No Deaths Yet—But Laurelton Bleeds Every Day

Sep 22 - DOT says the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program failed. Few cars seized. Violations continued. Brooks-Powers promises scrutiny. Lander demands tougher action. Streets remain perilous. The city weighs next steps as reckless drivers keep rolling.

On September 22, 2023, the Department of Transportation issued a report recommending the end of the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program (DVAP). The program, designed to target repeat red light and speeding offenders, required violators to take a safety course or risk vehicle seizure. The report, reviewed by Council Transportation Chair Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (District 31), found little impact: 'A program meant to crack down on dangerous drivers did not dramatically reduce their behavior.' Only half completed the course, violations persisted, and just 12 vehicles were seized. Brooks-Powers stated, 'Holding reckless drivers accountable and keeping our streets safe for all New Yorkers remains a priority.' Comptroller Brad Lander criticized DOT for abandoning the effort, urging the city to strengthen, not scrap, DVAP. The report also called for state laws to suspend registrations or install speed governors for repeat offenders, but such measures have stalled in Albany.

• Program meant to crack down on NYC's dangerous drivers should end, says transportation department, gothamist.com, Published 2023-09-22

Sep 18 - Council waits. DOT stalls. The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program limps toward expiration. Thousands of reckless drivers dodge consequences. Few take the safety course. Council members call for answers, action, and stronger laws. Vulnerable New Yorkers remain exposed.

On September 18, 2023, the City Council reviewed the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program (DVAP), which is set to expire on October 26. The Transportation Committee, led by Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, pressed the Department of Transportation (DOT) for a final report on the program’s effectiveness. The bill required drivers with 15 speed-camera or five red-light tickets in a year to take a safety course or risk vehicle seizure. Council Member Shahana Hanif voiced disappointment, noting, 'We need to not only reauthorize this program, but strengthen it.' Despite over 34,000 drivers meeting the threshold in the last year, only about 1,200 took the course in three years. DOT has not explained the reporting delay or provided outcome data. The lack of enforcement leaves dangerous drivers on the road and vulnerable road users at risk.

• Council Needs Info from DOT So it Can Rescue (or Ignore) Fading ‘Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-18

Sep 13 - The city missed legal targets for new bus and bike lanes. Officials dodged questions. Council grilled DOT. Advocates tracked the shortfall. Political meddling blocks safer streets. Vulnerable New Yorkers wait. Progress stalls. Danger stays.

On September 13, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s progress toward mandated bus and bike lane construction. The hearing, led by Transportation Committee chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, pressed DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez for answers. The law requires 150 miles of protected bus lanes and 250 miles of protected bike lanes by 2026. In 2022, the city built only 4.4 miles of bus lanes and 26.3 miles of bike lanes, far short of the legal benchmarks. Councilmember Lincoln Restler criticized political interference, saying, 'We're at a point where it's all politics all the time, and we're failing to execute.' Advocacy groups confirmed the city lags behind. The administration’s refusal to track or disclose progress leaves vulnerable road users exposed. The city’s failure to act keeps streets dangerous.

• City fails to monitor bus and bike lane construction progress after falling short of mandates last year, amny.com, Published 2023-09-13

Sep 12 - Councilmember Brooks-Powers slammed DOT for missing legal targets on bus and bike lanes. DOT leaders dodged numbers, citing delays and staff shortages. The hearing exposed deep rifts over accountability. Vulnerable road users wait as city agencies stall and argue.

On September 12, 2023, the City Council Transportation Committee, chaired by Selvena Brooks-Powers, held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) compliance with the Streets Master Plan under Local Law 195. Brooks-Powers demanded specifics: 'DOT has struggled to meet its legal mandate. In 2021, DOT installed just 4.4 miles of bus lane—well below 20-mile requirement.' DOT officials, including Deputy Commissioner Eric Beaton and Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, refused to provide current figures, promising data next year. Brooks-Powers called this 'unacceptable.' She stressed, 'The 30 miles of bus lane and 50 miles of bike lanes is not a goal—it’s legal mandate.' The exchange revealed ongoing tension over DOT’s slow rollout and lack of transparency. Staffing shortages and council opposition to projects were cited as obstacles. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Brooks-Powers and DOT Exchange Testiness Over Agency’s Alleged ‘Master Plan’ Shortfalls, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-12

Sep 11 - Councilmember Lincoln Restler sounded the alarm. His Brooklyn district saw more traffic injuries than any other in New York City this year. Cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers face daily danger. Restler demands swift action: real protected bike lanes, not empty promises.

On September 11, 2023, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) issued a statement on street safety and protected bike lanes. The data, compiled by Transportation Alternatives, showed his Brooklyn district suffered the most traffic injuries citywide in the first half of 2023: 36 pedestrians, 24 cyclists, and 41 motorists. The matter summary reads, 'New York City is on pace for one of the deadliest years for bike riders in recent history, but it doesn't have to be this way.' Restler called on the Adams administration to 'prioritize and expedite proven solutions that will save lives, especially the swift implementation of a truly protected network of bike lanes.' The statement underscores the urgent need for systemic change as vulnerable road users bear the brunt of failed policy and dangerous streets.

