Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in Auburndale?
Six Dead, No Change: Auburndale’s Streets Are Killing Us
Auburndale: Jan 1, 2022 - Aug 5, 2025
The Toll in Plain Sight
Auburndale bleeds, slow and steady. Since 2022, six people have died on its streets. Five were women. One was a cyclist, struck by an SUV just last week at Hollis Court Boulevard and 50th Avenue. She was 55. The driver stayed. The street stayed the same. Police are still investigating the crash.
In the last twelve months, 197 people were hurt in 351 crashes. One did not come home. Most were walking, biking, or just trying to cross. The numbers do not flinch. They do not heal.
Who Pays the Price
The old and the young fall hardest. In three years, 45 children and 64 seniors have been injured. Cars and SUVs did most of the damage. The dead do not get a second chance. The living get scars.
A 75-year-old woman was killed crossing 192nd Street. The record says “driver inattention.” The street says nothing. The record says nothing about her name.
Leadership: Words and Votes
Local leaders have moved, but not enough. State Senator John Liu voted yes to curb repeat speeders, backing a bill to force speed-limiting tech on drivers who rack up violations. He voted yes in committee. Council Member Vickie Paladino cheered new car-free school streets, calling it a win for children. She called it a win for safe pick-up, drop-off, and play.
But the streets are still fast. The deaths are still coming. The city can lower the speed limit to 20 mph. It has not. The law is there. The will is not.
Act or Wait for the Next Siren
This is not fate. It is policy. Call your council member. Call the mayor. Tell them to lower the speed limit, redesign the streets, and stop the next crash before it happens. The dead cannot speak. The living must.
Frequently Asked Questions
▸ Where does Auburndale sit politically?
▸ What types of vehicles caused injuries and deaths to pedestrians in Auburndale?
▸ Are these crashes just 'accidents'?
▸ What can local politicians do to stop traffic violence?
▸ How many people have died or been seriously hurt in Auburndale since 2022?
▸ What is CrashCount?
▸ Who is most at risk on Auburndale’s streets?
Citations
▸ Citations
- Man Killed By Car In Queens Dispute, ABC7, Published 2025-08-01
- Two Killed In Separate E-Vehicle Crashes, NY Daily News, Published 2025-08-03
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4512714 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05
- File S 4045, Open States, Published 2025-06-11
- More Safe School Streets Coming To NYC This Fall, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-29
Other Representatives
District 26
213-33 39th Ave., Suite 238, Bayside, NY 11361
Room 422, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248
District 19
250 Broadway, Suite 1551, New York, NY 10007
212-788-7250
District 16
38-50 Bell Blvd. Suite C, Bayside, NY 11361
Room 915, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247
▸ Other Geographies
Auburndale Auburndale sits in Queens, Precinct 111, District 19, AD 26, SD 16, Queens CB11.
▸ See also
Traffic Safety Timeline for Auburndale
S 2714Liu votes yes, boosting street safety and access for everyone.▸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
Distracted Driver Strikes Down Elderly Pedestrian▸A Lexus sedan hit a 75-year-old woman crossing 47th Avenue. The car struck her head-on. She bled from the head. She died. The driver was distracted. The street stayed silent. The system failed her.
A 75-year-old woman was killed while crossing 47th Avenue near 192nd Street. According to the police report, 'A 75-year-old woman crossed the road. A Lexus came straight, struck her head-on. She was conscious, broken, bleeding from the head. The driver was distracted. The car was fine. She died.' The crash data lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The driver, operating a 2022 Lexus sedan, went straight and struck the pedestrian with the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian suffered fatal head injuries. No other injuries were reported. The driver’s distraction led to the deadly impact. No other contributing factors were listed.
Braunstein Supports State Funding to Avoid City Fare Hikes▸Mayor Adams told Albany: the city pays enough for the MTA. State lawmakers pushed back. Hochul wants the city to cover more. The fight over who funds transit leaves riders in limbo. No new money means service cuts or fare hikes loom.
On February 16, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams traveled to Albany to oppose Governor Hochul’s proposal for New York City to contribute an extra $500 million annually to the MTA. Adams argued, “MTA is a statewide obligation. We’re doing our share.” State lawmakers, including Assembly Member Ed Braunstein and State Senator Liz Krueger, countered that the city should help. Hochul’s budget would shift more costs—like Access-A-Ride and student Metrocards—to the city. Progressive lawmakers suggested taxing the wealthy and freezing fares. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins warned, “To increase fares would be detrimental.” The debate continues as the legislature drafts its own budget. No direct safety analysis was provided, but funding gaps threaten transit service, putting vulnerable riders at risk.
