Jun 12 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-12

Jun 11 - Senate backs S 4045. Repeat speeders face forced installation of speed assistance tech. Eleven points or six camera tickets triggers action. Law targets reckless drivers. Streets may get safer for those outside the car.

Senate bill S 4045, sponsored by Andrew Gounardes and co-sponsored by over two dozen senators, passed committee votes on June 11 and June 12, 2025. The bill, titled 'Relates to requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits,' mandates these devices for drivers who rack up eleven or more points in 24 months, or six speed or red light camera tickets in a year. The measure aims to curb repeat dangerous driving. Senators including Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, and others voted yes. The bill targets drivers with a pattern of violations, seeking to cut risk for pedestrians and cyclists by limiting repeat speeding.

• File S 4045, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 11 - Senate backs S 4045. Repeat speeders face forced installation of speed assistance tech. Eleven points or six camera tickets triggers action. Law targets reckless drivers. Streets may get safer for those outside the car.

Senate bill S 4045, sponsored by Andrew Gounardes and co-sponsored by over two dozen senators, passed committee votes on June 11 and June 12, 2025. The bill, titled 'Relates to requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits,' mandates these devices for drivers who rack up eleven or more points in 24 months, or six speed or red light camera tickets in a year. The measure aims to curb repeat dangerous driving. Senators including Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, and others voted yes. The bill targets drivers with a pattern of violations, seeking to cut risk for pedestrians and cyclists by limiting repeat speeding.

• File S 4045, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 3 - Another joins Families for Safe Streets. Another life lost. The toll rises. Grief sharpens the call for change. Streets stay deadly. The city fails to shield its own. The group grows. The danger remains.

On June 3, 2025, Gersh Kuntzman issued an advocacy statement, reported by Streetsblog NYC. The statement reads, 'There's a new member of Families for Safe Streets, which is not good news.' Joe Jankoski, mourning Amanda Servedio, spoke out after her death by a recidivist speeder. The group’s ranks swell with each tragedy. No specific bill or committee is named in this event. Kuntzman’s statement underscores the relentless danger faced by pedestrians and cyclists. The safety analyst notes: the event describes a new member joining an advocacy group, which does not directly affect pedestrian or cyclist safety at the population level. The city’s streets remain perilous. The group’s growth is a grim measure of failure.

• Tuesday’s Headlines: Stop Super Speeders Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-03

May 13 - SUV hit a 61-year-old man crossing with the signal. The driver failed to yield and was distracted. The pedestrian suffered head injuries and severe cuts. Maspeth Avenue saw blood on the street.

A 61-year-old pedestrian was struck by an SUV while crossing Maspeth Avenue at 59th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the driver, distracted and inattentive, failed to yield and made a left turn. The impact left the man semiconscious with head injuries and severe lacerations. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and operating a 2010 Nissan SUV. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812649 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 25 - SUV swung a U-turn on Skillman. Front bumper hit a cyclist. His leg was crushed. He stayed conscious. Blood on the street. System failed him.

A 45-year-old man riding a bike was struck by an SUV making a U-turn on Skillman Avenue near 43rd Street in Queens. According to the police report, the SUV’s front bumper hit the cyclist, crushing his leg. The cyclist was injured but remained conscious. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as a contributing factor. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but the primary cause was the driver’s improper turn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4809294 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 25 - Kawasaki rider merges on BQE. Metal hits Ford’s rear. Rider falls, leg torn, blood pools. No helmet. He stays awake. Ford untouched. System fails the young.

A 22-year-old motorcyclist was injured merging westbound on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. According to the police report, his Kawasaki struck the left rear bumper of a Ford. The rider crumpled to the pavement with severe leg lacerations and was conscious at the scene. The Ford showed no damage. The report lists no specific driver errors. Lack of helmet use is noted only after the collision details. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4808178 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 14 - A new study finds fare-free buses would speed up rides by 12 percent and draw 169 million more riders yearly. Faster boarding slashes dwell times. Riders save time. Streets get safer, air gets cleaner. The city must weigh the cost—and the gains.

On April 14, 2025, a policy analysis by Charles Komanoff examined the impact of fare-free buses in New York City. The report, covered by Streetsblog NYC, found that eliminating fares would cut bus trip times by 12 percent and boost annual ridership by 169 million, a 23 percent jump. The study states: 'Each dollar of city government support would produce more than two dollars worth of benefits for residents, primarily by removing the burden of fare payments while providing faster and more reliable bus service.' Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and State Senator Michael Gianaris, both of Queens, have pushed the MTA to consider free buses. Komanoff’s analysis shows that faster buses mean less time waiting, cleaner air, fewer crashes, and a small but real drop in car trips. The report adds fuel to the debate over city funding for free bus service.