• Nearly 8 people seriously injured on NYC streets daily in 2023, gothamist.com, Published 2023-09-11

Aug 18 - Two sedans crashed on 227 Street in Queens. One driver suffered head injuries and whiplash. The impact hit the left side doors of one car and the front end of the other. Unsafe speed was a factor in the collision.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on 227 Street in Queens. The driver of one vehicle, a 28-year-old man, was injured with head trauma and whiplash. The crash involved impact to the left side doors of his sedan and the center front end of the other sedan. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead at the time. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4655110 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 6 - A Yamaha motorcycle hit a turning SUV at 233rd Street and 125th Avenue. The rider, 33, flew from his seat and died in the street. He wore a helmet. The crash ended with the bike slamming a parked Ford. Night stayed silent.

A deadly crash unfolded at the corner of 233rd Street and 125th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a Yamaha motorcycle struck a turning SUV, then crashed into a parked Ford. The 33-year-old motorcyclist was ejected from his seat and died at the scene. The report states, “The rider, 33, flew from the seat. He wore a helmet. He died in the street.” The data lists no specific driver errors, but the sequence involved a left-turning SUV and a motorcycle traveling straight. The motorcyclist was unlicensed. No other injuries were reported. The night was still after the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4651866 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 31 - A 32-year-old woman driving a 2004 Toyota sedan was injured in a Queens crash. She was making a left turn when her vehicle struck another. The impact hit the center front end. She suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries but remained conscious.

According to the police report, a female driver, age 32, was injured in a collision on Springfield Boulevard in Queens. She was driving a 2004 Toyota sedan eastbound and was making a left turn when the crash occurred. The point of impact was the center front end of her vehicle. The driver sustained upper arm and shoulder injuries and was conscious at the scene. She was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report does not list any contributing factors or driver errors. The crash involved multiple vehicles, but no other injuries or details about other drivers were provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4650539 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 15 - A sedan making a right turn in Queens struck on its left side. The middle rear seat passenger suffered back injuries and whiplash. The driver was licensed and traveling north. The crash caused damage to the vehicle's left rear quarter panel.

According to the police report, a 2015 Toyota sedan was making a right turn on 143 Avenue in Queens when it was struck on the left side doors. The vehicle sustained damage to the left rear quarter panel. A 33-year-old female occupant seated in the middle rear seat was injured, suffering back pain and whiplash. She was conscious and wearing a lap belt at the time. The driver, a licensed male from New York, was traveling north before the crash. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645355 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 12 - The City Council’s Transportation Committee drags its feet. Only one minor bill—mile markers—moves forward. Thirteen key safety bills, with broad support, sit idle. Advocates fume as crashes and injuries mount. Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers stays silent. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

On July 12, 2023, the City Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, chaired by Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, scheduled only one bill—Intro 853, requiring mile markers on select roads—for a vote. This bill has two sponsors and no opposition. Meanwhile, thirteen more significant bills, including measures to streamline bike lane installation, enable reporting of blocked bike and bus lanes, create e-bike charging stations for delivery workers, and improve truck route safety, remain unscheduled despite broad support. Only 19% of the committee’s 113 bills have had hearings; just 4% have passed. Advocates like Elizabeth Adams and Jon Orcutt decry the slow pace, especially as traffic crashes and injuries remain high. Brooks-Powers has not responded to requests for comment. Advocates demand urgent action to protect vulnerable road users and improve transit accessibility.

• Analysis: Council Transportation Committee Spinning Its Wheels, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-12

Jun 27 - NYPD claims action on ghost cars. Numbers tell a different story. Arrests for fake plates drop. Summonses barely rise. DOT cameras miss over a million violations. Council weighs tougher fines. Riders and walkers pay the price for weak enforcement.

On June 27, 2023, the City Council held a hearing on NYPD enforcement against ghost cars—vehicles with fake, covered, or defaced plates. NYPD Transportation Bureau’s Michael Pilecki reported arrests for forged plates fell 11 percent from last year, while summonses rose just 0.6 percent. The hearing spotlighted two bills from Council Member Oswald Feliz to raise fines for using or selling fake plates, both widely supported, including by the NYPD. The matter summary: 'NYPD claims it has stepped up its efforts to summons and arrest car drivers who cover or deface their plate, or drive with a fake temporary tag, but its own statistics show that the effort has not continued into this year.' Council Members Selvena Brooks-Powers and Kamillah Hanks did not comment. Activists and officials noted DOT’s automated cameras failed to bill 1.2 million violations last year due to temp tags, leaving dangerous drivers unaccountable. The city’s weak enforcement leaves vulnerable road users exposed.

• NYPD’s Fight Against ‘Ghost Cars’ Lacks Serious Muscle, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-27

Jun 15 - City will push e-scooter share into eastern Queens. Bronx pilot saw two million trips, few injuries. DOT touts safety features, speed limits, and training. Council backs move for transit deserts. Rollout covers 600,000 residents. Launch set for next year.