-
Adams To Albany: Someone Fund The MTA; Albany To Adams: Someone Fund The MTA,
Streetsblog NYC,
Published 2023-02-16
A 602Braunstein votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Rozic votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
16-Year-Old E-Bike Driver Injured Queens Crash▸A 16-year-old male e-bike driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries in a Queens collision. The crash involved a left front impact. The rider was conscious and not ejected. Driver inexperience contributed to the crash on Northern Boulevard.
According to the police report, a 16-year-old male operating an e-bike was injured in a crash on Northern Boulevard in Queens. The rider sustained knee, lower leg, and foot injuries but remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. The collision involved impact to the left front bumper of the e-bike. The report lists driver inexperience as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The crash involved one other unspecified vehicle traveling straight ahead. The e-bike driver was the sole occupant of his vehicle.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting BAC Limit Reduction▸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
S 775Liu votes yes to expand ignition interlock monitoring, boosting road safety.▸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
A 602Braunstein votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Rozic votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 1280Rozic co-sponsors bill boosting street safety for all users.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Lower DWI Threshold Bill▸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
Liu Supports Safety Boosting Bill Lowering Drunk Driving Limit▸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
SUVs Crash on Francis Lewis Boulevard▸Two SUVs collided on Francis Lewis Boulevard. A 70-year-old woman in the rear seat was bruised in the face. Both vehicles struck right front bumpers. The crash left one passenger hurt and shaken.
According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens. One SUV was heading straight southbound, the other was turning left. Both vehicles hit at the right front bumper. A 70-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered a facial contusion. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not name specific driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vulnerable passenger injured.
Bus Driver Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash▸A female bus driver was injured in a crash on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus struck an unknown object with its right front bumper. The driver was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. Injury severity was moderate.
According to the police report, a 40-year-old female bus driver was injured when her vehicle collided with an unspecified object on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus was traveling west and impacted with its right front bumper. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors noted. The driver suffered injuries classified as moderate and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved in the crash.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements▸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
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
Distracted Driver Strikes Down Elderly Pedestrian▸A Lexus sedan hit a 75-year-old woman crossing 47th Avenue. The car struck her head-on. She bled from the head. She died. The driver was distracted. The street stayed silent. The system failed her.
A 75-year-old woman was killed while crossing 47th Avenue near 192nd Street. According to the police report, 'A 75-year-old woman crossed the road. A Lexus came straight, struck her head-on. She was conscious, broken, bleeding from the head. The driver was distracted. The car was fine. She died.' The crash data lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The driver, operating a 2022 Lexus sedan, went straight and struck the pedestrian with the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian suffered fatal head injuries. No other injuries were reported. The driver’s distraction led to the deadly impact. No other contributing factors were listed.
Braunstein Supports State Funding to Avoid City Fare Hikes▸Mayor Adams told Albany: the city pays enough for the MTA. State lawmakers pushed back. Hochul wants the city to cover more. The fight over who funds transit leaves riders in limbo. No new money means service cuts or fare hikes loom.
On February 16, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams traveled to Albany to oppose Governor Hochul’s proposal for New York City to contribute an extra $500 million annually to the MTA. Adams argued, “MTA is a statewide obligation. We’re doing our share.” State lawmakers, including Assembly Member Ed Braunstein and State Senator Liz Krueger, countered that the city should help. Hochul’s budget would shift more costs—like Access-A-Ride and student Metrocards—to the city. Progressive lawmakers suggested taxing the wealthy and freezing fares. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins warned, “To increase fares would be detrimental.” The debate continues as the legislature drafts its own budget. No direct safety analysis was provided, but funding gaps threaten transit service, putting vulnerable riders at risk.
-
Adams To Albany: Someone Fund The MTA; Albany To Adams: Someone Fund The MTA,
Streetsblog NYC,
Published 2023-02-16
A 602Braunstein votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Rozic votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
16-Year-Old E-Bike Driver Injured Queens Crash▸A 16-year-old male e-bike driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries in a Queens collision. The crash involved a left front impact. The rider was conscious and not ejected. Driver inexperience contributed to the crash on Northern Boulevard.
