Blood on the Asphalt: NYC Streets Still Killing

A 7-year-old girl suffered bruises and arm injuries in a Manhattan crash. An SUV changed lanes unsafely, striking another vehicle. The child, a rear-seat passenger, was conscious and restrained. The impact damaged the SUV's left front quarter panel.

According to the police report, an SUV traveling north on West 15 Street in Manhattan collided with another vehicle after an unsafe lane change. The SUV's left front quarter panel struck the right rear quarter panel of the other vehicle. A 7-year-old female occupant in the right rear seat of the SUV was injured, sustaining contusions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. She was conscious and secured with a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted. The crash caused visible damage to the SUV's left front quarter panel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4659090 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

Delivery workers ride mopeds on dangerous streets. Tech giants profit. City infrastructure lags. Cars and trucks kill most. Enforcement is scattershot. Officials call for safe lanes, charging stations, and real accountability. The crisis demands a fix beyond punishing workers.

This policy debate, published August 23, 2023, analyzes New York City’s 'moped crisis.' The article, reviewed by Streetsblog NYC, highlights systemic failures: unsafe streets, lack of charging infrastructure, and tech companies shifting risk onto underpaid delivery workers. Council Member Alexa Aviles urges rapid expansion of e-bike charging stations and blames corporate greed. State Senators Jessica Ramos and Brad Hoylman-Sigal call for industry accountability and a standardized, safe delivery vehicle. The matter summary states, 'The city needs a systemic fix, justice for workers and accountability by tech giants.' Advocacy groups reject punitive crackdowns on workers, pushing instead for expanded bike lanes and public infrastructure. The piece concludes that only a multi-pronged, structural approach—never just enforcement—will protect vulnerable road users and delivery workers alike.

• The Moped Crisis — An Analysis: The City Needs a Systemic Fix, Justice for Workers and Accountability by Tech Giants, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-23

A 60-year-old man was injured in Manhattan when a pick-up truck, moving without a driver, backed unsafely and struck him as he emerged from behind a parked vehicle. The pedestrian suffered a back injury and remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 60-year-old male pedestrian was injured in Manhattan near West 26 Street when a pick-up truck moved without a driver and backed unsafely. The pedestrian was emerging from behind a parked vehicle when the truck struck him on the right rear bumper. The pedestrian sustained a back injury and was conscious after the crash. The report lists 'Driverless/Runaway Vehicle' and 'Backing Unsafely' as contributing factors. The vehicle showed no damage, and the driver was licensed but not present in the vehicle at the time. No other safety equipment or victim actions were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4656255 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A 35-year-old woman suffered abrasions and full-body injuries after an SUV failed to yield on 12 Avenue. The vehicle made a right turn and hit the pedestrian. No vehicle damage was reported. The victim remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 2022 Ford SUV traveling northwest on 12 Avenue made a right turn and struck a 35-year-old female pedestrian. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to her entire body but remained conscious. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as the primary contributing factor. The SUV showed no damage, indicating the impact was likely at low speed. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The pedestrian was injured despite no mention of safety equipment or actions on her part.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4656257 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

Assembly bill A 7979 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets triggers a speed limiter. Lawmakers move to curb repeat danger. No more unchecked speeding. Streets demand it.

Assembly bill A 7979, now in sponsorship, sits before the New York State Assembly. Introduced August 18, 2023, it 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during an eighteen month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Assemblymember Emily Gallagher leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, Tony Simone, Jo Anne Simon, and others. The bill aims to force chronic speeders to slow down. No safety analyst note is available, but the intent is clear: rein in repeat offenders, protect those outside the car.

• File A 7979, Open States, Published 2023-08-18

A Toyota rolled west on West 25th. The driver looked away. The car stayed clean. A young woman’s leg did not. Her bones broke. She stayed awake. The city’s streets took more than metal.

A crash on West 25th Street in Manhattan left a 21-year-old woman with severe leg injuries. According to the police report, a Toyota sedan was traveling west when the driver became distracted and failed to yield the right-of-way. The passenger, who was not using safety equipment, suffered crush injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The vehicle itself showed no damage, but the impact left the passenger conscious and badly hurt. The crash underscores the danger posed by driver error, as detailed in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4653472 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

Taxi driver, distracted, struck a 23-year-old woman on a bike. She flew off, arm shattered. Blood on West 30. Bike mangled. Taxi front crumpled. She lived. System failed her.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling east on West 30 Street hit a northbound 23-year-old female bicyclist. The impact threw her from the bike. She suffered a fractured, dislocated elbow, lower arm, and hand. Police cited the taxi driver for Driver Inattention/Distraction. The bike was hit on its left side; the taxi’s front end was damaged. The cyclist was unlicensed, but no contributing factors were assigned to her. No other causes were listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4652868 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A 24-year-old woman was struck and injured while a vehicle backed unsafely near West 34th Street in Manhattan. She suffered a facial injury and was unconscious with a concussion. The driver’s unsafe backing caused the crash.

