No More Excuses: Demand Safe Streets Before Another Life Is Lost

Weigh-in-motion sensors slashed overweight trucks on the BQE by 60%. City officials want Albany to extend the program. Councilmember Restler and DOT Commissioner Rodriguez call for more enforcement. The tech fines violators, cuts danger, and protects crumbling roads.

On March 4, 2025, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) and DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez urged state lawmakers to extend and expand the weigh-in-motion truck enforcement program on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The program, launched in fall 2023, uses sensors to detect overweight trucks and issue $650 fines. According to the city, 'Weigh-in-Motion technology has successfully eliminated 60% of the overweight truck traffic on the Queens bound BQE.' Restler said he hopes for similar results on the Staten Island-bound lanes. The bill authorizing the program is set to expire, prompting calls for urgent legislative action. Rodriguez called the technology a 'national model.' Lawmakers want to expand the system to other sites, including the Washington Bridge. The crackdown aims to reduce illegal truck loads, which threaten road safety and infrastructure.

• Weigh-in-motion tech has cut overweight trucks on BQE by 60%, city says, urging state to extend program, amny.com, Published 2025-03-04

Weigh-in-motion sensors slashed overweight truck crossings on the BQE by 60%. Councilmember Lincoln Restler backs the tech and calls for state lawmakers to extend the program. The city wants expansion before the enabling law expires. DOT hails the results.

On March 4, 2025, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) urged state lawmakers to extend the weigh-in-motion truck enforcement program on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The program, launched in fall 2023, uses sensors to detect overweight trucks and issue $650 fines. According to the city, overweight truck crossings on the Queens-bound BQE dropped from 7,920 daily to about 3,041 per month—a 60% reduction. The sensors are set to expand to the Staten Island-bound side this year. Restler said, "Weigh-in-Motion technology has successfully eliminated 60% of the overweight truck traffic on the Queens bound BQE." The Department of Transportation and Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez praised the program's impact and called it a potential national model. With the authorizing law set to expire, city officials are pressing Albany to extend and expand the program.

• Weigh-in-motion tech has cut overweight trucks on BQE by 60%, city says, urging state to extend program, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2025-03-04

A 29-year-old male e-bike rider was injured and ejected after an SUV made a U-turn and struck him in the Bronx. The collision caused abrasions and lower leg injuries. Police cite driver inattention as the primary cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred shortly after midnight in the Bronx near 5604 Broadway. A station wagon/SUV was making a U-turn traveling north when it collided with a northbound e-bike. The point of impact was the SUV's left front quarter panel and the e-bike's center front end. The e-bike rider, a 29-year-old male, was ejected and sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity 3. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor, highlighting the SUV driver's failure to maintain awareness during the U-turn maneuver. The e-bike rider was not wearing safety equipment, but no contributing factors from the victim were cited. The SUV driver was licensed and operating the vehicle at the time.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795419 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped driver was ejected and suffered a fractured elbow after a collision with a sedan in the Bronx. The crash occurred during a right turn by the sedan, with driver distraction and passing too closely cited as factors.

According to the police report, the crash happened at 17:50 near W 234 St in the Bronx. A moped traveling west was struck by a sedan also traveling west that was making a right turn. The moped driver, a 35-year-old male, was ejected and sustained a fractured, dislocated elbow. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors. The sedan driver’s failure to maintain proper attention and unsafe passing behavior led to the collision. The moped driver was wearing a helmet, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage. The incident highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving and unsafe passing maneuvers in Bronx traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795417 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 71-year-old man crossing with the signal suffered a severe leg fracture when an e-scooter traveling north at unsafe speed hit him head-on. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, causing a violent impact at a Bronx intersection.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Broadway near W 231 St in the Bronx at 13:40. A 71-year-old male pedestrian was crossing the intersection with the signal when he was struck by an e-scooter traveling northbound. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors on the part of the e-scooter driver. The point of impact was the center front end of the e-scooter. The pedestrian sustained serious injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, including fractures and dislocations, and remained conscious after the collision. The report highlights driver errors—unsafe speed and failure to yield—that led to the violent collision, underscoring systemic dangers at this intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795420 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped slammed into a minivan in Soundview. Two teens thrown. One died. The other survived. The driver stayed. Police probe who had the right of way. Another young life lost on Bronx streets.

Gothamist (2025-02-25) reports a fatal crash at Metcalf Avenue and East 172nd Street in the Bronx. A 17-year-old, Juan Alexander Quizhpi Naranjo, drove a moped with a 14-year-old passenger when they collided with a Honda Odyssey. Both were thrown from the moped. Quizhpi Naranjo died at Jacobi Hospital; the girl survived. The minivan driver, 42, remained at the scene and faced no charges. NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is still determining 'who had the right of way and whether a traffic violation played a role.' This marks the second traffic death this year in the 43rd Precinct, highlighting ongoing dangers for young road users.