According to the police report, a 16-year-old male operating an e-bike was injured in a crash on Northern Boulevard in Queens. The rider sustained knee, lower leg, and foot injuries but remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. The collision involved impact to the left front bumper of the e-bike. The report lists driver inexperience as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The crash involved one other unspecified vehicle traveling straight ahead. The e-bike driver was the sole occupant of his vehicle.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting BAC Limit Reduction▸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
S 775Liu votes yes to expand ignition interlock monitoring, boosting road safety.▸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
A 602Braunstein votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Rozic votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 1280Rozic co-sponsors bill boosting street safety for all users.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Lower DWI Threshold Bill▸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
Liu Supports Safety Boosting Bill Lowering Drunk Driving Limit▸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
SUVs Crash on Francis Lewis Boulevard▸Two SUVs collided on Francis Lewis Boulevard. A 70-year-old woman in the rear seat was bruised in the face. Both vehicles struck right front bumpers. The crash left one passenger hurt and shaken.
According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens. One SUV was heading straight southbound, the other was turning left. Both vehicles hit at the right front bumper. A 70-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered a facial contusion. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not name specific driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vulnerable passenger injured.
Bus Driver Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash▸A female bus driver was injured in a crash on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus struck an unknown object with its right front bumper. The driver was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. Injury severity was moderate.
According to the police report, a 40-year-old female bus driver was injured when her vehicle collided with an unspecified object on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus was traveling west and impacted with its right front bumper. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors noted. The driver suffered injuries classified as moderate and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved in the crash.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements▸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
A Lexus sedan hit a 75-year-old woman crossing 47th Avenue. The car struck her head-on. She bled from the head. She died. The driver was distracted. The street stayed silent. The system failed her.
A 75-year-old woman was killed while crossing 47th Avenue near 192nd Street. According to the police report, 'A 75-year-old woman crossed the road. A Lexus came straight, struck her head-on. She was conscious, broken, bleeding from the head. The driver was distracted. The car was fine. She died.' The crash data lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The driver, operating a 2022 Lexus sedan, went straight and struck the pedestrian with the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian suffered fatal head injuries. No other injuries were reported. The driver’s distraction led to the deadly impact. No other contributing factors were listed.
Braunstein Supports State Funding to Avoid City Fare Hikes▸Mayor Adams told Albany: the city pays enough for the MTA. State lawmakers pushed back. Hochul wants the city to cover more. The fight over who funds transit leaves riders in limbo. No new money means service cuts or fare hikes loom.
On February 16, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams traveled to Albany to oppose Governor Hochul’s proposal for New York City to contribute an extra $500 million annually to the MTA. Adams argued, “MTA is a statewide obligation. We’re doing our share.” State lawmakers, including Assembly Member Ed Braunstein and State Senator Liz Krueger, countered that the city should help. Hochul’s budget would shift more costs—like Access-A-Ride and student Metrocards—to the city. Progressive lawmakers suggested taxing the wealthy and freezing fares. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins warned, “To increase fares would be detrimental.” The debate continues as the legislature drafts its own budget. No direct safety analysis was provided, but funding gaps threaten transit service, putting vulnerable riders at risk.
-
Adams To Albany: Someone Fund The MTA; Albany To Adams: Someone Fund The MTA,
Streetsblog NYC,
Published 2023-02-16
A 602Braunstein votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Rozic votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
16-Year-Old E-Bike Driver Injured Queens Crash▸A 16-year-old male e-bike driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries in a Queens collision. The crash involved a left front impact. The rider was conscious and not ejected. Driver inexperience contributed to the crash on Northern Boulevard.
According to the police report, a 16-year-old male operating an e-bike was injured in a crash on Northern Boulevard in Queens. The rider sustained knee, lower leg, and foot injuries but remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. The collision involved impact to the left front bumper of the e-bike. The report lists driver inexperience as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The crash involved one other unspecified vehicle traveling straight ahead. The e-bike driver was the sole occupant of his vehicle.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting BAC Limit Reduction▸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
S 775Liu votes yes to expand ignition interlock monitoring, boosting road safety.▸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
A 602Braunstein votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Rozic votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 1280Rozic co-sponsors bill boosting street safety for all users.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Lower DWI Threshold Bill▸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
Liu Supports Safety Boosting Bill Lowering Drunk Driving Limit▸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
SUVs Crash on Francis Lewis Boulevard▸Two SUVs collided on Francis Lewis Boulevard. A 70-year-old woman in the rear seat was bruised in the face. Both vehicles struck right front bumpers. The crash left one passenger hurt and shaken.
According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens. One SUV was heading straight southbound, the other was turning left. Both vehicles hit at the right front bumper. A 70-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered a facial contusion. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not name specific driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vulnerable passenger injured.
