Main Street Bleeds While Leaders Stall: Demand Safer Streets Now

Mar 5 - A van struck the left rear bumper of a parked trailer on the Long Island Expressway. The female van driver suffered a neck injury and concussion. Glare impaired visibility. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old female driver operating a van traveling westbound on the Long Island Expressway collided with the left rear bumper of a parked trailer. The driver sustained a neck injury and concussion but remained conscious. The report lists glare as a contributing factor, indicating impaired visibility. The van's front end and the trailer's left rear bumper were damaged. The driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. No other contributing factors or driver errors were specified in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4610247 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 28 - Senate passes S 4647. Bill hikes penalties for endangering highway workers. It funds more enforcement. It pushes work zone safety awareness. Lawmakers move to protect workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 4647, titled "Increases penalties for endangerment of a highway worker, promotes work zone safety awareness, and establishes a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement," advanced through committee on April 15, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy, with Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, and James Skoufis as co-sponsors, the bill passed multiple Senate votes. The measure targets drivers who endanger highway workers, boosts safety awareness, and funds enforcement. The bill aims to curb driver recklessness in work zones, where danger is high and impact is deadly.

• File S 4647, Open States, Published 2023-02-28

Feb 28 - 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 2023-02-28

Feb 13 - Assembly and Senate passed A 602. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. Streets shaped by budgets, not safety.

Bill A 602, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects,' passed committee votes in the Assembly on January 24, 2023, and in the Senate on February 13, 2023. Sponsored by Patricia Fahy, the bill addresses how much the state pays for federally assisted projects and for municipal projects with complete street designs. The measure saw broad support, with near-unanimous yes votes in both chambers. The bill's focus is on funding, not on direct safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 602, Open States, Published 2023-02-13

Feb 7 - Senator John Liu pushes to drop New York’s legal blood alcohol limit from 0.08 to 0.05. Drunk drivers killed 307 people statewide in 2019. The bill aims to cut deaths. Utah saw fatal crashes fall after a similar move. The message: don’t drink and drive.

On February 7, 2023, Queens State Senator John Liu, representing District 16, publicly supported a bill in the State Legislature to lower the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers from 0.08 to 0.05. The bill’s summary states, 'The 0.05 BAC simply says, don’t drink and drive.' Liu, as the bill’s primary sponsor, emphasized that anyone found with a BAC over 0.05 would be charged with DWI. City Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez joined the push, warning, 'Whether they are at 0.06 or 0.12 or 0.20, the consequences can be deadly.' Drunk driving caused 307 deaths in New York State in 2019, nearly a third of all fatal crashes. Utah’s adoption of a 0.05 BAC limit led to a 20% drop in fatal crashes in its first year. The bill is part of a broader effort to protect pedestrians, cyclists, and passengers from impaired drivers.

• City transportation chief joins state push to lower blood alcohol limits, amny.com, Published 2023-02-07

Feb 3 - A sedan rear-ended a stopped SUV on Horace Harding Expressway. The sedan driver suffered chest injuries and lost consciousness. Police cite passenger distraction as a cause. No pedestrians or cyclists involved.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on Horace Harding Expressway struck the rear of a stopped SUV in the same lane. The sedan's left front bumper hit the SUV's right rear bumper. The sedan driver, a 45-year-old man, suffered chest trauma and was found unconscious. He was restrained by a seatbelt and protected by an airbag. Passenger distraction is listed as a contributing factor in the crash. No other driver errors are noted. The SUV was stopped in traffic at the time of impact. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved in the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4603000 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 1 - Senate backs S 775. The bill defines the ignition interlock monitor’s job. It forces offenders to install devices and obey court orders. Lawmakers act to keep repeat drunk drivers off the street.

Senate bill S 775, titled "Relates to the responsibilities of an ignition interlock monitor," passed committee votes on February 1, March 21, and May 16, 2023. The bill describes the monitor’s role and mandates compliance for those ordered to install ignition interlock devices. Primary sponsor Jeremy Cooney (District 56) led, joined by Nathalia Fernandez, Monica Martinez, and Shelley Mayer. The measure saw broad support, with senators voting yes across multiple sessions. The law aims to keep drivers with violations from endangering others by enforcing strict compliance with court-ordered ignition interlocks.

