No More Bodies in the Road: Make Safety the Law, Not the Exception

Anger filled Broadway Junction. Protesters called out Governor Hochul for halting congestion pricing. Councilmember Lincoln Restler said the city was betrayed. Riders demanded better buses, trains, and less car traffic. Without funding, vulnerable New Yorkers face longer waits and dangerous streets.

On June 9, 2024, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) joined a protest at Broadway Junction against the indefinite delay of New York’s congestion pricing plan. The event, organized by Riders Alliance, followed Governor Kathy Hochul’s last-minute decision to halt the Manhattan toll plan. The protest drew bus and subway riders, who chanted for immediate action and held signs demanding clean air and reliable transit. Restler declared, 'Kathy Hochul has betrayed us,' and called for more frequent bus service, better trains, and less dependence on cars and trucks. The demonstrators warned that without congestion pricing, the MTA faces a funding crisis. This threatens repairs and improvements, especially in Black, Brown, and low-income neighborhoods, and risks worsening traffic and delays for emergency services. The protest highlights the systemic danger: when transit funding is gutted, vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Brooklyn protesters fume over congestion pricing delay: ‘Kathy Hochul has betrayed us’, amny.com, Published 2024-06-09

Senate Bill S 9718 passed. It pushes for complete street design. The aim: safer roads for everyone. Pedestrians, cyclists, and passengers stand to gain. The vote split. Some senators said no. But the bill moved forward. Streets may change.

Senate Bill S 9718, titled "Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles," advanced through the Senate with committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) and co-sponsored by Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, passed both votes despite opposition. The measure calls for redesigning streets to protect all users, not just drivers. The vote was not unanimous—several senators voted no, but the majority carried it through. The bill’s focus is clear: safer streets for people on foot, on bikes, and in vehicles. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is to cut danger at the curb and crosswalk.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

Steel tore flesh on Flushing Avenue. A dump truck veered too close, grinding a parked ambulance. Blood streaked the door. A 39-year-old man inside lost part of his arm. The truck did not yield. The city swallowed another limb.

A dump truck traveling east on Flushing Avenue near Tompkins Avenue in Brooklyn struck a parked ambulance, according to the police report. The report states both vehicles faced east when the dump truck 'scraped a parked ambulance.' Inside the ambulance, a 39-year-old man suffered an arm amputation. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors, highlighting clear driver error. The narrative notes, 'Steel shrieked. A 39-year-old man inside lost part of his arm. Blood smeared the door.' The man was not wearing a seatbelt, but the report attributes the crash to the dump truck driver’s actions. No evidence in the report suggests the victim’s behavior contributed to the collision. The impact left one man permanently injured, underscoring the dangers posed by inattentive driving and large vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729255, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Metal shrieked at Ralph and Gates. Two cars collided head-on. A 20-year-old driver, belted in, suffered head trauma and crushing pain. The cause: driver inattention. The street fell silent in the aftermath.

A sedan and an SUV collided head-on at the corner of Ralph Avenue and Gates Avenue in Brooklyn just before midnight, according to the police report. The report states that a 20-year-old male driver, secured by a lap belt and harness, remained conscious but sustained head trauma and crush injuries. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor in the crash. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead before impact, with damage concentrated at the front ends. The narrative describes the moment: 'Metal screamed. A 20-year-old driver, belted in, stayed conscious through head trauma and crushing pain. The cause: inattention.' No other contributing factors are cited. The report makes clear that driver distraction led directly to the violent collision and resulting injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722345, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A woman riding east on Gates Avenue struck a defective patch of road. Her bike stopped cold. She flew forward, her helmet cracking on impact. Blood pooled as she lay incoherent. The street’s broken surface drew its price.

A 38-year-old woman riding a bicycle eastbound on Gates Avenue was severely injured when defective pavement caused her to crash, according to the police report. The report describes how 'the road gave way,' halting her bike and sending her headfirst to the ground. She suffered a head injury with severe bleeding and was described as incoherent at the scene. The police report identifies 'Pavement Defective' as the sole contributing factor in the crash. The narrative notes her helmet cracked on impact, but no victim behavior is cited as a contributing factor. The incident underscores the danger posed by hazardous street conditions to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721986, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Mercedes swung right on Clermont Avenue. An unlicensed driver hit a woman crossing. Her hip shattered, blood pooling from deep wounds. She lay on the pavement, limbs twisted, eyes fixed on the unreachable sky above.

According to the police report, a Mercedes sedan making a right turn on Clermont Avenue struck a 35-year-old woman as she crossed at the intersection. The report states the driver was unlicensed and failed to yield the right-of-way. The impact broke the woman’s hip and caused severe lacerations, leaving her conscious but immobilized on the pavement. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The collision occurred when the sedan’s right front bumper hit the pedestrian, who was in the crosswalk. No evidence in the report suggests any pedestrian error contributed to the crash. The focus remains on the unlicensed driver’s actions and the systemic danger posed by drivers who disregard basic traffic laws.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4717531, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A moped struck a stopped sedan on Eastern Parkway. The 24-year-old rider, helmeted, sat upright, bleeding from the head. Night air thick with shock, his silence echoed off Pacific Street. Brooklyn’s streets claimed another body, crushed and still.

