Village Wins Top Award in AAA’s Traffic Safety Program

In recognition of its effective traffic safety programs, AAA New York awarded the village of Garden City with its top Platinum Award for Community Traffic Safety.

The village was officially honored during an Oct. 10 luncheon ceremony at The Carltun in East Meadow. Mayor John Watras, Commissioner Kenneth Jackson, Detective Richard Pedone, retired police commissioner Ernest Cipullo, Inspector Michael Doyle and Officer Kevin Reilly were on hand to accept the award.

AAA New York, the local AAA affiliate, presented 64 awards during the ceremony. The village was one of seven winners in AAA’s annual Community Traffic Safety Awards Program, which recognizes outstanding communities for their efforts to make the region’s roadways safer for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. Other winners this year included New York City, Freeport, Old Westbury, Northport and Rye and White Plains in Westchester County.

“We are pleased to honor our award winning communities that are doing such vital work to ensure that drivers, pedestrians and cyclists can all reach their destinations safely,” said John Corlett, AAA New York director of traffic safety and government affairs.

Over the past year, Garden City has had zero vehicle occupant fatalities and a 97 percent seatbelt usage rate, according to AAA. Village traffic safety programs include the School Bus Safety Program, Speed Awareness Program and the Seatbelt Awareness Program. The village also received a Pedestrian Safety citation for having six consecutive years without a pedestrian fatality.

"What an incredible achievement," Mayor Watras said. "Thank you. We will continue to do the good work and move forward. We're not slacking in any way, shape or form."