• File S 775, Open States, Published 2023-02-01

Jan 28 - Two sedans crashed head-to-tail on the Long Island Expressway. Both drivers were injured but conscious. One suffered back pain and whiplash, the other abrasions on the arm. Both wore seat belts. The crash caused rear and front bumper damage.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling westbound on the Long Island Expressway collided. Both drivers, a 43-year-old and a 22-year-old male, were injured but remained conscious. The older driver suffered back injuries and whiplash, while the younger driver sustained abrasions to the elbow and lower arm. Both were restrained with lap belts and harnesses. The vehicles sustained damage to the center back end and left rear bumper on one sedan, and the right front bumper on the other. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors. Both drivers held valid New York licenses and were going straight ahead at the time of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4601347 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 24 - Assembly and Senate passed A 602. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. Streets shaped by budgets, not safety.

Bill A 602, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects,' passed committee votes in the Assembly on January 24, 2023, and in the Senate on February 13, 2023. Sponsored by Patricia Fahy, the bill addresses how much the state pays for federally assisted projects and for municipal projects with complete street designs. The measure saw broad support, with near-unanimous yes votes in both chambers. The bill's focus is on funding, not on direct safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 602, Open States, Published 2023-01-24

Jan 13 - Assembly bill A 1280 pushes for streets built for all. Dozens of lawmakers back the plan. The bill demands roads that protect walkers, cyclists, and riders. It calls for design, not luck, to keep people safe.

Assembly bill A 1280, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 13, 2023, the bill sits with the Assembly. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 70 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Kenny Burgos, and Catalina Cruz. Their action signals strong legislative momentum. The bill’s focus: force planners to build streets for people, not just cars. No safety analyst note is available, but the intent is clear—systemic change for vulnerable road users. The bill’s progress can be tracked at the New York Assembly website.

• File A 1280, Open States, Published 2023-01-13

Jan 10 - A 35-year-old female driver and a 47-year-old female passenger were injured when their sedan overturned on the Long Island Expressway. Both suffered bruises and contusions. The driver held a permit and inexperience contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, a 35-year-old female driver with a learner's permit lost control of a 2023 sedan traveling east on the Long Island Expressway. The vehicle overturned, injuring the driver and a 47-year-old female front-seat passenger. Both occupants were conscious and sustained contusions and bruises to the hip, upper leg, and back. The report lists driver inexperience as the contributing factor. Both occupants were restrained with lap belts and were not ejected. The crash highlights risks tied to driver inexperience and permit status. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4596572 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 9 - Senate passed S 840. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. No mention of direct safety gains for people on foot or bike.

Senate bill S 840, sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy and co-sponsored by Robert Rolison, passed committee on January 9, 2023. The bill, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects; relates to the state share of municipal projects where the municipality funds a complete street design,' sets funding formulas for state and municipal projects. Seventeen senators voted yes. The bill does not address direct safety impacts for vulnerable road users. No analyst note on safety.

• File S 840, Open States, Published 2023-01-09

Jan 4 - A 6-year-old boy was struck by a southbound sedan on 138 Street. The child suffered a head contusion and was left in shock. The vehicle hit the pedestrian with its center front end while the boy was crossing outside an intersection.

According to the police report, a 6-year-old male pedestrian was injured after being hit by a 2015 Honda sedan traveling south on 138 Street. The child was crossing the street outside of an intersection or crosswalk when the sedan struck him with its center front end. The pedestrian sustained a head contusion and was reported to be in shock. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. No helmet or signaling factors were noted. The crash highlights the dangers pedestrians face when crossing mid-block.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4595433 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 22 - City officials push Albany to drop the drunk driving threshold from 0.08 to 0.05 percent. The bill lingers in committee. Drunk drivers killed 42 New Yorkers last year. Messaging still centers on not drinking, not on not driving.

Senate Bill sponsored by John Liu and Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon seeks to lower New York’s DWI blood-alcohol threshold from 0.08% to 0.05%. The bill, re-submitted in the last legislative session, remains stuck in committee. At a December 22, 2022 press conference, DOT Deputy Commissioner Margaret Forgione said, 'There is not really a safe level of drinking and driving, but the law suggests there is.' Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and NYPD’s Kim Royster also spoke, focusing on enforcement and urging drivers to avoid drinking before driving. Advocates like Alisa McMorris of Mothers Against Drunk Driving called for stronger messaging: 'We want people to make choices before they leave their home.' Despite evidence that lowering the threshold could cut traffic deaths by 10%, city messaging still stops short of telling people not to drive to events where they plan to drink.

• How to Cut Drunk Driving — Discourage the Drinking … Or the Driving?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-22

Dec 22 - City and state officials want to drop the legal blood-alcohol limit to 0.05. The bill sits in committee. Drunk drivers killed 42 people last year. Officials talk tough but focus on drinking, not driving. The danger remains for those outside the car.

