Injured, Not Invisible: Demand Action on Deadly Streets

Trailing SUV crashed into a slowing SUV on East 233 Street. Lead driver suffered neck injury and whiplash. Police cite following too closely. Impact left the injured driver conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, two SUVs were traveling east on East 233 Street when the trailing vehicle struck the center back end of the lead SUV, which was slowing or stopping. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor, showing the trailing driver failed to maintain distance. The lead driver, a 42-year-old man, suffered neck injuries and whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. He was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The report attributes the crash to driver error in maintaining distance, with no contributing factors assigned to the injured driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719899 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Council orders DOT to reveal bike and micromobility numbers. Streets and bridges get counted. Riders’ paths mapped. City must show where safety fails and where it works. Data goes public. No more hiding the truth.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and became law September 14, 2024, as Local Law 88. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Schulman, Hudson, Restler, and others. The law forces DOT to publish monthly and annual data on bike and micromobility use, plus crash and safety project details. The city must show where riders go, where danger lurks, and what it does to fix it. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it stands.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-11

Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

SUV clipped parked sedan on Webster Avenue. Metal scraped metal. Front passenger took the hit. Abrasions, arm injuries. No ejection. Streets stayed loud. Danger did not miss.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV heading north on Webster Avenue in the Bronx passed too closely to a parked Honda sedan and struck its left rear bumper. The crash happened at 17:37. The police cited "Passing Too Closely" as the contributing factor. The impact injured the SUV's 28-year-old male front passenger, who suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. He was conscious and not ejected. The report lists no other contributing factors or victim actions. The driver of the SUV was licensed. The failure to maintain safe passing distance led to the crash and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4713190 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 36-year-old male sedan driver suffered head injuries after an SUV struck his vehicle’s rear bumper on Webster Avenue in the Bronx. The SUV driver followed too closely, causing a collision that left the sedan driver injured but conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 15:24 on Webster Avenue in the Bronx. A 36-year-old male sedan driver was injured when a Jeep SUV traveling south struck the right rear bumper of his vehicle. The SUV’s point of impact was its left front bumper. The report cites "Following Too Closely" as the primary contributing factor to the collision. The sedan driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained head injuries but remained conscious and was not ejected. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The SUV driver’s failure to maintain a safe distance led directly to the crash and the resulting injury to the sedan driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712684 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Red-light running kills. Twenty-nine dead last year. Highest ever. Reckless drivers surge post-pandemic. City report demands more cameras—jump from 150 to 1,325 intersections. Officials back the bill. Victims’ families demand action. Cameras cut crashes. But the most dangerous drivers remain loose.

On March 20, 2024, the Department of Transportation released a report urging passage of a bill to expand New York City’s red-light camera program. The bill, supported by DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and sponsored by State Senator Andrew Goundardes, would boost camera coverage from 150 to 1,325 intersections—about 10% of the city’s 13,700 signals. The report states: “Expanding the number of intersections with red light cameras... could substantially enhance the deterrent effect of the program and return New York City to the consistently downward trend of red light-running behavior we had seen prior to the pandemic.” Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz also supports expansion, calling for cameras at every intersection. The DOT notes that cameras have slashed T-bone crashes by 65% and rear-end collisions by 49% at monitored sites, but the statutory cap blocks broader safety gains. Relatives of crash victims joined the call, demanding the city confront driver negligence and protect the community.

• DOT Report: Rise in Red Light Running Shows Need for More Cameras, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-20

Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-03-20

A motorcycle driver suffered a chest injury after colliding with an SUV turning improperly on Webster Avenue in the Bronx. The SUV was changing lanes at unsafe speed, striking the motorcycle’s front end. The motorcyclist was conscious but fractured.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Webster Avenue in the Bronx at 18:44. A motorcycle traveling south collided with a 2023 Jeep SUV also heading south. The SUV driver, licensed in New York, was changing lanes and turning improperly at an unsafe speed, causing the collision. The motorcycle struck the left side doors of the SUV with its center front end. The motorcycle driver, a 30-year-old male, suffered a chest injury described as a fracture and dislocation. He was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors, highlighting driver errors by the SUV operator. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709399 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council wants every e-bike and scooter tagged and tracked. Plates on wheels. Riders face new rules. Lawmakers say it’s about order. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait.

Int 0606-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring that every bicycle with electric assist, electric scooter and other legal motorized vehicle be licensed and registered," would force all e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles not covered by DMV rules to register with DOT and display visible plates. Council Member Inna Vernikov is the primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Holden, Farías, Riley, and others. The bill was laid over in committee and has not advanced. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• File Int 0606-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Council Members Marte and Dinowitz push for covered bike parking in parks and city buildings. The bill demands weather-proof shelters and storage, aiming to meet the city’s cycling surge. Lawmakers want fewer cars, more bikes, and safer streets for all.

On February 29, 2024, Council Member Chris Marte introduced a bill in the New York City Council requiring covered bike parking in parks and city-owned buildings. The bill, co-sponsored by Council Member Eric Dinowitz, is under committee review. The legislation states, 'the city would have to install between one and five weather-proof enclosures with six to eight spaces apiece, depending on the size of the park.' Parks over 2.5 acres must have at least one shelter; parks over 250 acres need five. City buildings over 10,000 square feet, including public schools, must provide bike storage for workers and visitors. Marte said, 'If we want to get off the reliance of people commuting by car, we have to offer them alternative ways to get there.' The Parks Department and city agencies must report on implementation or explain impracticality. This bill targets safer, more accessible bike infrastructure for New Yorkers.

