Feb 18 - Senators move to guard bike lanes. Cameras will catch drivers who block or invade. The city’s cyclists and walkers get a shot at safer streets. No more hiding behind the wheel.

Senate bill S 5008, now in sponsorship, aims to launch a bicycle lane safety program in New York City. The bill, introduced February 18, 2025, sits in committee. Its 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.' Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal leads, joined by Jabari Brisport, Kristen Gonzalez, Liz Krueger, Jessica Ramos, and Julia Salazar. The bill targets drivers who block or misuse bike lanes, using cameras to enforce the rules. The move puts pressure on the city to protect cyclists and pedestrians from daily danger.

• File S 5008, Open States, Published 2025-02-18

Feb 14 - A minivan left the road in Queens. It hit a tree. One woman died. Three others, all seniors, went to the hospital. The crash happened on Brookville Boulevard, near Sunrise Highway. Police are investigating. The road stayed quiet after.

According to the NY Daily News (published February 14, 2025), a minivan from Eunhae Adult Daycare crashed while leaving a senior residence in Queens. The 74-year-old driver 'lost control of the wheel at the Sunrise Highway.' The vehicle veered off Brookville Blvd and struck a tree. Four people were inside, all seniors. One woman in her 70s died after being found unconscious in the back seat. Three others, including the driver, were hospitalized but expected to survive. Police are investigating the cause. The article highlights the dangers faced by passengers in vehicles operated by older drivers and the risks at busy intersections like Brookville Boulevard and Sunrise Highway.

• Minivan Crash Kills Woman, Injures Three, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-14

Feb 14 - Assembly bill A 5440 targets reckless drivers. It makes car owners pay when their vehicles run red lights. Cameras catch the lawbreakers. The aim: fewer crashes, safer streets for all.

Assembly bill A 5440 was introduced on February 14, 2025, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled "Imposes owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic control indicators within the city of New York," seeks to hold vehicle owners accountable when their cars violate traffic signals, using camera enforcement. Assembly Member Steven Raga sponsors the bill, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Tony Simone, Yudelka Tapia, Karines Reyes, and Marcela Mitaynes as co-sponsors. No safety analyst note is available. The bill aims to curb dangerous driving and protect vulnerable road users by making owners answer for violations caught on camera.

• File A 5440, Open States, Published 2025-02-14

Feb 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

Feb 11 - A 57-year-old man crossing outside a crosswalk was struck by an SUV making a left turn on East 62nd Street. The impact caused knee and lower leg injuries, leaving the pedestrian in shock. The driver’s turning maneuver led to the collision.

According to the police report, a 57-year-old male pedestrian was injured after being hit by a 2024 Alfa SUV traveling north on East 62nd Street in Manhattan. The SUV was making a left turn when it struck the pedestrian at the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian was crossing outside a crosswalk and sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in shock. The report lists no explicit contributing factors for the driver, but the collision occurred during the vehicle's left turn, indicating a failure to safely yield to the pedestrian. The pedestrian’s crossing outside a crosswalk is noted but marked as unspecified in contributing factors, placing the focus on the driver’s turning action as the cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792028 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Feb 8 - A car struck an underpass on Belt Parkway. Metal twisted. A woman, 27, died at the hospital. A man survived. Police do not know who drove. The wreck left questions. The system failed to protect its passengers.

According to NY Daily News (published February 8, 2025), a single-car crash on Queens’ Belt Parkway killed a 27-year-old woman and injured a 30-year-old man. The white Toyota sedan hit an underpass near 225th Street around 3:50 a.m. Both occupants were found outside the wreck when police arrived. Investigators are unsure who was driving at the time of impact: 'Since both occupants were out of the car at the time of the crash, investigators haven't figured out who was driving, police said.' The woman died at Long Island Jewish Hospital-Valley Stream; the man was expected to survive. The article highlights ongoing uncertainty about driver identity and underscores the persistent risks on city highways, especially where loss of vehicle control leads to deadly outcomes. The investigation continues.