According to the police report, a pedestrian was injured when a vehicle backed unsafely near 400 West 34th Street in Manhattan. The 24-year-old female pedestrian sustained a facial injury and was found unconscious with a concussion. The report lists "Backing Unsafely" as the contributing factor to the crash. The vehicle was backing prior to impact. There is no information on the pedestrian’s location or actions at the time. The driver’s unsafe backing led to the collision. No other driver errors or victim factors are noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4652853 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

Senate bill S 7621 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets trigger mandatory speed control tech. Sponsors push to curb repeat danger. No votes yet. Streets stay tense.

Senate bill S 7621, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Senate. Filed August 2, 2023, it 'relates to requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits.' Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Jeremy Cooney, Michael Gianaris, Kristen Gonzalez, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill forces drivers with eleven points in eighteen months, or six speed/red light camera tickets in a year, to install speed-limiting devices. No safety analyst note yet. The measure aims to cut repeat speeding and protect those outside the car.

• File S 7621, Open States, Published 2023-08-02

Manhattan lawmakers want electric cars to pay less under congestion pricing. They argue EVs cut smog, so drivers deserve a break. Critics warn this move keeps streets clogged. Fewer cars mean fewer crashes. The fight pits clean air against crowded roads.

On July 31, 2023, a group of Manhattan elected officials—including Assembly Members Alex Bores, Eddie Gibbs, Deborah Glick, Harvey Epstein, Rebecca Seawright; State Senators Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Liz Krueger, Kristen Gonzalez; and Borough President Mark Levine—sent a letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board. They urged a congestion pricing discount for electric vehicles, claiming EVs 'do not contribute significantly to the smog and pollution of the Central Business District.' Assembly Member Bores led the effort, stating, 'when it comes to the environmental case, an electric vehicle is just a different profile than a gas-guzzling one.' The officials oppose credits for bridge and tunnel crossings. Congestion pricing advocates and environmental groups counter that EV discounts undermine the core goal: fewer cars, less traffic, safer streets. They note other cities are ending such breaks. The proposal highlights a tension—cleaner air versus safer, less crowded roads for all.

• Manhattan Elected Officials Urge Congestion Pricing Discount For Electric Cars, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-31

A sedan struck a moped on 7th Avenue in Manhattan. The moped driver, a 25-year-old woman, was ejected and suffered head injuries. The sedan hit the moped’s right side doors. Police cited traffic control disregard as a factor.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on 7th Avenue collided with a moped traveling south. The moped driver, a 25-year-old female, was ejected from her vehicle and sustained head injuries, including abrasions. The sedan impacted the moped on its right side doors, damaging its center front end. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor to the crash. The moped driver was wearing a helmet. No other contributing factors were specified. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4651967 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A 68-year-old woman was hit by an SUV making a left turn on West 24 Street in Manhattan. She was crossing with the signal. The impact injured her elbow and lower arm, causing abrasions. The driver’s left front bumper struck her.

According to the police report, a 68-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing West 24 Street at an intersection in Manhattan. She was crossing with the signal when a 2022 Lincoln SUV, traveling east and making a left turn, struck her with its left front bumper. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors beyond the vehicle’s movement. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision. The SUV was unoccupied by passengers at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4650424 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A box truck crashed into a taxi near 34th Street. Metal shrieked. The taxi driver’s arm split open. Blood ran in the quiet dark. Police cited following too closely. One man hurt. The city’s night stayed cold and still.

A box truck struck a taxi on 8th Avenue near 34th Street in Manhattan. The 61-year-old taxi driver suffered severe arm lacerations. According to the police report, the box truck 'slammed the slowing taxi’s side.' The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor. The taxi was slowing or stopping when the box truck, traveling west, hit its left side doors with its right front bumper. The taxi driver was the only person injured. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report notes the taxi driver wore a lap belt. The crash underscores the risk when drivers follow too closely.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4649837 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A sedan struck a 23-year-old male bicyclist on West 37 Street. The cyclist suffered elbow and lower arm injuries with minor bleeding. The driver failed to yield and was inattentive. No vehicle damage was reported. The cyclist was not ejected.

