on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787726 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jan 16 - A bus struck a sedan’s right rear quarter panel on Avenue I in Brooklyn. Both male drivers suffered whiplash and other injuries. The crash involved disregarded traffic control, leading to serious harm and shock among the occupants.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Avenue I near Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn at 7:57 PM involving a 2017 bus traveling south and a 2018 sedan traveling west. The bus impacted the sedan’s right rear quarter panel with its center front end. Both drivers, males aged 34 and 37, were injured with knee, lower leg, foot, and neck injuries, and both experienced whiplash. The sedan driver was semiconscious and the bus driver was in shock. The report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating driver error in failing to obey traffic signals or signs. Both drivers were properly licensed. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision’s impact and resulting injuries highlight the dangers posed by driver disregard for traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786621 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jan 16 - Assembly bill A 2363 would force new licenses, tests, and insurance for low-speed electric vehicles. The bill aims to bring order to city streets. Sponsor: Simcha Eichenstein.

Assembly bill A 2363, now in sponsorship, sits before the New York State Assembly. Filed January 16, 2025, it proposes 'new classes of vehicle driver's licenses for low velocity electric vehicles,' plus safety manuals, operator tests, and mandatory insurance in cities over one million. The bill also requires safety instruction in pre-licensing courses. Assembly Member Simcha Eichenstein (District 48) sponsors the measure. The bill's goal: regulate low-speed electric vehicles and set clear standards for operators. No formal safety analyst assessment yet.

• File A 2363, Open States, Published 2025-01-16

Jan 12 - A sedan turned left on Ocean Avenue. An e-scooter carried a 10-year-old boy straight through. Metal struck metal. The boy was thrown, his leg crushed. He wore a helmet. He stayed conscious. The street swallowed his scream.

According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn on Ocean Avenue near Avenue J collided with an e-scooter traveling straight. The impact threw a 10-year-old boy from the scooter, resulting in severe crush injuries to his lower leg. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The sedan’s driver, licensed in New York, struck the scooter with the vehicle’s left front bumper while turning. The boy, riding outside and wearing a helmet, remained conscious after the crash. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver inattention and failure to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785665 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jan 9 - A moving SUV struck the left rear bumper of a parked SUV on E 16 St in Brooklyn. A 71-year-old front passenger suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The crash involved driver errors and pedestrian confusion, according to the police report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on E 16 St in Brooklyn at 3 PM when a southbound SUV traveling straight ahead collided with the left rear bumper of a parked SUV. The impact injured a 71-year-old female front passenger, who sustained neck injuries and whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. The report cites "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" as a contributing factor, though no pedestrian was involved in this collision. Driver errors are implied by the moving vehicle striking a stationary vehicle. The moving SUV's right front bumper and the parked SUV's left rear bumper were damaged. The driver of the moving SUV was licensed and operating a 2016 Toyota SUV. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785086 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jan 8 - A 39-year-old male SUV driver suffered facial abrasions after his vehicle collided with a taxi on Avenue H in Brooklyn. Alcohol involvement was noted, highlighting driver impairment as a critical factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:45 on Avenue H in Brooklyn. The injured party was a 39-year-old male driver of a 2017 SUV traveling west, who sustained abrasions to his face and was conscious after the collision. The SUV's left rear quarter panel was impacted. The collision involved a taxi and a station wagon/SUV. The taxi was traveling west with a licensed male driver, while the SUV was entering a parked position when struck. The report explicitly cites alcohol involvement as a contributing factor, indicating driver impairment played a key role. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors are listed. The report does not assign blame to the injured driver but highlights systemic danger from impaired driving.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785085 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jan 8 - Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

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

Int 1160-2025, now enacted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, forces the Department of Transportation to install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. The bill, sponsored by Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, Ariola, and others, passed on March 15, 2025. The law demands annual reporting on compliance and reasons for any delay. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Quick, visible lines cut confusion and protect people crossing or riding. The law took effect immediately.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 3 - A 36-year-old male sedan driver suffered full-body contusions after an SUV collided with his vehicle’s right side doors. The crash occurred during the SUV’s unsafe backing maneuver. The driver remained conscious and restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, the crash happened in Brooklyn near East 22nd Street at 10:58 AM. The collision involved a 2025 SUV and a 2022 sedan. The SUV was backing unsafely when it struck the sedan on the right side doors. The sedan driver, a 36-year-old man, was injured with contusions to his entire body but was conscious and wearing a lap belt. The report explicitly cites "Backing Unsafely" as the contributing factor, highlighting the SUV driver's error. The sedan driver was not at fault, and no victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. Vehicle damage was centered on the SUV’s back end and the sedan’s right side doors, confirming the impact dynamics.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783719 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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