Nassau County, NY - July 9th, 2013 - As part of Nassau County’s Walk Safe Campaign, Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today announced the debut of a public service video aimed at increasing safety and awareness both for pedestrians crossing busy streets and for the drivers expected to yield to them at crosswalks. The video, produced by film students from Long Island University, features the stories of three teens that died after being struck while crossing Hempstead Turnpike and Sunrise highway over a period of 5 years.
County Executive Mangano stated, “My administration launched the Walk Safe Campaign after several residents tragically lost their lives on our local roadways. This new teen tragedy tell-all video brings much needed attention to the importance of pedestrian safety. As residents enjoy the summer, we remind them of the importance of pedestrian safety while walking outdoors, visiting our beautiful parks and driving in our local neighborhoods.”
In 2012, County Executive Mangano launched the Walk Safe Campaign – a complete pedestrian program addressing both the driver and the pedestrian through education, enforcement and engineering. The importance of pedestrian safety was highlighted after three high school students from Levittown were killed while crossing Hempstead Turnpike. Along with the State of New York, Nassau County completed several pedestrian safety improvements to Hempstead Turnpike and other dangerous roadways. While statistics indicate that 13 pedestrian fatalities occurred on Hempstead Turnpike between 2009 and 2011, no pedestrians have died crossing Hempstead Turnpike in the past year since the Walk Safe Campaign was launched.
Nassau County Legislator Dennis Dunne who was in attendance at the press conference said: "Even if you're at a crosswalk, for the 15 seconds it takes for you to cross a major highway, you should not be talking on the phone or texting when crossing that highway. Not texting or talking for those 15 seconds may save your life. Take your hood off so that your vision will not be obstructed, in any direction, while crossing."
“Many people do not consider the dangers of crossing the street outside of the crosswalks or when the stop-light is green. This new presentation will help educate our community and help us spread the word on safety to all residents,” added Mangano. “It is my hope that every Nassau resident gets to view this program and will take the proper measures when crossing the street as a pedestrian or crossing through an intersection as a driver.”
For more information or to reserve the video for viewing, please contact the Nassau County Traffic Safety at (516) 571-6808. To video online, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5TRY1uA1WA.