Bus Driver Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash▸A female bus driver was injured in a crash on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus struck an unknown object with its right front bumper. The driver was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. Injury severity was moderate.
According to the police report, a 40-year-old female bus driver was injured when her vehicle collided with an unspecified object on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus was traveling west and impacted with its right front bumper. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors noted. The driver suffered injuries classified as moderate and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved in the crash.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements▸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
Mayor Adams told Albany: the city pays enough for the MTA. State lawmakers pushed back. Hochul wants the city to cover more. The fight over who funds transit leaves riders in limbo. No new money means service cuts or fare hikes loom.
On February 16, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams traveled to Albany to oppose Governor Hochul’s proposal for New York City to contribute an extra $500 million annually to the MTA. Adams argued, “MTA is a statewide obligation. We’re doing our share.” State lawmakers, including Assembly Member Ed Braunstein and State Senator Liz Krueger, countered that the city should help. Hochul’s budget would shift more costs—like Access-A-Ride and student Metrocards—to the city. Progressive lawmakers suggested taxing the wealthy and freezing fares. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins warned, “To increase fares would be detrimental.” The debate continues as the legislature drafts its own budget. No direct safety analysis was provided, but funding gaps threaten transit service, putting vulnerable riders at risk.
- Adams To Albany: Someone Fund The MTA; Albany To Adams: Someone Fund The MTA, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-16
A 602Braunstein votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Rozic votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
16-Year-Old E-Bike Driver Injured Queens Crash▸A 16-year-old male e-bike driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries in a Queens collision. The crash involved a left front impact. The rider was conscious and not ejected. Driver inexperience contributed to the crash on Northern Boulevard.
According to the police report, a 16-year-old male operating an e-bike was injured in a crash on Northern Boulevard in Queens. The rider sustained knee, lower leg, and foot injuries but remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. The collision involved impact to the left front bumper of the e-bike. The report lists driver inexperience as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The crash involved one other unspecified vehicle traveling straight ahead. The e-bike driver was the sole occupant of his vehicle.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting BAC Limit Reduction▸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
S 775Liu votes yes to expand ignition interlock monitoring, boosting road safety.▸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
A 602Braunstein votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Rozic votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 1280Rozic co-sponsors bill boosting street safety for all users.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Lower DWI Threshold Bill▸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
Liu Supports Safety Boosting Bill Lowering Drunk Driving Limit▸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
SUVs Crash on Francis Lewis Boulevard▸Two SUVs collided on Francis Lewis Boulevard. A 70-year-old woman in the rear seat was bruised in the face. Both vehicles struck right front bumpers. The crash left one passenger hurt and shaken.
According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens. One SUV was heading straight southbound, the other was turning left. Both vehicles hit at the right front bumper. A 70-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered a facial contusion. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not name specific driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vulnerable passenger injured.
Bus Driver Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash▸A female bus driver was injured in a crash on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus struck an unknown object with its right front bumper. The driver was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. Injury severity was moderate.
According to the police report, a 40-year-old female bus driver was injured when her vehicle collided with an unspecified object on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus was traveling west and impacted with its right front bumper. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors noted. The driver suffered injuries classified as moderate and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved in the crash.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements▸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
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
A 602Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Rozic votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
16-Year-Old E-Bike Driver Injured Queens Crash▸A 16-year-old male e-bike driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries in a Queens collision. The crash involved a left front impact. The rider was conscious and not ejected. Driver inexperience contributed to the crash on Northern Boulevard.
According to the police report, a 16-year-old male operating an e-bike was injured in a crash on Northern Boulevard in Queens. The rider sustained knee, lower leg, and foot injuries but remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. The collision involved impact to the left front bumper of the e-bike. The report lists driver inexperience as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The crash involved one other unspecified vehicle traveling straight ahead. The e-bike driver was the sole occupant of his vehicle.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting BAC Limit Reduction▸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
S 775Liu votes yes to expand ignition interlock monitoring, boosting road safety.▸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
A 602Braunstein votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Rozic votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 1280Rozic co-sponsors bill boosting street safety for all users.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Lower DWI Threshold Bill▸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
Liu Supports Safety Boosting Bill Lowering Drunk Driving Limit▸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
SUVs Crash on Francis Lewis Boulevard▸Two SUVs collided on Francis Lewis Boulevard. A 70-year-old woman in the rear seat was bruised in the face. Both vehicles struck right front bumpers. The crash left one passenger hurt and shaken.
