Traffic safety advocates placed eight ghost strollers outside City Hall to represent some of the young lives lost to traffic collisions in the last year - one of them for the youngest, 3-month-old Apolline Guillemin.

“When we talk about, 'These crashes are preventable,' this is exactly the type of crash we are talking about,” said Danny Harris, executive director of Transportation Alternatives.

On Saturday evening, Apolline’s mother and father were walking her in a stroller down their street, Gates Avenue near Vanderbilt Avenue, when police say 28-year-old Tyrik Mott, driving the wrong way, crashed into another car. The impact caused both vehicles to jumped the curb, hitting the young family and killing the infant. 

"We can save lives, but it requires urgent action. But we are already too late," said City Councilman Brad Lander of Brooklyn.

Records show Mott’s vehicle had 160 traffic violations since 2017, including dozens of infractions for speeding in school zones and running red lights.

Advocates say had the city’s Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program been funded and implemented, the infants death would have been avoided.

“This is about the failure of bold leadership to take what can prevent traffic violence and bring them to every corner of the city," Harris said. "DOT has the tools. The mayor has the tools. Why can’t we save human life?”

The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program was passed back in February of 2020. The law is suppose to require any car owner with at least five red light tickets or 15 speeding tickets in the span of the year to take a driver safety course within 30 days or have their car seized by the city’s sheriff’s office. 

Mott met the criteria for the course or car seizer, but even though the legislation has taken effect the program has not yet been started, the mayor said the pandemic may be to blame.

"I understand there was a lot of disruption in every part of our lives and in our city government, but I want to find out why this didn't happen in a timely basis, but I want to give you a sharp, clear answer," de Blasio said.

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said Mott should not be allowed on the road.

“Laws without the follow through are really significant," Shea said. "He was arrested multiple times in cars for driving recklessly or without a license, and what happened after he was arrested?”

Advocates say 20 children have been killed in traffic crashes since the reckless driver accountability act was passed. Ten of them have been this year.