• Woman Killed In Queens Parkway Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-08

Feb 6 - 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

Feb 5 - A ninety-year-old woman stepped off the curb on York Avenue. A taxi hit her head-on. An SUV rolled over her. Her skull crushed. She lay still. Two drivers kept straight. They did not see. She died on the street.

According to the police report, a ninety-year-old woman was killed on York Avenue near East 72nd Street when she was struck by a taxi and then run over by an SUV. The crash occurred at 17:41 in Manhattan. The report states, 'she stepped off the curb, alone, no signal. A taxi hit her head-on. An SUV rolled over her. Her skull crushed.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. Both vehicles, a taxi and an SUV, were traveling straight ahead. The police report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The drivers 'did not see' her, according to the narrative. The victim suffered fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. No driver errors beyond inattention/distraction are cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790720 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Feb 5 - A man slammed his Mercedes into a stopped car on the Whitestone Expressway. The impact threw an MTA worker onto the pavement. The driver ran. The worker died. Police found the abandoned car. The driver had no license.

NY Daily News reported on February 5, 2025, that James Vennitti, 63, was arrested for a deadly hit-and-run on the Whitestone Expressway in Queens. On February 10, 2024, Vennitti allegedly rear-ended David Berney, 43, after Berney and another driver stopped in the middle lane following a minor collision. The crash threw Berney from his car, killing him at the scene. The other driver was injured. Vennitti, unlicensed, abandoned his Mercedes and fled on foot. Police arrested him a year later. A grand jury indicted Vennitti for leaving the scene of a fatal crash and driving without a license. The case highlights the lethal risk of unlicensed driving and the dangers of stopped vehicles on high-speed roads.

• Unlicensed Driver Flees Queens Fatal Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-05

Feb 4 - A Tesla tore down FDR Drive at unsafe speed. Metal screamed. A baby girl, unbelted, was thrown from the car and killed. The sedan crumpled. The road bore witness. No warning, no mercy, only silence and wreckage.

According to the police report, a Tesla sedan traveling north on FDR Drive crashed at 2:44 a.m. The report states the vehicle was moving at 'unsafe speed.' The impact left the sedan demolished. A baby girl, listed as an occupant, was ejected from the vehicle and died on impact, her injuries described as affecting her 'entire body.' The police report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor. No seatbelt was used, as noted in the report. The narrative describes the scene as the Tesla 'slammed at speed,' resulting in the infant's death. The focus remains on the excessive speed and the catastrophic consequences that followed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790343 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Feb 4 - 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

Feb 3 - A westbound sedan backing up struck an eastbound sedan at East 76th Street in Manhattan. The male driver of the eastbound vehicle suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited driver inattention and unsafe speed as contributing factors.

According to the police report, at 7:08 AM on East 76th Street in Manhattan, a Tesla sedan backing west collided with a Honda sedan traveling east. The Tesla driver was backing unsafely, causing a center back-end impact to the Honda’s front center. The Honda’s male driver, age 34, sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was conscious at the scene. The report lists driver inattention and unsafe speed as contributing factors for the Honda driver, while the Tesla driver’s backing maneuver was unsafe. No damage was reported on the Honda, but the Tesla sustained damage to its center back end. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The incident highlights the dangers of inattentive driving and unsafe backing maneuvers in dense urban settings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790079 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jan 29 - A northbound sedan struck the right rear quarter panel of a Mercedes Sprinter van on East 65th Street in Manhattan. The front passenger in the sedan suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Driver inexperience was cited as a contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, the collision occurred on East 65th Street near 1st Avenue in Manhattan at 18:56. A Honda sedan traveling northbound went straight ahead and impacted the right rear quarter panel of a northbound Mercedes Benz Sprinter van. The sedan's left front bumper sustained damage. The front passenger in the sedan, a 47-year-old woman, was injured with neck pain and whiplash but was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness. The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor to the crash. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were noted. The crash highlights the dangers posed by inexperienced drivers in multi-vehicle collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789173 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jan 27 - Senate bill S 3387 demands complete street design in all DOT projects with state or federal funds. Streets must serve walkers, cyclists, and riders. No more car-first roads. Sponsors push for safer, fairer streets.