According to the police report, a moped traveling south on Eastern Parkway near Pacific Street collided with the right side doors of a sedan that was stopped in traffic. The 24-year-old moped rider, who was wearing a helmet, suffered head injuries described as 'crush injuries' and was found in shock, upright and bleeding. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors in the crash. The sedan sustained damage to its right side doors, while the moped’s center front end was crushed. The police narrative notes the rider did not fall from the moped but remained silent and injured at the scene. The systemic danger of inattentive driving and inexperience is underscored by the severe injury to the vulnerable moped operator.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716060, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A moped turned left through a red at Sutter and Strauss. The rider struck a woman crossing with the signal. Her shoulder was crushed beneath the front end. She stayed conscious. The street bore witness to the violence.

According to the police report, a moped making a left turn at the corner of Sutter Avenue and Strauss Street disregarded traffic control and ran a red light. The vehicle struck a 28-year-old woman who was crossing the intersection with the signal. The report states her shoulder and upper arm were crushed beneath the moped’s center front end, causing significant injury. The pedestrian remained conscious at the scene. The police report cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors to the crash. The woman’s actions—crossing with the signal—are noted in the report, but only after the driver’s failures. The collision underscores the lethal consequences when drivers ignore traffic controls in Brooklyn’s crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4714267, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A westbound SUV struck a cyclist head-on on Atlantic Avenue. The rider flew from his bike, landing hard and bleeding from the head. The SUV’s front end caved. The bicycle twisted, silent witness to the crash.

According to the police report, a cyclist turning left on Atlantic Avenue was struck head-on by a westbound Honda SUV. The impact ejected the 32-year-old male cyclist from his bike, leaving him semiconscious and bleeding severely from the head. The report notes that the SUV’s front end caved in, while the bicycle was left twisted at the scene. Police cite 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors, highlighting driver error as central to the crash. The narrative describes blood pooling from the cyclist’s head and confirms he was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is mentioned only after the driver’s actions. Systemic danger persists on Atlantic Avenue, where vulnerable road users face lethal force from vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4710546, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ram truck plowed into a man crossing Atlantic Avenue. The front end smashed his face. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He stayed conscious, pain sharp in the night. Driver distraction left flesh torn and the street marked.

A 38-year-old man was struck by a Ram truck while crossing Atlantic Avenue, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 23:32 near Council District 35. The report states the truck’s front end crushed the pedestrian’s face, leaving him with severe lacerations, though he remained conscious. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the sole contributing factor. The vehicle, registered in North Carolina, was traveling east and struck the pedestrian outside a crosswalk. The police report makes no mention of pedestrian error as a contributing factor, focusing entirely on the driver’s distraction. The incident underscores the ongoing threat posed by inattentive drivers on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709459, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan slammed into a southbound e-scooter on Tompkins Avenue. The rider flew headfirst onto the pavement, blood pooling beneath him. Driver inattention ruled the night. Sirens came late. The street bore witness to another wound.

According to the police report, a sedan struck a southbound e-scooter near Tompkins Avenue and Halsey Street in Brooklyn at 11:56 p.m. The e-scooter rider, a 34-year-old man, was ejected and suffered severe head lacerations. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The sedan's point of impact was the left rear quarter panel, while the e-scooter was hit at the center front end. The rider was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is mentioned only after the driver’s error. The narrative describes the rider flying headfirst onto the pavement, blood pooling on the street, and the driver remaining silent. The incident underscores the deadly consequences of driver inattention for vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4705935, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Mercedes sat parked on Fulton Street. It rolled forward, silent and slow, into a box truck. The woman inside, 56, never moved again. Her seatbelt held her. The truck bore no mark. Death came quiet, unannounced.

According to the police report, a parked Mercedes sedan rolled forward near 777 Fulton Street in Brooklyn at 9:04 a.m. The car struck a box truck, which sustained no visible damage. The sole occupant of the Mercedes, a 56-year-old woman, was found dead inside, still restrained by her lap belt. The report states, 'A parked Mercedes rolled forward into a box truck. The woman inside, 56, never moved again. Her seatbelt held her still. The truck bore no mark. The street stayed quiet. Death came without a sound.' No contributing factors were specified for either vehicle or driver. The data lists the cause as 'Unspecified.' The box truck was parked and undamaged. The focus remains on the unexplained movement of the parked vehicle and the fatal outcome for its driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703686, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 26-year-old e-bike rider crashed into a parked sedan on Saratoga Avenue. He flew from his bike, hip shattered, blood pooling on the street. Shock set in. Sirens wailed late. The crash left him broken and bleeding in Brooklyn.