According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens. One SUV was heading straight southbound, the other was turning left. Both vehicles hit at the right front bumper. A 70-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered a facial contusion. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not name specific driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vulnerable passenger injured.
Bus Driver Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash▸A female bus driver was injured in a crash on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus struck an unknown object with its right front bumper. The driver was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. Injury severity was moderate.
According to the police report, a 40-year-old female bus driver was injured when her vehicle collided with an unspecified object on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus was traveling west and impacted with its right front bumper. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors noted. The driver suffered injuries classified as moderate and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved in the crash.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements▸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
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
A 602Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Rozic votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
16-Year-Old E-Bike Driver Injured Queens Crash▸A 16-year-old male e-bike driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries in a Queens collision. The crash involved a left front impact. The rider was conscious and not ejected. Driver inexperience contributed to the crash on Northern Boulevard.
According to the police report, a 16-year-old male operating an e-bike was injured in a crash on Northern Boulevard in Queens. The rider sustained knee, lower leg, and foot injuries but remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. The collision involved impact to the left front bumper of the e-bike. The report lists driver inexperience as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The crash involved one other unspecified vehicle traveling straight ahead. The e-bike driver was the sole occupant of his vehicle.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting BAC Limit Reduction▸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
S 775Liu votes yes to expand ignition interlock monitoring, boosting road safety.▸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
A 602Braunstein votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Rozic votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 1280Rozic co-sponsors bill boosting street safety for all users.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Lower DWI Threshold Bill▸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
Liu Supports Safety Boosting Bill Lowering Drunk Driving Limit▸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
SUVs Crash on Francis Lewis Boulevard▸Two SUVs collided on Francis Lewis Boulevard. A 70-year-old woman in the rear seat was bruised in the face. Both vehicles struck right front bumpers. The crash left one passenger hurt and shaken.
According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens. One SUV was heading straight southbound, the other was turning left. Both vehicles hit at the right front bumper. A 70-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered a facial contusion. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not name specific driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vulnerable passenger injured.
Bus Driver Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash▸A female bus driver was injured in a crash on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus struck an unknown object with its right front bumper. The driver was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. Injury severity was moderate.
According to the police report, a 40-year-old female bus driver was injured when her vehicle collided with an unspecified object on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus was traveling west and impacted with its right front bumper. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors noted. The driver suffered injuries classified as moderate and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved in the crash.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements▸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
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
A 602Rozic votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
16-Year-Old E-Bike Driver Injured Queens Crash▸A 16-year-old male e-bike driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries in a Queens collision. The crash involved a left front impact. The rider was conscious and not ejected. Driver inexperience contributed to the crash on Northern Boulevard.
According to the police report, a 16-year-old male operating an e-bike was injured in a crash on Northern Boulevard in Queens. The rider sustained knee, lower leg, and foot injuries but remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. The collision involved impact to the left front bumper of the e-bike. The report lists driver inexperience as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The crash involved one other unspecified vehicle traveling straight ahead. The e-bike driver was the sole occupant of his vehicle.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting BAC Limit Reduction▸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
S 775Liu votes yes to expand ignition interlock monitoring, boosting road safety.▸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
A 602Braunstein votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Rozic votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 1280Rozic co-sponsors bill boosting street safety for all users.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Lower DWI Threshold Bill▸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
Liu Supports Safety Boosting Bill Lowering Drunk Driving Limit▸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
SUVs Crash on Francis Lewis Boulevard▸Two SUVs collided on Francis Lewis Boulevard. A 70-year-old woman in the rear seat was bruised in the face. Both vehicles struck right front bumpers. The crash left one passenger hurt and shaken.
According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens. One SUV was heading straight southbound, the other was turning left. Both vehicles hit at the right front bumper. A 70-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered a facial contusion. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not name specific driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vulnerable passenger injured.
Bus Driver Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash▸A female bus driver was injured in a crash on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus struck an unknown object with its right front bumper. The driver was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. Injury severity was moderate.
According to the police report, a 40-year-old female bus driver was injured when her vehicle collided with an unspecified object on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus was traveling west and impacted with its right front bumper. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors noted. The driver suffered injuries classified as moderate and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved in the crash.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements▸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
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
16-Year-Old E-Bike Driver Injured Queens Crash▸A 16-year-old male e-bike driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries in a Queens collision. The crash involved a left front impact. The rider was conscious and not ejected. Driver inexperience contributed to the crash on Northern Boulevard.