• Bronx Teen Killed In Moped-Minivan Crash, Gothamist, Published 2025-02-25

DOT slowed Third Avenue’s traffic lights from 25 to 15 mph. Drivers fumed. E-bikes surged. Councilmember Julie Menin said she got no warning. Residents felt blindsided. DOT claims safety, but the street churns with tension. No crash deaths since the 2023 redesign.

On February 19, 2025, the Department of Transportation retimed traffic signals on Third Avenue between 60th and 96th Streets, dropping the pace from 25 mph to 15 mph. The DOT called it a 'minor adjustment' to make the street safer for pedestrians and more comfortable for cyclists and drivers. Councilmember Julie Menin (District 5) said, 'We received no communication whatsoever about these very significant changes.' Menin wrote to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, demanding answers and citing a lack of community input. Residents and drivers complained the change slowed cars and let e-bikes speed unchecked. DOT data shows no crash deaths since a 2023 redesign added bike and bus lanes. The move sparked debate over safety, transparency, and the balance between driver convenience and vulnerable road user protection.

• NYC’s Third Avenue traffic light slowdown sparks fury as locals complain of e-bike ‘racetrack’, nypost.com, Published 2025-02-19

A 36-year-old man suffered severe leg fractures after an SUV made a left turn and struck him at an intersection. Limited driver visibility due to obstructed views contributed to the collision. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when injured.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing at an intersection on Broadway near W 225 St. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when struck by a 2019 Kia SUV making a left turn. The report identifies 'View Obstructed/Limited' as the primary contributing factor, indicating the driver's limited visibility played a critical role. The pedestrian sustained serious injuries including fractures and dislocations to the knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in shock. The SUV showed no damage, suggesting the impact was significant to the pedestrian but not the vehicle. The driver was licensed and traveling southwest at the time. The collision highlights the dangers posed by obstructed views during turning maneuvers in urban intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793906 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

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

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

Councilmember De La Rosa and others want permits for residential parking. Congestion pricing pushed more drivers uptown. Lawmakers say outsiders take local spots. Critics warn permits may spur more car ownership. No clear plan for safety or curb use.

On February 8, 2025, Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine called for a City Council pilot program to restrict street parking to permit holders. The debate follows congestion pricing, which, as the bill summary states, has made free street parking uptown scarce and pushed more drivers into residential neighborhoods. State Senator Robert Jackson sponsors a parallel bill in Albany. De La Rosa and Jackson argue that local residents lose parking to out-of-state drivers. Councilmember Gale Brewer warns that low permit prices could increase car ownership and worsen parking shortages, citing past failures in other cities. Kate Slevin of the Regional Plan Association questions whether a permit system would be enforced, given the city's history of placard abuse. The bill's impact on vulnerable road users remains unaddressed. No safety improvements or curb space repurposing are included.

• With congestion pricing in effect, push for parking permits in NYC gains momentum, gothamist.com, Published 2025-02-08

A 90-year-old woman died on York Avenue. A cab made a U-turn and struck her. Another car hit her moments later. She was rushed to the hospital. Both drivers stayed. She did not survive.

According to the New York Post (published February 6, 2025), Frances Rickard, 90, was crossing York Avenue at East 72nd Street around 5:40 p.m. when a yellow taxi, driven by a 68-year-old man, made a U-turn and struck her. Police said, “Moments later, a 35-year-old woman driving a 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer also struck her.” Rickard was taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she died. Both drivers remained at the scene and have not been charged. The sequence highlights the dangers of U-turns and multi-lane crossings for pedestrians. The intersection saw two vehicles collide with a vulnerable road user in quick succession, underscoring persistent risks in city street design and driver behavior.

• Elderly Pedestrian Killed Crossing York Avenue, New York Post, Published 2025-02-06

Senate bill S 4421 seeks a one-year fare-free bus pilot in New York City. Michael Gianaris leads. Robert Jackson, John Liu, Julia Salazar join. The move could shift riders from cars to buses. Status: sponsorship.

Senate bill S 4421, now at the sponsorship stage, proposes a one-year fare-free bus pilot in New York City. The bill summary reads: 'Provides a fare-free bus pilot program in New York City for one year, subject to appropriations.' Michael Gianaris sponsors, with Robert Jackson, John Liu, and Julia Salazar as co-sponsors. Introduced on February 4, 2025, the bill awaits committee review. No safety analyst has assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The pilot could change how New Yorkers move, but its effect on street safety remains unstudied.

• File S 4421, Open States, Published 2025-02-04

Tesla tore north on FDR. It struck a guardrail, flipped, split, burned. The woman driver died at the scene. Her passenger flew from the wreck. Firefighters battled battery flames. Northbound lanes shut. Metal, fire, speed, and loss marked the night.

NY Daily News (2025-02-04) reports a deadly crash on Manhattan's FDR Drive. A Tesla, traveling at high speed—witnesses estimated 'at least 120, 130 [mph]'—lost control near E. 70th St. The car struck a guardrail, overturned, and caught fire. Both occupants were ejected. The driver died at the scene; her passenger survived. Firefighters and a hazmat team responded to extinguish the burning lithium-ion battery. The crash shut down northbound lanes. The article highlights excessive speed and the dangers of high-performance vehicles in urban settings. Emergency response was extensive, with 60 firefighters on scene.