• Free Buses Would Mean 12% Faster Rides And 20% More Riders: Study, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-14

Apr 12 - A Ford pickup hit a man on an e-scooter at 42nd Street and 30th Avenue. He flew, struck his head, and bled. The driver was distracted. A baby watched. The truck was unscathed. The man was not.

A Ford pickup truck hit a 42-year-old man riding an e-scooter at 42nd Street and 30th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the man was ejected, suffered a head injury, and was conscious but bleeding. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The pickup showed no damage, but the e-scooter rider was left with severe bleeding. No helmet was noted for the rider, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s error. A baby witnessed the crash. No injuries were reported for the truck’s occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805222 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 12 - Activists marched the Queensboro Bridge, demanding space for people on foot. The city ignored them. Nine lanes for cars, one cramped path for everyone else. The mayor delayed the fix. The danger remains. The lane went back to cars.

On April 12, 2025, activists and elected officials gathered on the Queensboro Bridge to protest the city’s failure to restore the South Outer Roadway for pedestrians. The Department of Transportation had planned a ribbon-cutting for March 16, but Mayor Adams canceled it. Council Member Julie Won and State Senator Michael Gianaris attended, both supporting the reconfiguration. Won said, 'I have received no new information since Mayor Adams canceled the March 16 ribbon-cutting.' The protest highlighted the ongoing crisis: nine lanes for cars, one narrow, shared lane for cyclists and pedestrians. Crashes and near-misses are common. City Hall claims the project will impact several communities, but offers no timeline. The lane reverted to car use after the protest, leaving vulnerable road users exposed.

• Activists Walk the Queensboro Bridge to Demand More Space for Pedestrians, But Lane Reverts to Cars Anyway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-12

Apr 9 - Seven lawmakers demand Mayor Adams open the Queensboro Bridge pedestrian path. The project sits finished. Cyclists and walkers still cram into a narrow, crash-prone lane. Delays keep thousands at risk. City Hall stalls. Advocates plan protest. Danger lingers.

On April 9, 2025, seven elected officials—including Council Members Julie Won and Julie Menin—sent a public letter demanding Mayor Adams open the long-promised Queensboro Bridge pedestrian path. The Department of Transportation had planned to open the dedicated walkway on March 16, but the mayor's office intervened, citing the need for a briefing. The lawmakers wrote, 'The reasons given for this delay are not satisfactory, as all communications from the DOT have indicated that the project is complete and ready to open to the public.' They warned, 'Any further delays to this project that is otherwise ready to open will unnecessarily put at risk the thousands of New Yorkers who cycle and walk the current shared path every day.' The project, in the works since at least 2017, remains stalled. Cyclists and pedestrians are forced to share a cramped, hazardous lane. City Hall insists on more review, while advocates plan a protest ribbon-cutting.

• Pols Demand Adams Open Queensboro Bridge Pedestrian Path, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-09

Apr 5 - A sedan, SUV, and motorcycle slammed together on Woodhaven. Metal screamed. A 55-year-old man was thrown and killed. Others staggered from wrecks, battered and stunned. Failure to yield left silence in its wake.

A deadly crash on Woodhaven Boulevard at 60th Drive involved a sedan, an SUV, and a motorcycle. According to the police report, 'A sedan, motorcycle, and SUV collide, metal shrieks. The motorcycle is crushed. A 55-year-old man, ejected, dies on the street. Others crawl from wrecks, dazed, bodies aching.' The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The 55-year-old motorcyclist was killed after being ejected. Another driver, age 42, was injured. Passengers and other drivers suffered unspecified injuries. Helmets and harnesses were used but could not prevent the fatal outcome.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803498 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 8 - A 39-year-old man crossed Ditmars Boulevard before dawn. An eastbound Toyota SUV hit him with its left front bumper. Blood pooled from his head. The street was empty. He remained conscious, wounded and alone in the early morning dark.

According to the police report, a 39-year-old pedestrian was crossing Ditmars Boulevard near 35th Street in Queens when a 2013 Toyota SUV, traveling east, struck him with its left front bumper. The crash occurred before dawn, on an empty street. The report states the man suffered a head injury and severe bleeding but was conscious at the scene. The police narrative notes the pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing with no signal or crosswalk present. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and pedestrian, providing no further detail on driver actions. The impact location and vehicle trajectory underscore the danger faced by pedestrians on wide, empty streets, especially when driver errors are left unaddressed or unreported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792677 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 21 - A taxi swung right on Fresh Pond Road. A cyclist turned left. Steel struck flesh. A 23-year-old man’s leg shattered on cold pavement. No helmet, no warning, just the sharp snap of bone and the city’s indifference.

