Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and Partners Announce Safety Effort to Curb Dangerous Driving on Long Island

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) and its partners announced the kickoff of an effort to curb problematic driving on Long Island. The “Drive Safe Long Island” campaign is a focused effort driven by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and its partners to deter impaired driving, reduce speeding and increase safety for pedestrians. Over the course of the summer and early fall, GTSC will coordinate public events, special traffic enforcement mobilizations, and community outreach to highlight dangerous driving behaviors that have led to deadly crashes on Long Island.  

“Long Island has so much to offer with its beautiful beaches, wonderful parks, great neighborhoods and proximity to New York City,” said Mark J.F. Schroeder, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and GTSC Chair. “GTSC has long supported and funded efforts to address these traffic safety issues on Long Island, but still more needs to be done. Drivers must be aware that behavioral changes are needed to make the roads safer for all who use them. Everyone has a role to play in roadway safety.”

Among the reasons for the new campaign are some alarming statistics:

• Nassau and/or Suffolk counties are among the most dangerous counties in the state for traffic crashes and fatalities.
• In 2024, traffic crashes killed or injured 29,428 people on Long Island.
• From 2022 to 2024, the number of pedestrians injured or killed in crashes across Nassau and Suffolk counties increased 10%, with 58 pedestrians losing their lives to crashes in 2024.
• In 2023, 881 people on Long Island were injured in crashes where the driver was impaired by alcohol or drugs. Alcohol- or drug-involved crashes claimed the lives of 124 people on Long Island in 2023. Planning a sober ride home could save your life.
• Speed kills. In 2024, 62 people lost their lives to speed-related crashes on Long Island. Slow down and save lives. In 2024, 2,859 people were injured in crashes due to speeding in Long Island.

As part of the "Drive Safe Long Island" campaign, GTSC is partnering with the Long Island Ducks to promote traffic safety at their games. GTSC’s safety messages are mentioned when a Ducks player draws a walk, and additional general traffic safety messaging is given over the public address and radio broadcasts before and during the game. 

Sean Smith, General Manager of the Ducks, said, “The Long Island Ducks have been proud to provide affordable family entertainment to the community for 25 years.  Our ballpark has become a prominent community marketing venue for all types of organizations, and we are happy to support the GTSC’s message in keeping Long Islanders as safe as possible.”

GTSC, in partnership with local law enforcement, STOP-DWI and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), also coordinated a targeted enforcement mobilization that will run from July 31- August 3 to get dangerous drivers off the road. During the mobilization, drivers who are stopped will be giving a card describing the life and tragic death of Angel David Salas, a 9-year-old boy who was tragically killed in 2022 by an alcohol and drug impaired driver speeding on the Long Island Expressway, with a revoked license. Angel’s mother Juliana Salas is working with GTSC to spread the word about her son’s life and encourage her fellow Long Islanders to drive safely. 

Juliana Salas said, “Whether you’re celebrating or you’re in pain, you have agency over your choices. God knows your heart and he will carry you through, but it’s up to you to make the choice before you get behind the wheel how you’re going to go home. There’s other travelers on the road and the children shouldn’t have to pay the consequences for our actions, so choose the right.”

Salas spoke to members of the community during a GTSC-sponsored event on Thursday and her story will be shared on social media as part of a larger community outreach effort spearheaded by GTSC. Thursday’s event and the corresponding enforcement blitz are just the start of a series of focused traffic safety events GTSC will conduct on Long Island throughout the summer and into early fall. 

In addition, GTSC has funneled millions of highway safety grants to Nassau and Suffolk County to help curb dangerous driving across the region. This year, GTSC has funded $1,469,284 in grants to partners in Nassau and Suffolk counties to address critical traffic safety issues. 

That funding includes a regional downstate traffic safety resource prosecutor in Suffolk County; $253,705 to the Suffolk County Police Department for traffic safety initiatives; $172,500 to the Nassau County Police Department to help address the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer; $124,319 to the Coalition for Transportation Safety to address pedestrian safety in Queens and Nassau counties; and another $134,375 to address bicycle and pedestrian safety in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

All told, GTSC provided 45 grants to different partners this year to address traffic safety on Long Island.

The EAC Network (Empower, Assist, Care) is a non-profit on Long Island that works on these issues as well.  They have received $241,242 in grants this year to help make our roads safer. That includes their Kids Cars ‘n Consequences program, which conducted programs virtually and in-person to over 1,815 students throughout Suffolk County.

The DMV’s Field Investigations Unit is also regularly at concerts at Jones Beach to make sure underage guests are not using fake IDs to purchase alcoholic beverages as part of our efforts to prevent impaired driving.

“Too many lives are being lost on Long Island because of reckless choices behind the wheel,” said New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James. “Whether it's driving under the influence, speeding, or ignoring pedestrian safety, these actions have consequences. The State Police will continue working with GTSC and our local partners to hold dangerous drivers accountable and to protect everyone who uses our roads.”

State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “Safety is always the top priority of the New York State Department of Transportation and our crews work around-the-clock to help make sure that Long Islanders can get where they need to go safely and with a minimum of hassles. Safety is everyone’s responsibility and I urge everyone to drive carefully,  slow down and pay attention, especially in work zones. Lives are at stake.”

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said, “Nine-year-old Angel Salas's life was stolen by a driver who was drunk, high and traveling 119 mph on the Long Island Expressway. This insanity must stop. This past year, the leadership of the New York State legislature would not let the Drugged Driving bill even come up for a vote, despite a majority of members supporting the bill. While we continue to push for common sense changes to close the loopholes in New York laws, we will also continue to work on prevention, education and treatment,  along with our Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor and all our partners."

“The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office is out on the front lines every night to prevent impaired and reckless driving from destroying lives,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. “This new campaign is another powerful tool in our shared mission to keep Long Island’s roadways safe.” 

“The 100 Deadliest Days of Summer are a stark reminder that dangerous driving peaks when our roads are busiest and our teen drivers are the most vulnerable during this time,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said. “By working with our law enforcement partners and the community, we’re combining education, enforcement, and outreach to help prevent senseless tragedies caused by impaired, distracted and reckless driving.”

Caroline Flynn, Suffolk County’s Stop DWI Program Coordinator, said, “Impaired driving can forever change your life, the lives of your family members and other innocent people you share the road with. You could lose your license and pay thousands in fines and court fees. The risks aren’t worth a few hours of fun. Take 5 minutes before you walk out the door to make a plan – whether it be a rideshare service, a designated driver or a place to safely keep your car.”

Learn more about GTSC, and follow the GTSC conversation on Facebook, X and Instagram.

###