• Tesla Crash Kills Woman On FDR Drive, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-04

A northbound SUV making a right turn struck the left side of a northbound sedan stopped on Kingsbridge Avenue in the Bronx. The impact injured a front passenger in the sedan, causing abrasions and lower leg trauma. Driver distraction was cited.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Kingsbridge Avenue in the Bronx at 13:25. A northbound station wagon/SUV was making a right turn when it collided with the left side doors of a northbound sedan. The sedan was impacted on its left side doors, sustaining damage. The SUV's left side doors were also damaged. The front passenger of the sedan, a 30-year-old male, was injured with abrasions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and not ejected. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, indicating driver error on the part of the SUV driver. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790619 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Speed cameras slash reckless driving. At school zones, speeding drops 94 percent. But the program expires soon. DOT Commissioner Rodriguez urges Albany to act. State Sen. Gounardes backs expansion. Cameras save lives. Delay risks more deaths. Lawmakers hold the key.

Bill to reauthorize New York City's speed camera program is pending in Albany. The program, covering 750 school zones, needs state approval before June. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez calls speed cameras 'one of the most effective tools' to stop deadly driving. State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, who sponsored the last reauthorization, says, 'my bill to expand the speed camera program has saved lives.' The city wants stronger penalties for repeat offenders and action on license plate fraud, which lets millions of violations go unpunished. The report shows cameras cut speeding by 94 percent and reduce injuries and deaths. The program faces political hurdles, but the evidence is clear: speed cameras protect people on foot and bike. Lawmakers must decide whether to keep this life-saving tool.

• DOT to Albany: Don’t Forget to Reauthorize Our Life-Saving Speed Cameras, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-24

Assembly bill A 2642 orders new safety tech in every car. The DMV must set rules. Lawmakers push for change. Streets could see fewer crashes. The fight for safer roads moves to Albany.

Assembly Bill A 2642, now in sponsorship, would require advanced safety technology in all vehicles statewide. The bill, introduced January 21, 2025, directs the DMV commissioner to set rules and regulations. The matter reads: 'Mandates the use of advanced safety technology in vehicles in the state; requires the commissioner of motor vehicles to promulgate certain rules and regulations.' Brian Cunningham leads as primary sponsor, joined by Steven Raga, Chris Burdick, Tony Simone, Manny De Los Santos, Jen Lunsford, and Jo Anne Simon. The bill aims to force carmakers and drivers to adopt life-saving tech. No safety analyst has yet assessed its direct impact on vulnerable road users.

• File A 2642, Open States, Published 2025-01-21

A city bus swerved to dodge a double-parked car. It crashed through a wall and dangled over a Bronx overpass. No one was hurt. Debris rained down. The city’s parking chaos left concrete cracked and nerves frayed.

NY1 reported on January 17, 2025, that a BxM1 MTA bus partially drove off the Henry Hudson Parkway overpass near Kappock Street after the driver swerved to avoid a double-parked car. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz stated, "We’re told by the MTA that the bus was trying to get around an illegally double-parked car, and he hit the wall and went through it." The crash damaged the overpass wall and scattered debris onto the street below. No injuries were reported, though conflicting accounts left passenger presence unclear. City Councilman Eric Dinowitz highlighted the broader issue: "We’re seeing all over the city parking regulations not being enforced." The incident underscores the risks posed by illegal parking and the need for stricter enforcement and infrastructure checks.

• MTA Bus Hangs Off Bronx Overpass, NY1, Published 2025-01-17

Mayor Adams wants $4 million a year to block cars from crosswalks. Granite blocks, bike racks, and barriers will guard corners. Most pedestrian deaths happen at intersections. The city has ignored its own parking ban. Activists demand real change. The fight continues.

On January 17, 2025, Mayor Eric Adams proposed a budget boost to $3.85 million per year for 'hardened daylighting' at intersections. The plan, detailed by City Hall's Office of Management and Budget, aims to install granite blocks, bike racks, and other barriers at hundreds of corners. Adams said, 'We are ... keeping New Yorkers safe on our streets ... by improving road safety at hundreds of targeted traffic intersections.' State law bans parking within 20 feet of intersections, but New York City exempts itself, fueling deadly crashes—55 percent of pedestrian deaths and 79 percent of injuries happen at intersections. Council members and grassroots activists are pushing to end the city's carveout and require the Department of Transportation to add barriers to 1,000 intersections a year. Jackson Chabot of Open Plans said, 'Hardening is what makes daylighting actually work, so the budget item is really crucial to expanding it across the city.' The push follows the 2023 death of 7-year-old Dolma Naadhun at a poorly designed corner. The fight for safer streets is far from over.

• Mayor Adams Proposes $4M Per Year to ‘Harden’ Dangerous Intersections, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-17