According to the police report, a 23-year-old male bicyclist was injured when a 2023 Tesla sedan struck him on West 37 Street. The bicyclist sustained injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, with minor bleeding and shock. The report lists driver errors as Failure to Yield Right-of-Way and Driver Inattention/Distraction. The bicyclist was riding straight north, and the sedan was traveling west, hitting the cyclist at the center front end of the vehicle. The cyclist was not wearing any safety equipment and was not ejected from the bike. The sedan showed no damage. The driver was licensed in New Jersey and was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4651734 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A 68-year-old man was hit by a bike while crossing 7 Avenue at West 20 Street. The pedestrian suffered a head contusion but remained conscious. The crash was caused by driver inattention. The bike showed no damage.

According to the police report, a 68-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a bike struck him at the intersection of 7 Avenue and West 20 Street in Manhattan. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as the contributing factors to the crash. The pedestrian sustained a head contusion and remained conscious after the impact. The bike was traveling west, going straight ahead, and showed no damage from the collision. The report does not indicate any fault or error on the part of the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4648119 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A 24-year-old female driver suffered elbow and arm injuries in a crash involving a sedan and an SUV on 12th Avenue in Manhattan. The SUV was making a left turn while the sedan was going straight. Improper lane usage caused the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on 12th Avenue in Manhattan when a 2018 Chevrolet SUV making a left turn collided with a 2011 Nissan sedan traveling straight north. The impact was on the right front bumper of the sedan and the right rear bumper of the SUV. The 24-year-old female driver of the sedan was injured, sustaining contusions and bruises to her elbow and lower arm. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor, indicating driver error related to lane changes or turns. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The female driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4647696 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A young pedicab driver met an e-bike head-on on West 36th Street. Her abdomen crushed. She stayed conscious but did not survive. Inexperience and distraction shaped the crash. The city’s streets claimed another vulnerable life.

A 23-year-old pedicab driver was killed in a head-on collision with an e-bike near West 36th Street and Ninth Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The victim suffered fatal abdominal injuries but remained conscious at the scene. The report notes she was not wearing a helmet, but only after listing driver inexperience and distraction as contributing factors. The crash highlights the dangers faced by vulnerable road users in New York City’s dense traffic. No blame is placed on the victim. The police report documents the fatal toll of inexperience and inattention on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4648249 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

A 41-year-old man was hit by an SUV while crossing West 28 Street in Manhattan. The driver disregarded traffic control. The pedestrian suffered a back contusion and remained conscious. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact.

According to the police report, a 41-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of West 28 Street and 11 Avenue in Manhattan. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when struck by a 2020 Bentley SUV traveling westbound. The point of impact was the vehicle's right front bumper. The pedestrian sustained a back contusion and was conscious after the crash. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating the driver failed to obey traffic signals. The vehicle showed no damage, and the driver was licensed. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4647695 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

Two sedans crashed on West 34th Street. Both drivers passed too close. A woman and her passenger suffered abrasions. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous. Impact left scars and broken bumpers.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on West 34th Street at 11th Avenue in Manhattan. A sedan making a left turn was struck by a southbound sedan. The female driver and her front passenger suffered abrasions to their entire bodies. Both were conscious and not ejected. The report lists 'Passing Too Closely' as a contributing factor for both vehicles. The southbound sedan had right front bumper damage; the turning sedan showed damage to its center front end. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646115 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

Cops seized mopeds from Brooklyn delivery workers. Police claim safety, but data show cars and trucks cause most harm. App companies profit. Immigrant workers pay. Advocates say crackdowns punish the vulnerable, not the reckless. The city misses the real threat.

On July 14, 2023, NYPD officers from Brooklyn’s 78th Precinct seized illegal mopeds from delivery workers outside fast-food chains. The enforcement action follows years of crackdowns dating back to Mayor Bloomberg, ramped up under Mayor de Blasio. Police say the seizures make streets safer, but city crash data show cars and trucks—not e-bikes or mopeds—cause most pedestrian injuries. Delivery worker Roziev Akmal warned, 'Livelihoods will be ruined because of the seizure.' Ligia Guallpa of the Worker’s Justice Project called it 'another example where you see deliveristas being economically impacted.' State Sen. Brad Hoylman and Council Member Gale Brewer cited constituent complaints, but advocates and legal experts argue enforcement targets workers, not the root causes. The crackdown leaves low-paid, mostly immigrant workers exposed to fines, lost income, and road danger, while app companies escape responsibility.

• Latest Cop Crackdown on Deliveristas Misses the Point: Advocates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-14