• Pols Want Covered Bike Parking at Parks, City Buildings, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-29

Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-02-13

Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-01-30

Albany weighs bills A5259 and S2812 to keep and expand red-light cameras past December. Assembly Member Dinowitz and Senator Gounardes push for more cameras. DOT data shows fewer violations and crashes. Advocates demand action. The cap leaves neighborhoods exposed. Lives hang in the balance.

Bills A5259 and S2812 face debate in the New York State legislature. If lawmakers fail to act, the city’s red-light cameras—now capped at 150 intersections—will shut off December 1, 2024. The matter, described as 'reauthorize and expand the city's red-light camera program,' is championed by Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz and Senate co-sponsor Andrew Gounardes. Dinowitz, the sponsor, urges expansion, stating, 'We should have red-light cameras on every intersection.' Gounardes expects a review and expansion. DOT data backs them: violations and rear-end crashes have dropped at camera sites. Residents like Amy Bettys call the cap dangerous. Advocacy groups support the bills, though they are not a top priority. Dinowitz stresses automated enforcement is vital with limited police. The bills await committee action. Vulnerable road users face risk if the program lapses.

• Better Red Than Dead: Albany Takes Up Camera Reauthorization, Expansion, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-25

Two SUVs crashed head-on on Webster Avenue in the Bronx. Both female drivers suffered shoulder injuries and whiplash. Glare and poor lane markings contributed. Both vehicles hit front center, damaging right front bumpers. No ejections reported.

According to the police report, two SUVs collided on Webster Avenue in the Bronx at 8:20 p.m. Both drivers, women aged 25 and 44, were injured with upper arm and shoulder injuries and complaints of whiplash. The 2023 Kia SUV was making a left turn southbound, while the 2007 Hyundai SUV was traveling straight northbound. The point of impact was the center front end of both vehicles, damaging the right front bumpers. Contributing factors included glare affecting both drivers and improper or inadequate lane markings for one driver. Both drivers were wearing lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. No pedestrian involvement was reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4688841 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV chased by police rear-ended a backing tractor truck on Webster Avenue. Driver and passenger suffered head injuries and whiplash. Aggressive driving fueled the crash. Both men survived, shaken and hurt.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV heading south on Webster Avenue struck the rear of a backing International tractor truck. The SUV was involved in a police pursuit. Aggressive driving and road rage are listed as contributing factors. The SUV driver, age 30, and his front passenger, age 33, both suffered head injuries and whiplash. Both men were conscious and restrained with lap belts and harnesses. The crash impact was to the SUV's front and the truck's rear. The report highlights aggressive driving as the key driver error in this collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669805 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 67-year-old man was struck by a southbound tractor truck on Webster Avenue in the Bronx. The pedestrian suffered a fractured hip and upper leg. The driver was inattentive. The pavement was slippery. The victim was crossing outside a crosswalk.

According to the police report, a tractor truck traveling south on Webster Avenue struck a 67-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing outside a crosswalk. The pedestrian sustained a fractured and dislocated hip and upper leg, classified as serious injuries. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. Additionally, slippery pavement conditions played a role. The truck impacted the pedestrian at the center front end. The driver was licensed and going straight ahead. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted. The crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving and hazardous road conditions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4666981 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Albany gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers pass A 7043. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program runs until 2028. Streets near schools face new watchful eyes.

Bill A 7043, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Albany,' moved forward after committee votes in June 2023. The Assembly passed it on June 6, the Senate on June 8. Patricia Fahy sponsored the bill. The measure allows speed cameras in school zones, aiming to catch drivers who speed near children. The program ends December 31, 2028. Many lawmakers voted yes, some no. The bill targets driver behavior in Albany school zones, putting enforcement where kids walk and cross.

• File A 7043, Open States, Published 2023-06-08

Albany gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers pass A 7043. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program runs until 2028. Streets near schools face new watchful eyes.

Bill A 7043, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Albany,' moved forward after committee votes in June 2023. The Assembly passed it on June 6, the Senate on June 8. Patricia Fahy sponsored the bill. The measure allows speed cameras in school zones, aiming to catch drivers who speed near children. The program ends December 31, 2028. Many lawmakers voted yes, some no. The bill targets driver behavior in Albany school zones, putting enforcement where kids walk and cross.

• File A 7043, Open States, Published 2023-06-06

Albany gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers pass A 7043. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program runs until 2028. Streets near schools face new watchful eyes.

Bill A 7043, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Albany,' moved forward after committee votes in June 2023. The Assembly passed it on June 6, the Senate on June 8. Patricia Fahy sponsored the bill. The measure allows speed cameras in school zones, aiming to catch drivers who speed near children. The program ends December 31, 2028. Many lawmakers voted yes, some no. The bill targets driver behavior in Albany school zones, putting enforcement where kids walk and cross.

• File A 7043, Open States, Published 2023-06-06