Over the last three years, data shows that 118 intersections throughout New York City have been the scene of at least five fatal or serious crashes. A new proposal could make these crossings safer.
Transportation Alternatives for Safe Streets has released a map that marks the city’s most dangerous intersections, based on Department of Transportation data. The organization is urging local lawmakers to adopt a law that would prohibit vehicles from parking or stopping within 20 feet of any crosswalk citywide.
“We’ve long known that intersections are the critical points we need to focus on,” said Elizabeth Adams, senior director of advocacy & organizing for the group. “It’s where we can make the biggest impact on street safety.”
Adams told reporters at a press conference outside Manhattan’s City Hall that the city should adopt “daylighting” at every intersection. The term refers to removing vehicles that block sightlines at crosswalks, thereby giving drivers and pedestrians a clearer view of the roadway.
“Daylighting gives everyone—driver, pedestrian, cyclist—the sight lines needed to see people turning the corner or coming around the bend,” she added.
The map highlights the most treacherous spots in each borough:
* Manhattan: West 120th Street & Lenox Avenue
* Queens: Northern Boulevard & 48th Street
* Brooklyn: Flatbush Avenue & Avenue H
* Bronx: Bruckner Boulevard & St. Ann’s Avenue
* Staten Island: Hunton Street & Richmond Road
Each of these intersections has witnessed recent tragedies. In July 2024, a 3‑year‑old girl was fatally struck at Manhattan’s worst intersection while crossing with an adult and two other children. The Bronx’s most deadly intersection claimed the life of a 32‑year‑old woman on August 26 when a hit‑and‑run driver crossed the street. In Queens, a driver exiting a parking lot struck an 89‑year‑old woman, leaving her severely injured. A DOT spokesperson noted that all of these intersections already have daylighting, but critics argue that it is insufficient.
Adams warned that relying on a case‑by‑case approach—adding daylighting only after a death or serious injury—amounts to irresponsible governance. “It’s dangerous for DOT to wait until another New Yorker has lost a loved one or sustained a devastating injury before addressing an intersection,” she said.
Instead, advocates are pushing for City Council Bill Intro 1138. The legislation would ban parking or standing within 20 feet of any crosswalk across the city, with narrow exceptions for brief passenger exchanges. It also directs DOT to install physical daylighting devices—such as planters or bike racks—at a minimum of 1,000 intersections annually through 2030 and to run a citywide educational campaign on the new rules.
A spokesperson for Speaker Adrienne Adams—who shares no relation to Elizabeth Adams—reported that negotiations are still underway. Only one council meeting remains before the current session ends on December 18, after which the bill could move to a final reading pending public input.
While the DOT spokesperson supported a “targeted” daylighting strategy, he acknowledged that a one‑size‑fits‑all solution is unlikely. “We’ll keep using every tool at our disposal, including targeted daylighting, to make our streets safer,” he said.
A DOT study released in January concluded that daylighting without physical barriers did not clearly improve crash data. In some instances, simply removing parked cars created a more open space that encouraged drivers to make faster and wider turns. The report suggested pairing daylighting with other design elements—such as curb extensions, turn‑calming measures, protected bike lanes, and pedestrian islands—for maximum impact.
The council bill, sponsored by Queens Councilmember Julie Won and co‑sponsored by 26 other members, could still be heard next year if the new speaker chooses to advance it. Transit advocates insist that any compromise that does not deliver tangible safety improvements is unacceptable. “We won’t accept anything that lacks real safety changes for vulnerable New Yorkers,” Adams declared.
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