According to the police report, a collision occurred at Fresh Pond Road and Gates Avenue in Queens when a taxi made a right turn and a cyclist turned left. The report states, 'A taxi turned right. A bike turned left. Steel struck bone.' The 23-year-old cyclist was thrown to the pavement, suffering crush injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The police narrative describes the aftermath: 'his leg crushed. No helmet. No horn. Just pain, shock, and cold January light.' The only contributing factor cited in the report is 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but lists no driver errors or additional contributing factors. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when turning vehicles and vulnerable road users cross paths in New York City’s chaotic streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787570 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 11 - A pick-up truck hit a baby girl in the road outside 32-72 Steinway Street. Blood pooled from her head as she lay conscious in the cold night. The truck’s left side bore the mark of impact. The city’s danger pressed close.

A pick-up truck traveling south struck a baby girl outside 32-72 Steinway Street in Queens just before 1 a.m., according to the police report. The report states the child was in the roadway and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding, remaining conscious at the scene. The truck’s left side doors showed damage consistent with the collision. According to the police report, 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' was listed as a contributing factor. No driver errors were cited in the report. The incident occurred away from an intersection, with the child described as performing 'Other Actions in Roadway.' The report does not mention any additional contributing factors related to the driver. The focus remains on the impact and the resulting injury to the vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785367 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 9 - A lane change cut too close on the Long Island Expressway. Steel slammed steel. Two taxi passengers suffered head injuries amid shattered glass. Shock and bruises followed. The crash exposed dangerous driver errors and left victims broken and silent.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on the eastbound Long Island Expressway around 8:30. The collision resulted from an 'Unsafe Lane Changing' maneuver by a vehicle, which cut too close and struck a taxi. The taxi sustained damage to its left side doors, while the SUV hit the taxi with its right front bumper. Two passengers in the taxi’s rear seats, a 33-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman, both suffered head injuries including a concussion and contusions. Both were not wearing safety equipment and were left in shock. The report cites 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Other Vehicular' factors as causes. The violent impact shattered glass and caused serious injuries. The police report clearly attributes the crash to driver errors, with no fault assigned to the injured passengers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785052 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 2 - A bus struck a 53-year-old woman head-on at Ditmars Boulevard and 31st Street. Her body broke beneath the wheels. She died in the street. The bus rolled on into the morning. The city’s machinery did not stop for her.

A 53-year-old woman was killed at the corner of Ditmars Boulevard and 31st Street when a 2009 bus struck her head-on, according to the police report. The report states the woman was crossing against the signal at the intersection when the collision occurred. The bus, traveling straight ahead, hit her with its center front end. The force of the impact crushed her body beneath the wheels, resulting in her death at the scene. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors. The narrative notes the bus continued on after the collision. The report centers the fatal outcome for the pedestrian, with systemic danger underscored by the presence of a large vehicle moving through a busy intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783310 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 18 - A 24-year-old woman riding an e-scooter on Queens Boulevard was struck head-on. She was ejected, her head split and bleeding, but she stayed conscious as traffic thundered by. Driver inattention left her broken in the street.

A 24-year-old woman operating an e-scooter was struck head-on near 59-11 Queens Boulevard in Queens, according to the police report. The impact ejected her from the scooter, causing severe head injuries and heavy bleeding. The police report states that she remained conscious at the scene. The primary contributing factor cited is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction,' highlighting a systemic danger on city streets. The report notes the absence of helmet use, but only after emphasizing the role of driver distraction. The collision underscores the peril faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781101 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 4 - Just after midnight on Grand Central Parkway, a speeding sedan slammed into the rear of an SUV. The impact crushed metal and left a 19-year-old passenger bleeding from a severe head wound, conscious but seriously injured in the back seat.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling at unsafe speed collided with the left rear bumper of a sport utility vehicle on Grand Central Parkway shortly after midnight. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors for the sedan driver. The sedan's right front bumper struck the SUV's rear, crushing metal and causing significant damage. Inside the SUV, a 19-year-old male passenger suffered severe head lacerations; he remained conscious but was bleeding heavily. The sedan driver, a 17-year-old male, was injured with fractures and dislocations but was not ejected and had safety equipment deployed. No victim behaviors or safety equipment issues were cited as contributing factors. This crash highlights the deadly consequences of excessive speed and inexperience behind the wheel on city highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776248 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 27 - A sedan struck a 29-year-old man head-on in a marked crosswalk on Woodward Avenue. His back was crushed. He lay conscious on the pavement, staring up at the Queens sky. Driver inattention and failure to yield marked the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on Woodward Avenue near Cornelia Street struck a 29-year-old man as he crossed in a marked crosswalk. The report states the vehicle hit him head-on, crushing his back and leaving him conscious on the pavement. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal, but this is noted only after the primary driver errors. The vehicle's point of impact and damage were both at the center front end, underscoring the directness of the collision. The focus remains on the driver's failure to pay attention and yield, as documented in official records.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775393 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19