On June 15, 2023, the Department of Transportation announced a major expansion of its e-scooter share program into eastern Queens. The program, which began as a pilot in The Bronx in 2021, will now cover roughly 20 square miles and serve about 600,000 residents. DOT Commissioner Rodriguez said, 'E-scooters and other forms of micromobility will help us build a cleaner and greener transportation system that connects residents to commercial and transit hubs.' Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers celebrated the move, highlighting its impact on transit deserts in Southeast Queens. The Bronx pilot logged over two million trips with very low injury rates. Safety features—speed limits, in-app training, 'Beginner Mode,' and no overnight use for new riders—will continue. Discounted rates remain for NYCHA and assistance program residents. Service in Queens begins in 2024.

• City to Expand Scooter Share to Eastern Queens, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-15

Jun 14 - A truck driver hit a man on Hook Creek Boulevard in Laurelton, Queens. The victim died weeks later. The road is wide, fast, and unprotected. No charges filed. Council District 31 leads the city in road deaths. Danger is routine here.

On May 19, 2023, a 41-year-old pedestrian was struck by a 61-year-old truck driver at Hook Creek Boulevard near 135th Road in Queens. The victim died on June 11. The crash happened in Council District 31, represented by Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers. The intersection lacks stop signs or a traffic light. A speed camera there issued over 600 tickets in 2021. Transportation Alternatives calls the district the city’s deadliest: six road deaths in early 2023, more than 10 percent of city fatalities, and the highest fatality rate per resident. The driver stayed at the scene. Police gave no details. No charges were filed. The street’s design and lack of enforcement leave pedestrians exposed and unprotected.

• Pedestrian Struck by Truck Driver in Queens Dies of His Injuries: Cops, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-14

Jun 12 - Mayor Adams expands Summer Streets to every borough. Five Saturdays. Seventeen miles. Cars banned from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Brooklyn and Queens get major corridors. Advocates want longer hours and connected routes. City cites costs and safety. Streets open, but only for a while.

On June 12, 2023, Mayor Adams announced the expansion of New York City’s Summer Streets program to all five boroughs. The program, managed by the Department of Transportation, will run on five Saturdays in July and August, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., covering 17 miles. Borough presidents Antonio Reynoso (Brooklyn) and Donovan Richards (Queens) pushed for this expansion, with Reynoso praising the use of major corridors like Eastern Parkway. Mayor Adams said, “This is a five-borough city and we are now saying the Summer Streets program is going be a five-borough initiative. Everyone deserves to enjoy that.” Adams expressed interest in longer hours but cited public safety and NYPD staffing costs as barriers. Advocates want more hours and connected car-free routes. The city will spend $1.5 million, not including staffing. The expansion marks a step forward, but the early end time leaves advocates wanting more.

• Summer Streets Expands to All Boroughs; Still Ends Early, Though, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-12

Jun 8 - Sammy’s Law would let New York City drop speed limits to 20 mph on deadly streets. Council Member Gutierrez led the charge. Brooks-Powers joined. Streets scarred by crashes and deaths. Lower speeds mean fewer bodies broken. The city waits. Lives hang in the balance.

Sammy’s Law, debated by the NYC Council and State Legislature, seeks home rule for New York City to lower speed limits from 25 to 20 mph on dangerous streets. Council Member Jen Gutierrez carried the resolution; Selvena Brooks-Powers later signed on. The bill targets corridors like Bushwick Avenue, Laurelton Parkway, and East Gun Hill Road—sites of hundreds of crashes and dozens killed or maimed since 2019. The matter summary states: 'Because people are dying and being maimed on New York's most-dangerous 25-mile-per-hour streets.' Supporters, including State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, cite the science: lower speeds mean less force, fewer deaths. Research shows 20 mph zones cut crashes by 60 percent. The bill does not mandate, but allows, lower limits where carnage is highest. The council’s action centers the lives of pedestrians and cyclists, demanding the city act before more are lost.

• MAP QUEST: See Exactly Why Sammy’s Law Would Be So Crucial for the Boroughs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-08

Jun 8 - Albany gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers pass A 7043. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program runs until 2028. Streets near schools face new watchful eyes.

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

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

Jun 6 - Albany gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers pass A 7043. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program runs until 2028. Streets near schools face new watchful eyes.

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

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

Jun 1 - Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

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

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2023-06-01

May 31 - 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 2023-05-31

May 30 - Senate backs S 6802. Albany gets school speed cameras. One no vote. Cameras aim to slow drivers near kids. Program ends 2028. Lawmakers move to shield children from reckless speed.

Senate bill S 6802, introduced by Neil D. Breslin, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in Albany. The bill passed committee on May 30, 2023, with only one senator, Andrew J. Lanza, voting no. The official summary reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Albany; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2028.' Breslin led sponsorship. Seventeen senators voted yes. The program targets driver speed near schools, aiming to protect children and other vulnerable road users. The law sunsets at the end of 2028.

• File S 6802, Open States, Published 2023-05-30