Senate and Assembly bill, sponsored by Sen. John Liu and Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, seeks to lower New York’s drunk driving threshold from 0.08 to 0.05 percent BAC. Announced at a December 22, 2022 press conference, the bill has stalled in committee for years. The matter aims to redefine DWI: 'driving while intoxicated would be defined as anything above a blood-alcohol content of 0.05 percent.' Simon and Liu back the measure; city DOT and NYPD leaders joined them. DOT Deputy Commissioner Margaret Forgione said, 'There is not really a safe level of drinking and driving, but the law suggests there is.' In 2021, 42 people died in drunk driving crashes, up 60 percent from previous years. Officials promise enforcement and education, but their messaging targets drinking, not the act of driving. Vulnerable road users remain at risk while the law lags.

• How to Cut Drunk Driving — Discourage the Drinking … Or the Driving?, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-12-22

Nov 22 - A 73-year-old man died under the wheels of a Ford van at a notorious Staten Island crossing. The driver walked free. The intersection lacked a proper pedestrian signal. Forest Avenue is a killing ground. City leaders have failed to act. Blood stains the street.

On November 21, 2022, Yingqui Liu, age 73, was struck and killed by a turning van at South Avenue and Forest Avenue, Staten Island. No charges were filed against the driver. The intersection, notorious for crashes, lacked a pedestrian signal on the western crosswalk. According to city statistics, Forest Avenue saw 60 crashes and 33 injuries in one year, with three deaths since 2019. Rose Uscianowski of Transportation Alternatives called the killing 'heartbreaking and outrageous,' demanding safe pedestrian and bike access between the Bayonne and Goethals bridges. She said, 'Crossing the street should not be a death sentence.' At least 99 pedestrians have died on city streets this year, making it the second deadliest since Vision Zero began. Forty-two seniors have been killed, three-quarters while walking. The city has not improved this deadly stretch.

• Pedestrian Struck and Killed on Dangerous Staten Island Arterial; No Charges, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-22

Nov 15 - An unlicensed female driver struck an 8-year-old boy emerging from behind a parked car on 58 Road. The child suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The sedan’s left front bumper took the impact.

According to the police report, a female driver without a license was traveling east on 58 Road when her sedan’s left front bumper struck an 8-year-old pedestrian. The boy was emerging from in front of or behind a parked vehicle when the collision occurred. He sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists no specific contributing factors for the driver or pedestrian beyond the driver’s unlicensed status. The child was conscious after the crash and suffered injury severity level 3. The vehicle was damaged at the left front bumper. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4582073 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 20 - A sedan rear-ended a pick-up truck on the Long Island Expressway. The sedan driver, a 37-year-old woman, suffered facial abrasions. Police cite driver inattention. Both vehicles moved east. No ejections.

According to the police report, a 37-year-old woman driving a 2019 sedan struck the rear of a 2003 pick-up truck on the Long Island Expressway. The sedan driver was injured, sustaining abrasions to her face, but remained conscious and was not ejected. Both vehicles were traveling straight eastbound at the time of the crash. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The sedan's left rear bumper was damaged. The pick-up truck showed no damage. The sedan driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness. No other contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4574739 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 21 - A 38-year-old man was hit by an SUV on Booth Memorial Avenue in Queens. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The crash occurred outside an intersection with the vehicle impacting the right front bumper.

According to the police report, a 38-year-old male pedestrian was injured on Booth Memorial Avenue in Queens after being struck by a 2009 Honda SUV traveling west. The pedestrian was located outside an intersection and was engaged in other actions in the roadway at the time of impact. The vehicle struck the pedestrian with its right front bumper, causing abrasions and injuries to the pedestrian's knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver, a licensed female from New York, was the sole occupant of the SUV. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors beyond 'Other*' pre-crash action and unspecified pedestrian factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4566154 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 14 - A 12-year-old boy riding a bike south on Kissena Boulevard was injured when a sedan passed too closely. The boy suffered a head abrasion but was conscious and not ejected. The sedan’s right front quarter panel struck the bike’s left front bumper.

According to the police report, a 12-year-old male bicyclist was injured on Kissena Boulevard when a sedan traveling south passed too closely and collided with the bike. The boy sustained a head abrasion and remained conscious. The collision involved the sedan’s right front quarter panel impacting the bike’s left front bumper. The report lists "Passing Too Closely" as a contributing factor. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The bicyclist was also traveling straight ahead and was not ejected from the bike. No other driver errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4565491 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19