A 26-year-old man riding an e-bike suffered severe injuries after colliding with a parked sedan near 69 Saratoga Avenue in Brooklyn, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 10:15 a.m. The report states, 'A 26-year-old man on an e-bike slammed into a parked sedan. No helmet. No belt. He flew, hit hard, and bled into the street. His hip shattered. Shock set in. Sirens came late.' The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The rider was ejected from the e-bike, suffered a shattered hip, and experienced severe bleeding and shock. The sedan was unoccupied and parked at the time of the crash. The report does not cite any victim behavior as contributing to the collision. The focus remains on the dangers of inattention and distraction, as documented in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692480, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A taxi hit a 72-year-old woman crossing Flatbush Avenue at 5th Avenue. The front end crushed her. She died on the street, alone in the dark. By sunrise, the asphalt was still. The city moved on. She did not.

A taxi traveling north on Flatbush Avenue struck a 72-year-old woman as she crossed at 5th Avenue. According to the police report, the front end of the taxi hit her, causing fatal injuries to her entire body. She died at the scene. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The woman was crossing against the signal, but the data does not cite this as a contributing factor for the driver. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are listed in the report. The crash left the street quiet by sunrise, marking another loss on Brooklyn’s roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4690798, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Jeep rear-ended a diesel truck on Atlantic Avenue. The SUV’s front crumpled. The truck barely moved. An 88-year-old woman, belted in the front seat, died inside the wreck. She never made it out. Impact was sudden. Death was total.

A Jeep SUV struck the rear of a diesel tractor truck on Atlantic Avenue near Clinton Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A Jeep rear-ended a diesel truck. The SUV’s front folded. The truck barely moved. An 88-year-old woman, belted in the front seat, died. Her body shattered inside the car. She never got out.' The crash killed the elderly front-seat passenger. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor. The passenger was wearing a lap belt and harness. No driver errors by the truck operator are listed. The force of the collision left the SUV destroyed at the front, while the truck sustained rear-end damage but remained largely unmoved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4681770, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A young moped rider slammed to the pavement at dawn. His arm crushed. The street fell silent but for distant cars. Driver inattention left him broken, helmeted, awake, bleeding on Flushing Avenue’s hard edge.

A 21-year-old moped rider was ejected and suffered severe arm crush injuries on Flushing Avenue near Williamsburg Street West in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash happened at dawn. The moped’s left side was torn. The rider wore a helmet and remained conscious at the scene. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No other injuries were reported. The data lists no errors by the moped rider. The helmet is mentioned only as a detail after the driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4665690, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorcycle ran a red on Somers Street. The rider struck a 56-year-old woman crossing with the signal. Her leg was crushed beneath the wheels. She stayed conscious on the pavement. The bike showed no damage. The street stayed quiet.

A crash on Somers Street near Fulton in Brooklyn left a 56-year-old woman injured. According to the police report, a motorcycle 'ran the light' and struck the woman as she crossed with the signal. Her leg was crushed beneath the motorcycle’s wheels. She remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating the rider ignored a traffic signal. The motorcycle showed no damage. The woman was crossing legally at the intersection when the crash occurred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677616, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

On Tompkins Avenue, metal slammed metal. An SUV and a moped turned left, both southbound. The moped rider flew from his seat. His leg split open. Blood pooled on the street. He lay conscious, pain sharp, pavement cold.

A crash on Tompkins Avenue near Pulaski Street in Brooklyn left a 46-year-old moped rider injured. According to the police report, both a station wagon/SUV and a moped were making left turns southbound when they collided. The impact threw the moped rider from his vehicle, causing severe lacerations to his lower leg and foot. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The moped rider was conscious at the scene, blood darkening the pavement beneath him. No helmet use or signaling issues were cited as contributing factors. The SUV sustained damage to its left front quarter panel; the moped was struck at the center front end.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4664416, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan turned left on Franklin Avenue. An e-bike rider kept straight. Metal struck flesh. The rider, 48, flew and landed hard. His leg crushed. He lay conscious, broken, in the sun. The car showed no damage.

An e-bike and a sedan collided on Franklin Avenue. The sedan turned left while the e-bike continued straight. According to the police report, 'Metal met flesh. The rider, 48, flew. His leg crushed beneath him. No helmet. No damage to the car. He lay conscious, broken, on the sunlit street.' The e-bike rider suffered crush injuries to his leg and was ejected from his bike. Police listed 'Outside Car Distraction' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The report notes the rider was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s errors. The sedan sustained no damage. The crash left the cyclist injured and conscious on the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658510, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan hit a 24-year-old cyclist merging south on Kent Avenue. The car’s right front bumper struck him. He flew from his bike. His head split open. Blood pooled. Shock froze him. The street stood silent around the crash.

A 24-year-old cyclist was struck by a sedan while merging south on Kent Avenue. According to the police report, the sedan’s right front bumper hit the cyclist, ejecting him from his bike and causing a severe head injury with heavy bleeding. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet. The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. The data shows the cyclist suffered shock and was left bleeding on the pavement. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to use lanes properly. The helmet is mentioned only because it appears in the police narrative, after the driver’s error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657996, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15