Senate bill S 3387, now in sponsorship, sits before the New York State Senate. The bill, titled 'Relates to requiring inclusion of complete street design for state and local transportation projects subject to oversight by the department of transportation,' would force all DOT projects using state or federal funds to include complete street design. Senator Andrew Gounardes leads as primary sponsor, joined by Patricia Fahy, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, and Liz Krueger. Their action aims to end car dominance and put vulnerable road users first. The bill was introduced January 27, 2025. No safety analyst note is available.

• File S 3387, Open States, Published 2025-01-27

Jan 22 - A Toyota RAV4 jumped the curb on 90th Avenue, slammed into a garage, and collapsed the structure. The driver, Mamadou Barry, was trapped. First responders pulled him out, but he died at the hospital. No other injuries reported.

According to NY Daily News (2025-01-22), Mamadou Barry, 63, was driving his Toyota RAV4 along 90th Ave. in Jamaica, Queens, around 5:20 a.m. when he lost control, hopped a curb at 143rd St., and crashed into a detached garage. The impact caused the garage to collapse onto both his SUV and a parked, unoccupied Prius. Police said Barry was trapped and later died at Jamaica Hospital. The article notes, 'he lost control of the SUV, which went crashing into a detached garage in Queens, police said.' Family members stated Barry had no known medical issues. The cause of the crash remains unclear. No other injuries were reported. The incident highlights the dangers faced by drivers and bystanders in residential areas where structures sit close to the street.

• Uber Driver Dies in Queens Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-01-22

Jan 17 - A 65-year-old woman suffered head injuries and incoherence after an SUV made a left turn and struck her at an intersection. The driver’s inattention and inexperience caused the collision despite the pedestrian crossing with the signal.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:15 on East 74th Street near 1st Avenue in Manhattan. A 65-year-old female pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2018 Jeep SUV made a left turn and struck her with its left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained head injuries and was incoherent, with minor bleeding reported. The report identifies the driver’s inattention and inexperience as contributing factors. The vehicle showed no damage, and the driver was licensed in New York. The collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted and inexperienced drivers failing to yield to pedestrians legally crossing intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787089 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jan 16 - Assembly bill A 2299 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets in a year triggers forced speed control tech. Lawmakers move to curb repeat speeders. Streets demand fewer deadly risks.

Assembly bill A 2299, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Assembly. Introduced January 16, 2025, the bill 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during a 24 month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Primary sponsor Emily Gallagher leads a bloc of co-sponsors, including Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, and others. The measure aims to clamp down on repeat speeders with mandatory speed-limiting tech. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 2299, Open States, Published 2025-01-16

Jan 13 - Senate bill S 1675 would force carmakers to face the facts. Every vehicle gets a pedestrian safety score. The public sees it. No more hiding danger behind steel and glass.

Senate bill S 1675, now at the sponsorship stage, sits with the New York State Senate. Filed January 13, 2025, it aims to 'create a pedestrian safety rating system for motor vehicles which shall be posted on the department of motor vehicles' website.' Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Leroy Comrie, Michael Gianaris, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, Zellnor Myrie, Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar, Luis R. Sepúlveda, and Toby Ann Stavisky. The bill demands transparency. It would show the public which cars endanger walkers and which spare them. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but the intent is clear: expose the risk, protect the vulnerable.

• File S 1675, Open States, Published 2025-01-13

Jan 10 - A van traveling north on East 77th Street collided with a parked box truck. The impact injured a front-seat passenger, causing neck trauma and a concussion. Police cited unsafe speed as the contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, at 12:04 PM on East 77th Street in Manhattan, a van traveling north struck a parked box truck. The box truck was stationary before the collision, described as 'Parked' with damage to its center back end. The van, also traveling north, sustained damage to its center front end. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor for the crash, indicating driver error on the van operator's part. The front passenger in the van, a 36-year-old female, was injured with neck trauma and a concussion. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt with an airbag deployed. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785261 - 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