Deadly Silence on the Belt Parkway: Lives Lost, Leaders Absent

Nov 22 - Two SUVs and a sedan collided on Belt Parkway. Both drivers suffered injuries and shock. The impact demolished one SUV’s rear bumper. Police cited improper lane usage as a factor. Both drivers wore seat belts and were not ejected.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Belt Parkway involving two SUVs and a sedan, all traveling east. The impact point was the right rear bumper of one SUV and the right front quarter panel of another. Two drivers, ages 48 and 46, were injured and experienced shock. Both were restrained by lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor, indicating driver error in lane management. Injuries included whiplash and back pain. Vehicle damage was severe, with one SUV demolished at the rear. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4584277 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 31 - A convertible struck a sedan from behind on Avenue U in Brooklyn. The sedan’s female driver, 27, suffered full-body injuries and shock. The crash happened just after midnight. Driver distraction caused the collision. Both vehicles traveled westbound.

According to the police report, a convertible traveling westbound rear-ended a sedan also heading west on Avenue U in Brooklyn. The sedan’s driver, a 27-year-old woman, was injured with full-body trauma and experienced shock. She was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as the contributing factor. The convertible’s impact point was the center back end, while the sedan sustained damage to its center front end. Both vehicles were occupied by a single driver. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4560175 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 9 - Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse backs a dedicated bus lane on Flatbush Avenue. She joins Mayor Adams and others, pushing for faster, safer rides. Riders wait too long. Streets choke with traffic. The city moves to act, despite driver backlash and parking fears.

On August 9, 2022, Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse (District 46) endorsed the Flatbush Avenue dedicated bus lane proposal. The plan, a priority for the Adams administration and MTA, aims to speed up the B41 bus from Downtown Brooklyn to Marine Park. Narcisse and Councilmember Rita Joseph joined Mayor Eric Adams at a press conference, riding the B41 and speaking with riders. Narcisse said, “People are suffering waiting 30 minutes, 40 minutes, it’s unfair to the riders.” She stressed that better bus service could cut down on illegal dollar vans. The Department of Transportation, led by Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, has started community engagement. Some community boards worry about lost parking, but Rodriguez called their role advisory, saying, “we want to hear what the riders want.” Narcisse acknowledged driver backlash but insisted on the need for faster, reliable transit.

• Flatbush Avenue bus lane proposal gains support of key electeds, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-08-09

Jul 31 - Two sedans crashed on Belt Parkway at 1:07 a.m. The driver changing lanes hit a sedan going straight. Both drivers suffered neck injuries with whiplash. The front passenger was also hurt. Driver inattention caused the crash.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Belt Parkway. One driver was changing lanes while the other was going straight. The collision impacted the left front quarter panel of one vehicle and the right rear bumper of the other. Both drivers and a front-seat passenger were injured, suffering neck injuries and whiplash. The front passenger was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as a contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted. The crash caused injuries but no fatalities.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4550737 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 9 - A sedan slammed into another stopped on Flatbush Avenue. The lead driver, 52, suffered arm injuries and shock. Police cite driver distraction. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Flatbush Avenue near Shore Parkway. The lead vehicle, stopped in traffic, was struck from behind by a second sedan. The 52-year-old male driver in the lead car suffered an elbow-lower-arm-hand injury and shock. Police list driver inattention or distraction as the contributing factor. The striking sedan hit with its center front end and left front bumper, while the lead car was damaged at the center back end. Both drivers were licensed. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4545380 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 2 - Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-06-02

May 26 - A pick-up truck struck a sedan from behind on Belt Parkway. Both vehicles traveled east. The sedan driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited driver inattention as the cause. Both drivers were licensed men, each alone in their vehicles.

According to the police report, a pick-up truck collided with the rear of a sedan on Belt Parkway. The sedan's driver, a 40-year-old man, sustained neck injuries and complained of whiplash. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. Both vehicles were traveling straight eastbound. The point of impact was the center back end of the truck and the center front end of the sedan. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as the contributing factor. Both drivers were licensed men from New York and New Jersey, respectively. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4531624 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 23 - Albany passed A 8936. Cities get more state cash if they build complete streets. Lawmakers want safer roads. The bill sailed through both chambers. Money now follows safety.

Bill A 8936, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' passed the Assembly on May 23, 2022, and the Senate on June 1, 2022. The bill boosts state funding for transportation projects when municipalities add complete street features. Assemblymember Fahy led as primary sponsor, joined by Hunter, Seawright, Woerner, and others. The Assembly and Senate both voted yes, with broad support. The law aims to push cities to design streets for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers—by tying state dollars to safety upgrades.

• File A 8936, Open States, Published 2022-05-23

May 23 - Senate and Assembly passed S 1078. New drivers must now learn how to avoid hitting people on foot or bike. Law aims to cut crashes at the root—before drivers get the keys.

