New York Drive Safe Long Island event at Jones Beach urges drivers to slow down as summer ends
As the summer travel season winds down, New York’s Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and the Department of Motor Vehicles are taking to the beaches to remind motorists to slow down and share the road. On Aug. 28 the agencies announced a Drive Safe Long Island event at Jones Beach on Friday, Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The outreach event is part of the Drive Safe Long Island education campaign and will feature interactive safety demonstrations, child‑seat checks and information booths staffed by state and local traffic safety partners. According to the announcement, representatives from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, state police, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office and the American Automobile Association will be on hand to share tips for avoiding impaired, distracted and aggressive driving. A seat belt convincer and car‑seat check station will allow visitors to experience firsthand the importance of buckling up and securing children properly, while police officers discuss the dangers of speeding and reckless behavior on crowded parkways and local roads【150137011069135†L124-L162】.
The educational push comes after a troubling rise in crashes on Long Island roadways. In the past year, more than 140 people were killed in speed‑related crashes on Long Island alone, and hundreds more were injured in accidents involving impaired or distracted drivers. DMV Commissioner Mark J. F. Schroeder said the goal of the campaign is to get drivers to slow down and focus on the road. “With summer vacations wrapping up and more families out on the roads, we want everyone to arrive safely,” Schroeder said in the release. “Slow down, pay attention and watch for pedestrians and cyclists. When drivers make safe choices, it makes a difference for everyone.” The agencies hope the Jones Beach event will catch drivers at a popular destination and remind them to stay alert for pedestrians walking to the boardwalk and cyclists on coastal roads.
The Drive Safe Long Island campaign has been running since the spring, with billboards, radio spots and social media messages targeting speeding, impaired and distracted driving. Friday’s outreach event adds an in‑person element, allowing families to engage with safety experts and ask questions about child seats, bicycle helmets and the upcoming school year. A designated area will offer free car‑seat inspections, and law enforcement officers will demonstrate sobriety testing and explain how they detect impaired drivers. Visitors can also learn about the state’s Move Over Law, which requires drivers to slow down and move over for stopped emergency and maintenance vehicles.
Organizers encourage drivers who cannot attend to visit the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee website for safety tips and resources. The agencies stress that the simple act of reducing speed and avoiding distractions can save lives. As Labor Day weekend approaches and traffic volume increases, New Yorkers are urged to plan ahead, allow extra travel time and never get behind the wheel after drinking. By working together and making thoughtful choices, state leaders say, drivers can help ensure that the end of summer is remembered for fun at the beach, not tragedy on the roads.