AAA Gives Traffic Safety Awards to NYC, NY, NJ Communities

The American Automobile Association has recognized the traffic safety efforts of a number of communities across the country. Locally it cited New York City, White Plains and Garden City, as well as New Jersey’s Washington Township for their efforts to reduce traffic related deaths and injuries.

New York City received the Community Traffic Safety Platinum for the third time by achieving a 49 percent decrease in driver fatalities while decreasing pedestrian fatalities by 73 percent. The AAA also noted that the city’s occupant protection fatalities were down 45 percent and it had achieved a 72 percent reduction in its impaired driving fatalities.

Washington Township achieved its top award by increasing bicycle helmet use above 90 percent for five years and increasing seat belt use above the national average for three straight years.

Two additional New York communities also achieved AAA’s distinguished Platinum Award. White Plains established a five year trend in decreasing pedestrian accidents by installing audible signals and “yield to pedestrian” signs. Garden City maintained a five-year trend by decreasing the number of DWI crashes, non-restrained occupants and bicycle accidents.

Charles Butler, AAA Director of Traffic Safety, praised a number of communities efforts to save lives and property, and stated that, “The purpose of the award program is to give national and local recognition to these great efforts that have advanced the cause of traffic safety so that they can be shared and emulated by others.

Topics New York New Jersey