Over the last three years, at least five individuals have either died or sustained serious injuries at 118 intersections across New York City, and a recent report suggests there might be a potential solution to this issue.
Alternative Transportation for Safe Streets has released a map, created with support from the Department of Transportation, highlighting the city’s most hazardous intersections. Advocacy groups are calling on local lawmakers to enact a new regulation that would prohibit vehicles from parking or stopping within 20 feet of crosswalks throughout the city.
“The data clearly indicates what we’ve been advocating for: intersections need our focus, and we must prioritize safe road improvements there,” stated Elizabeth Adams, the group’s senior director of advocacy and organizing.
During a press conference outside City Hall in Manhattan, Adams emphasized the need for “daylighting” at all intersections, allowing both drivers and pedestrians to better identify potentially dangerous situations.
Daylighting refers to a strategy that keeps cars from parking too close to crosswalks, which can block visibility for both pedestrians and drivers, sometimes resulting in serious accidents.
“With daylighting, whether you’re driving, walking, or biking, you have the necessary line of sight to see anyone turning or approaching the corner,” Adams remarked.
The map illustrates that the most perilous intersections in each borough include:
- West 120th Street and Lenox Avenue in Manhattan
- Northern Boulevard and 48th Street in Queens
- Flatbush Avenue & Avenue H in Brooklyn
- Bruckner Boulevard and St. Anne’s Avenue in the Bronx
- Hunton Street and Richmond Road in Staten Island
Each of these locations has recently witnessed tragic events.
For example, in July 2024, a 3-year-old girl was tragically struck and killed by a vehicle while crossing the street with an adult and two other children at what’s been noted as Manhattan’s most dangerous intersection.
On August 26, a 32-year-old woman lost her life to a hit-and-run driver while crossing a busy intersection in the Bronx. Officers reported that Dillmania López de Rodriguez was hit just after midnight as she attempted to cross Bruckner Boulevard at Leggett Avenue.
After determining she was unresponsive, the driver fled the scene without leaving any witnesses, and the NYPD Highway District Collision Investigation Unit is actively looking into the incident.
In another case from 2022, a driver departing from a parking lot at Queens’ most hazardous intersection seriously injured an 89-year-old woman.
A DOT representative mentioned that all these intersections already incorporate daylighting measures.
However, Adams criticized this approach, arguing that relying on isolated incidents to guide safety decisions is reckless.
“It’s irresponsible for the DOT to wait until another New Yorker has experienced loss or injury before evaluating an intersection,” she said.
Traffic safety advocates are urging the City Council to pass a new law (Intro 1138) aimed at prohibiting vehicles from standing or parking within 20 feet of crosswalks across the city, except for brief passenger drop-offs or pick-ups.
The proposed bill also mandates the DOT to introduce physical barriers like planters and bike racks at no less than 1,000 intersections annually through 2030, coupled with citywide campaigns to raise awareness about the new regulations.
A spokesperson for House Speaker Adrian Adams highlighted that negotiations over the bill are ongoing. With only one session remaining before the December 18 deadline, there’s room for public input on the legislation.
“Ensuring the safety of pedestrians and all road users is a top concern for Chairman Adams and the council,” the spokesperson stated. “Introduction 1138 remains a focus of active discussion and negotiation within the Council’s legislative framework.”
A DOT spokesperson expressed support for a focused daylighting approach but noted there isn’t a universal solution.
“We will continue to leverage every tool available to enhance street safety, including targeted daylighting,” the spokesperson added.
A recent study by the DOT suggested that merely implementing daylighting without additional physical barriers doesn’t necessarily enhance safety; in fact, it could encourage faster driving if space feels more open. The recommendation included pairing daylighting with other safety measures, like curb extensions and protected bike lanes.
Looking ahead, a City Council bill proposed by Queens Borough Councilwoman Julie Wong could enter discussions next year, pending support from Councilwoman Julie Menin, a co-sponsor of the bill.
Transportation advocates, striving to prevent further traffic fatalities, made it clear on Tuesday that they would resist alterations to the bill that don’t provide genuine safety enhancements for New York’s pedestrians.
“I don’t think we will accept anything that doesn’t come with real safety improvements and real changes to our streets for New Yorkers,” Adams concluded.