According to the police report, a 16-year-old male operating an e-bike was injured in a crash on Northern Boulevard in Queens. The rider sustained knee, lower leg, and foot injuries but remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. The collision involved impact to the left front bumper of the e-bike. The report lists driver inexperience as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The crash involved one other unspecified vehicle traveling straight ahead. The e-bike driver was the sole occupant of his vehicle.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting BAC Limit Reduction▸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
S 775Liu votes yes to expand ignition interlock monitoring, boosting road safety.▸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
A 602Braunstein votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Rozic votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 1280Rozic co-sponsors bill boosting street safety for all users.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Lower DWI Threshold Bill▸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
Liu Supports Safety Boosting Bill Lowering Drunk Driving Limit▸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
SUVs Crash on Francis Lewis Boulevard▸Two SUVs collided on Francis Lewis Boulevard. A 70-year-old woman in the rear seat was bruised in the face. Both vehicles struck right front bumpers. The crash left one passenger hurt and shaken.
According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens. One SUV was heading straight southbound, the other was turning left. Both vehicles hit at the right front bumper. A 70-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered a facial contusion. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not name specific driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vulnerable passenger injured.
Bus Driver Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash▸A female bus driver was injured in a crash on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus struck an unknown object with its right front bumper. The driver was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. Injury severity was moderate.
According to the police report, a 40-year-old female bus driver was injured when her vehicle collided with an unspecified object on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus was traveling west and impacted with its right front bumper. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors noted. The driver suffered injuries classified as moderate and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved in the crash.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements▸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
A 16-year-old male e-bike driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries in a Queens collision. The crash involved a left front impact. The rider was conscious and not ejected. Driver inexperience contributed to the crash on Northern Boulevard.
According to the police report, a 16-year-old male operating an e-bike was injured in a crash on Northern Boulevard in Queens. The rider sustained knee, lower leg, and foot injuries but remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. The collision involved impact to the left front bumper of the e-bike. The report lists driver inexperience as a contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The crash involved one other unspecified vehicle traveling straight ahead. The e-bike driver was the sole occupant of his vehicle.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting BAC Limit Reduction▸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
S 775Liu votes yes to expand ignition interlock monitoring, boosting road safety.▸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
A 602Braunstein votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Rozic votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 1280Rozic co-sponsors bill boosting street safety for all users.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Lower DWI Threshold Bill▸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
Liu Supports Safety Boosting Bill Lowering Drunk Driving Limit▸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
SUVs Crash on Francis Lewis Boulevard▸Two SUVs collided on Francis Lewis Boulevard. A 70-year-old woman in the rear seat was bruised in the face. Both vehicles struck right front bumpers. The crash left one passenger hurt and shaken.
According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens. One SUV was heading straight southbound, the other was turning left. Both vehicles hit at the right front bumper. A 70-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered a facial contusion. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not name specific driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vulnerable passenger injured.
Bus Driver Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash▸A female bus driver was injured in a crash on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus struck an unknown object with its right front bumper. The driver was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. Injury severity was moderate.
According to the police report, a 40-year-old female bus driver was injured when her vehicle collided with an unspecified object on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus was traveling west and impacted with its right front bumper. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors noted. The driver suffered injuries classified as moderate and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved in the crash.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements▸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
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
S 775Liu votes yes to expand ignition interlock monitoring, boosting road safety.▸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
A 602Braunstein votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Rozic votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 1280Rozic co-sponsors bill boosting street safety for all users.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Lower DWI Threshold Bill▸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
Liu Supports Safety Boosting Bill Lowering Drunk Driving Limit▸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
SUVs Crash on Francis Lewis Boulevard▸Two SUVs collided on Francis Lewis Boulevard. A 70-year-old woman in the rear seat was bruised in the face. Both vehicles struck right front bumpers. The crash left one passenger hurt and shaken.
According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens. One SUV was heading straight southbound, the other was turning left. Both vehicles hit at the right front bumper. A 70-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered a facial contusion. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not name specific driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vulnerable passenger injured.
Bus Driver Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash▸A female bus driver was injured in a crash on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus struck an unknown object with its right front bumper. The driver was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. Injury severity was moderate.
