Garden City Wins Top AAA Award

From Left: Joe Cristiano, officer, Garden City P.D.; Mark Kulewicz, assistant vice president of Traffic Safety, AAA New York; Richard Pedone, detective, Garden City P.D.; Tom Mauren, sergeant, Garden City P.D.; Kenneth Jackson, inspector, Garden City P.D.; and Ernest J. Cipullo, Commissioner, Garden City P.D. Garden City has won AAA's top Platinum Award for outstanding effectiveness of its traffic safety programs, AAA New York Assistant Vice President Mark J. Kulewicz recently announced. The community was honored during a luncheon ceremony at The Carltun in East Meadow. AAA New York, the local AAA affiliate, presented a total of 70 awards.

The village was one of four Platinum award winners in AAA's annual Community Traffic Safety Awards Programs, which recognizes outstanding organizations, individuals and communities for their efforts to make the region's roadways safer for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. Other winners were Port Washington as well as Dobbs Ferry and Irvington, both in Westchester County.

"We are delighted to recognize the vital and life-saving work that is being done by Garden City and other award winners," Mr. Kulewicz said.

Over the past five year, Garden City has shown a 41% reduction in vehicle occupant injuries and a 26% reduction in crashes with injury. Their successful traffic safety programs include the Bicycle Safety Awareness Program, "Make a Difference" DWI Enforcement Program, Truck Inspection Program, Child Passenger Safety Program and the School Bus Safety Program.

The village was also awarded a Pedestrian Safety Citation Award for having one year without a pedestrian fatality.