"...if you hit a child at 30 mph they have an 80% chance of living, but if you hit them at 40 mph they have an 80% chance of dying." (Think! campaign 2009). 

We the undersigned, call on Nassau County Legislature to improve the safety and livelihood for pedestrians by:

• Reducing the speed limit from 40 mph to 30 mph on entire Stewart Ave from Hempstead turnpike to South Oyster Bay Road permanently; 
• Installing Automated Photo Enforcement cameras throughout this route to ensure this reduction in speed limit. 
• Installing a Red light when exiting Plainview Rd on 135-North (exit 9) for children walking to Charles Campagne Elementary School 

Why we want this? 

According to collective inquiry of Bethpage residents, there are too many accidents taking place on Stewart Avenue and many deaths have occurred in the past 20 years because of the current speed limit of 40mph. It is a dangerous reality that is present amongst all of us and we need to take action to rectify this. Drivers along this route are not abiding by the speed limit and driving well over 40mph.  

My father, Rabindranath Shankar, 73, who was a healthy retired teacher recently passed away on August 27th on Maple & Stewart Ave.  He was a pedestrian rightfully crossing when a vehicle struck him. Our family is devastated by this great loss and we cannot imagine this occurred in what we thought was a safe neighborhood.

Please visit these sites to learn more about this accident: 

https://localaccidentreports.com/new-york/bethpage-ny-pedestrian-struck-killed-at-maple-stewart-avenues/

https://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/bethpage-pedestrian-killed-maple-avenue-1.35584756

We want the reduction of the speed limit to 30 mph and photo radars to be installed so that tragedies like my fathers do not repeat. 

We want a Red light installed by Plainview Rd on 135-North (when coming out of exit 9) because this is where many pedestrians cross. Children are at the most risk of being struck to and from school, due to a 2-lane exit that blocks their view of mutliple vehicles exiting. 

It is only a matter of time before another serious incident occurs. 

Please help me make this difference so that our families can be safe in our neighborhood--Luxshmi Srikumar