According to the police report, a 40-year-old female bus driver was injured when her vehicle collided with an unspecified object on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus was traveling west and impacted with its right front bumper. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors noted. The driver suffered injuries classified as moderate and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved in the crash.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements▸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
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
A 602Braunstein votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 602Rozic votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 1280Rozic co-sponsors bill boosting street safety for all users.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Lower DWI Threshold Bill▸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
Liu Supports Safety Boosting Bill Lowering Drunk Driving Limit▸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
SUVs Crash on Francis Lewis Boulevard▸Two SUVs collided on Francis Lewis Boulevard. A 70-year-old woman in the rear seat was bruised in the face. Both vehicles struck right front bumpers. The crash left one passenger hurt and shaken.
According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens. One SUV was heading straight southbound, the other was turning left. Both vehicles hit at the right front bumper. A 70-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered a facial contusion. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not name specific driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vulnerable passenger injured.
Bus Driver Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash▸A female bus driver was injured in a crash on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus struck an unknown object with its right front bumper. The driver was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. Injury severity was moderate.
According to the police report, a 40-year-old female bus driver was injured when her vehicle collided with an unspecified object on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus was traveling west and impacted with its right front bumper. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors noted. The driver suffered injuries classified as moderate and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved in the crash.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements▸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
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
A 602Rozic votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
A 1280Rozic co-sponsors bill boosting street safety for all users.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Lower DWI Threshold Bill▸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
Liu Supports Safety Boosting Bill Lowering Drunk Driving Limit▸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
SUVs Crash on Francis Lewis Boulevard▸Two SUVs collided on Francis Lewis Boulevard. A 70-year-old woman in the rear seat was bruised in the face. Both vehicles struck right front bumpers. The crash left one passenger hurt and shaken.
According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens. One SUV was heading straight southbound, the other was turning left. Both vehicles hit at the right front bumper. A 70-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered a facial contusion. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not name specific driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vulnerable passenger injured.
Bus Driver Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash▸A female bus driver was injured in a crash on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus struck an unknown object with its right front bumper. The driver was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. Injury severity was moderate.
According to the police report, a 40-year-old female bus driver was injured when her vehicle collided with an unspecified object on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus was traveling west and impacted with its right front bumper. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors noted. The driver suffered injuries classified as moderate and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved in the crash.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements▸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
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
A 1280Rozic co-sponsors bill boosting street safety for all users.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Lower DWI Threshold Bill▸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
Liu Supports Safety Boosting Bill Lowering Drunk Driving Limit▸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
SUVs Crash on Francis Lewis Boulevard▸Two SUVs collided on Francis Lewis Boulevard. A 70-year-old woman in the rear seat was bruised in the face. Both vehicles struck right front bumpers. The crash left one passenger hurt and shaken.
According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens. One SUV was heading straight southbound, the other was turning left. Both vehicles hit at the right front bumper. A 70-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered a facial contusion. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not name specific driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vulnerable passenger injured.
Bus Driver Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash▸A female bus driver was injured in a crash on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus struck an unknown object with its right front bumper. The driver was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. Injury severity was moderate.
According to the police report, a 40-year-old female bus driver was injured when her vehicle collided with an unspecified object on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus was traveling west and impacted with its right front bumper. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors noted. The driver suffered injuries classified as moderate and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved in the crash.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements▸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
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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Lower DWI Threshold Bill▸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
Liu Supports Safety Boosting Bill Lowering Drunk Driving Limit▸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
SUVs Crash on Francis Lewis Boulevard▸Two SUVs collided on Francis Lewis Boulevard. A 70-year-old woman in the rear seat was bruised in the face. Both vehicles struck right front bumpers. The crash left one passenger hurt and shaken.
According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens. One SUV was heading straight southbound, the other was turning left. Both vehicles hit at the right front bumper. A 70-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered a facial contusion. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not name specific driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vulnerable passenger injured.
Bus Driver Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash▸A female bus driver was injured in a crash on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus struck an unknown object with its right front bumper. The driver was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. Injury severity was moderate.
According to the police report, a 40-year-old female bus driver was injured when her vehicle collided with an unspecified object on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus was traveling west and impacted with its right front bumper. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors noted. The driver suffered injuries classified as moderate and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved in the crash.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements▸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
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
S 840Liu votes yes in committee, boosting funding for safer street designs.▸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
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Lower DWI Threshold Bill▸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
Liu Supports Safety Boosting Bill Lowering Drunk Driving Limit▸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
SUVs Crash on Francis Lewis Boulevard▸Two SUVs collided on Francis Lewis Boulevard. A 70-year-old woman in the rear seat was bruised in the face. Both vehicles struck right front bumpers. The crash left one passenger hurt and shaken.
