Public Advocate Jumaane Williams testifies on road crisis
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams testifies that crash data on the city's open data portal has not been updated since June 2026 and cites recent fatal collisions, including hit-and-run deaths and cyclist deaths. He argues public awareness of the road crisis remains limited.
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
As I mentioned, my name is Jumaane Williams, Public Advocate, City of New York.
I want to thank Chair Burrow as well as members of the Committee on Transportation Infrastructure for holding this important hearing and for the opportunity to share testimony.
Public awareness of the city's road crisis still remains a little limited.
partly because crash statistics on the city's open data portal have not been updated since June of 2026.
Directly outside of the Dinkins Municipal Building on Center Street, a fatal collision occurred on July 29th involving a SUV and an individual riding an illegal e-bike.
In August 2026, hit-and-run drivers took the lives of three cyclists within three days, bringing the total number of people killed by hit-and-run drivers to nine by the end of the month.
Just earlier this month on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, an unmarked NYPD vehicle ran a red light and struck a cyclist.
Nine pedestrians were injured on October 9th when a driver reportedly attempting to beat a traffic light sped through a busy Bronx intersection.
According to the Vision Zero eBay Imagine report, the DOT plans to use hardened daylighting or better treatments such as traffic signals, all-way stops, crosswalks, and leading pedestrian intervals.
As the DOT moves forward with daylighting measures, we must emphasize the compromise visibility posed.
Poses a direct threat to pedestrian, cyclist, delivery workers, and motorists alike.