Bill S 1078, introduced in the Senate on April 27, 2021, requires pedestrian and bicyclist safety instruction in the drivers pre-licensing course. The bill moved through committee and passed the Senate and Assembly, with key votes on May 20, 2021, February 1, 2022, May 16, 2022, and May 23, 2022. The matter summary reads: 'Requires instruction in pedestrian and bicyclist safety as part of the drivers pre-licensing course.' Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, joined by Bailey, Biaggi, Brisport, Cleare, Comrie, and others. The measure targets driver ignorance, a root cause of deadly crashes, by putting vulnerable road users at the center of driver education.

• File S 1078, Open States, Published 2022-05-23

May 21 - Two SUVs collided on Belt Parkway. The Connecticut driver fell asleep and struck the rear of a New York SUV. The male Connecticut driver was injured and incoherent after the crash. Both vehicles traveled eastbound. Impact was center to center back end.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles traveling eastbound on Belt Parkway collided when the Connecticut driver fell asleep at the wheel. The Connecticut SUV struck the center back end of the New York-registered SUV. The male Connecticut driver, age 58, was injured and incoherent after the crash. The report lists "Fell Asleep" as the contributing factor for the collision. Both vehicles were going straight ahead at the time of impact. The New York SUV had two occupants, while the Connecticut SUV had one. The collision caused center front and center back end damage to the vehicles. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4532493 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 29 - A sedan driven by an unlicensed man slammed into the back of an SUV on Belt Parkway. The SUV driver, a 34-year-old man, suffered back injuries and whiplash. The crash was fueled by aggressive driving. Airbags deployed; no ejections.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Belt Parkway when a sedan traveling west struck the center back end of a sport utility vehicle also traveling west. The sedan's driver, a man without a valid license, was identified as a contributing factor due to aggressive driving and road rage. The SUV driver, a 34-year-old man, was injured with back pain and whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. Safety equipment including airbags and lap belts deployed in the SUV. The report lists aggressive driving and road rage as the primary driver errors. No contributing factors were attributed to the injured occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4523061 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 20 - A 22-year-old man was injured crossing East 32 Street with the signal. A sedan making a left turn struck him with its left front bumper. The driver failed to yield and was inattentive. The pedestrian suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing East 32 Street at the intersection with Fillmore Avenue in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a sedan traveling west made a left turn and struck him with the vehicle's left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained abrasions to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but remained conscious. The report lists the driver's failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The vehicle showed no damage. The pedestrian was not cited for any contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4524708 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 31 - A 24-year-old man driving a sedan crashed on Belt Parkway. The vehicle was demolished at the front center. The driver suffered a fractured hip and upper leg. Unsafe speed and improper lane usage caused the crash. Airbag deployed; driver conscious.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old male driver was injured in a crash on Belt Parkway. The sedan, traveling west, collided front-center and was demolished. The driver sustained a fractured and dislocated hip and upper leg injury but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness, and the airbag deployed. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The crash highlights dangerous driving behavior on the highway, with speed and lane misuse leading to severe injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4516558 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 27 - SUV veered west on Belt Parkway. Struck sedan’s front. Nineteen-year-old driver bruised head to toe. Unsafe lane change listed. Both cars kept westbound. No ejection. No other errors reported.

According to the police report, an SUV traveling westbound on Belt Parkway made an unsafe lane change and struck a sedan, also westbound. The SUV’s left rear hit the sedan’s right front bumper. The sedan’s 19-year-old male driver suffered bruises across his entire body but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists "Unsafe Lane Changing" as the contributing factor. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. No other contributing factors or errors by the injured driver were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4514014 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 13 - A sedan driven by an unlicensed man struck a pick-up truck on Belt Parkway. The passenger in the sedan, a 21-year-old woman, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. The crash involved driver inexperience and pedestrian confusion as contributing factors.

According to the police report, a 2018 sedan driven by an unlicensed male driver traveling east on Belt Parkway collided with a 2019 RAM pick-up truck also traveling east. The point of impact was the center back end of the sedan and the center front end of the truck. The sedan carried two occupants; the 21-year-old female passenger suffered neck injuries and whiplash but was not ejected and was conscious. The report lists driver inexperience and pedestrian/bicyclist/other pedestrian error or confusion as contributing factors. The unlicensed status of the sedan driver is a key error noted. The passenger was restrained with a lap belt. No other safety equipment or victim error is cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4513328 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 28 - SUV hit sedan from behind on Belt Parkway. Unsafe speed. Driver hurt. Neck injury. Four in sedan, one in SUV. Metal twisted. Lives changed in a flash.

According to the police report, an SUV rear-ended a sedan on Belt Parkway. The SUV, driven by a 41-year-old woman, struck the sedan’s left front bumper. She suffered a neck injury. Four people were in the sedan. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. No ejections occurred. Both vehicles were traveling east. The SUV’s right rear quarter panel took the impact. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4506379 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19