According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens. One SUV was heading straight southbound, the other was turning left. Both vehicles hit at the right front bumper. A 70-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered a facial contusion. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not name specific driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vulnerable passenger injured.
Bus Driver Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash▸A female bus driver was injured in a crash on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus struck an unknown object with its right front bumper. The driver was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. Injury severity was moderate.
According to the police report, a 40-year-old female bus driver was injured when her vehicle collided with an unspecified object on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus was traveling west and impacted with its right front bumper. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors noted. The driver suffered injuries classified as moderate and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved in the crash.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements▸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
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
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Lower DWI Threshold Bill▸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
Liu Supports Safety Boosting Bill Lowering Drunk Driving Limit▸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
SUVs Crash on Francis Lewis Boulevard▸Two SUVs collided on Francis Lewis Boulevard. A 70-year-old woman in the rear seat was bruised in the face. Both vehicles struck right front bumpers. The crash left one passenger hurt and shaken.
According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens. One SUV was heading straight southbound, the other was turning left. Both vehicles hit at the right front bumper. A 70-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered a facial contusion. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not name specific driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vulnerable passenger injured.
Bus Driver Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash▸A female bus driver was injured in a crash on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus struck an unknown object with its right front bumper. The driver was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. Injury severity was moderate.
According to the police report, a 40-year-old female bus driver was injured when her vehicle collided with an unspecified object on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus was traveling west and impacted with its right front bumper. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors noted. The driver suffered injuries classified as moderate and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved in the crash.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements▸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
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
Liu Supports Safety Boosting Bill Lowering Drunk Driving Limit▸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
SUVs Crash on Francis Lewis Boulevard▸Two SUVs collided on Francis Lewis Boulevard. A 70-year-old woman in the rear seat was bruised in the face. Both vehicles struck right front bumpers. The crash left one passenger hurt and shaken.
According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens. One SUV was heading straight southbound, the other was turning left. Both vehicles hit at the right front bumper. A 70-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered a facial contusion. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not name specific driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vulnerable passenger injured.
Bus Driver Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash▸A female bus driver was injured in a crash on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus struck an unknown object with its right front bumper. The driver was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. Injury severity was moderate.
According to the police report, a 40-year-old female bus driver was injured when her vehicle collided with an unspecified object on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus was traveling west and impacted with its right front bumper. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors noted. The driver suffered injuries classified as moderate and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved in the crash.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements▸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
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
SUVs Crash on Francis Lewis Boulevard▸Two SUVs collided on Francis Lewis Boulevard. A 70-year-old woman in the rear seat was bruised in the face. Both vehicles struck right front bumpers. The crash left one passenger hurt and shaken.
According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens. One SUV was heading straight southbound, the other was turning left. Both vehicles hit at the right front bumper. A 70-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered a facial contusion. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not name specific driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vulnerable passenger injured.
Bus Driver Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash▸A female bus driver was injured in a crash on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus struck an unknown object with its right front bumper. The driver was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. Injury severity was moderate.
According to the police report, a 40-year-old female bus driver was injured when her vehicle collided with an unspecified object on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus was traveling west and impacted with its right front bumper. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors noted. The driver suffered injuries classified as moderate and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved in the crash.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements▸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
Two SUVs collided on Francis Lewis Boulevard. A 70-year-old woman in the rear seat was bruised in the face. Both vehicles struck right front bumpers. The crash left one passenger hurt and shaken.
According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens. One SUV was heading straight southbound, the other was turning left. Both vehicles hit at the right front bumper. A 70-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered a facial contusion. She was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not name specific driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vulnerable passenger injured.
Bus Driver Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash▸A female bus driver was injured in a crash on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus struck an unknown object with its right front bumper. The driver was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. Injury severity was moderate.
According to the police report, a 40-year-old female bus driver was injured when her vehicle collided with an unspecified object on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus was traveling west and impacted with its right front bumper. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors noted. The driver suffered injuries classified as moderate and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved in the crash.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements▸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
A female bus driver was injured in a crash on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus struck an unknown object with its right front bumper. The driver was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. Injury severity was moderate.
According to the police report, a 40-year-old female bus driver was injured when her vehicle collided with an unspecified object on 46 Avenue near Utopia Parkway. The bus was traveling west and impacted with its right front bumper. The driver was the sole occupant and was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no clear driver errors noted. The driver suffered injuries classified as moderate and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved in the crash.
John Liu Supports Safety Boosting Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements▸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
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