Injured, Ignored, and Still Waiting: Drop the Speed, Save a Life

Speed cameras do not target Black or Brown neighborhoods. Data shows crashes drop where cameras go. But unsafe roads remain. Leaders demand more cameras and street redesigns. Council Member Adrienne Adams backs calls for action. Cameras alone cannot stop traffic violence.

""Cameras don't discriminate. Either you're speeding or you're not. This data certainly proves what we've been saying all along,"" -- Donovan J. Richards

On February 14, 2022, Council Member Adrienne Adams (District 28) was mentioned in a Streetsblog analysis titled, "New York’s Speed Cameras Aren’t Racist — But the City’s Road Design Is." The report, not tied to a specific bill, reviewed automated enforcement and street design. It found speed cameras are evenly distributed and reduce crashes, but dangerous road design still puts lives at risk. Adams and other leaders called for more cameras and urgent street redesigns, echoing the article’s summary: 'Cameras have led to fewer crashes, injuries, and fatalities, but high numbers of tickets in some neighborhoods are attributed to unsafe road design, not camera placement.' Community voices stressed that automated enforcement helps, but cannot replace permanent fixes to deadly streets. The Department of Transportation’s lack of transparency on camera locations remains a concern. Adams and others demand systemic change to protect vulnerable New Yorkers.

• Analysis: New York’s Speed Cameras Aren’t Racist — But the City’s Road Design Is, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-02-14

A 10-year-old girl died. An SUV jumped the curb in Far Rockaway. The driver sped from a parking lot, struck the child and a woman. No arrest. Leaders condemned the crash. They blamed unsafe exits, lax enforcement, and city neglect. Calls for urgent change rose.

On February 10, 2022, a driver in an SUV killed a 10-year-old girl and injured a woman on a Queens sidewalk after speeding out of a grocery store parking lot. The incident, described as 'another child on a sidewalk in Far Rockaway,' drew swift condemnation. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards called the crash a wake-up call, saying, 'There is nothing more imperative than street safety.' Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, called the deaths 'senseless' and blamed years of underinvestment and neglect. She pledged to work with Mayor Adams to address transportation inequities and ensure safer streets. The crash highlighted the danger of parking lot exits that funnel cars onto sidewalks and the rise in pedestrian deaths involving SUVs. Advocates demanded proven solutions to slow drivers and protect vulnerable road users.

• Reckless SUV Driver Kills Another Child on a Sidewalk in Far Rockaway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-10

A southbound SUV struck a stopped sedan from behind on Rockaway Boulevard in Queens. The sedan’s female driver suffered head injuries and whiplash. Police cited unsafe speed as a contributing factor. Both vehicles sustained center-end damage.

According to the police report, a 2021 Jeep SUV traveling south on Rockaway Boulevard rear-ended a stopped 2021 Toyota sedan. The sedan’s 50-year-old female driver was injured, sustaining head trauma and whiplash. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor in the crash. The point of impact was the center back end of the sedan and the center front end of the SUV. Both drivers were licensed and the sedan driver was not ejected. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The collision caused significant damage to both vehicles and left the sedan driver injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4499392 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-10

Vision Zero failed in 2021. Two hundred seventy-three people died on New York streets. Hit-and-runs soared. SUVs killed more. Brooklyn bled most. Leaders promise fixes. Streets remain deadly. Urgency fills the air. Vulnerable lives hang in the balance.

A final analysis released January 26, 2022, revealed 2021 as the deadliest year in the eight-year history of New York City's Vision Zero initiative, with 273 road deaths—a 32 percent jump from 2018. The Transportation Committee, chaired by Selvena Brooks-Powers, faces mounting pressure. The matter summary states: 'A final analysis of 2021 crash statistics revealed that it was the deadliest year in the eight-year history of New York City's Vision Zero initiative.' Transportation Alternatives demanded urgent action: reclaiming street space from cars, redesigning intersections, upgrading bike lanes, and more. Mayor Adams and DOT Commissioner Rodriguez pledged intersection redesigns and stronger bike lanes, but no changes have rolled out. Brooks-Powers called every death 'an avoidable tragedy' and vowed to push for safer streets. The city stands at a crossroads. Vulnerable road users pay the price for delay.

• NUMBER CRUNCH: Inside the Deadliest Year in Vision Zero History, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-26

Gov. Hochul backs a new train line linking Queens and Brooklyn. The Interborough Express uses old tracks for new rapid transit. Borough presidents Richards and Reynoso support it. The plan faces cost, freight, and construction hurdles. Public review comes next.

On January 21, 2022, Gov. Hochul announced the Interborough Express (IBX) project, a new train line connecting Bay Ridge in Brooklyn to Jackson Heights in Queens. The project is in early stages, with environmental review and public input ahead. The MTA’s feasibility study considered light rail, commuter rail, and bus rapid transit, aiming for a 45-minute end-to-end trip. The matter summary states: 'New York City is getting a new train line, the Interborough Express (IBX), thanks to Gov. Hochul's support for passenger service on the rail right of way connecting Queens and Brooklyn.' Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso voiced support at the announcement. The project uses existing right-of-way, avoiding eminent domain, but faces challenges with freight integration, track upgrades, and uncertain costs. Modular station designs aim to keep expenses down. No formal safety analysis for vulnerable road users has been published.

• ANALYSIS: Gov. Hochul’s ‘Bi-Boro’ Train Line: How Will it Work?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-21

Selvena Brooks-Powers takes the helm of the Council’s Transportation Committee. She pledges to tackle traffic violence and congestion. Her district lacks bike lanes and Citi Bike docks. She supports more ferries, bus lanes, and open streets. Advocates watch closely.

On January 20, 2022, Selvena Brooks-Powers became chair of the City Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She represents District 31 in southeast Queens, an area with limited transit and high car use. The committee oversees key street safety and mobility issues. Brooks-Powers said, 'Historically in New York City in particular, the transportation system has had many barriers for communities that live in transportation deserts from reaching economic opportunity.' She supports expanding protected bike lanes, bus lanes, open streets, and ferry access, but has mixed views on dedicated bus lanes due to local bottlenecks. Brooks-Powers plans to consult with colleagues, advocates, and experts in her first 100 days to address traffic violence and congestion. Advocates are optimistic, citing her record fighting for communities and workers. No formal safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Meet the Council’s Transportation Committee Chair: Selvena Brooks-Powers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-20