Dear Editor:

In response to the Massapequa Post's editorial of Sept. 17, "Let's get a grip on all of our Stop Signs," I'd like to offer several comments about the reality of the situation. First, I completely agree and support the position that all motorists must abide by the law and come to a complete stop at each and every stop sign. Stop signs are not arbitrary and stopping at them is not optional.

The primary purpose of a stop sign is traffic control. It requires a motorist to come to a complete stop in order to visually assess the safety of proceeding. This means that a driver is required to look out for pedestrians and other vehicles, including bicycles, at the corner or intersection. Determining "safe passage" for the driver and everyone sharing the road is the responsibility of the driver.

There is not an excessive number of stop signs in Massapequa Park. Every request for a new sign is carefully reviewed by a due diligence process, which includes car counting and speed measurement on the targeted street. When additional information is required, the Planning Board is contacted for input on a final decision. Not all requests are approved and no request is fulfilled as a political favor. Accurately placed stop signs save lives, prevent accidents and help keep our roads safe. This is not a matter of politics; this is a matter of safety.

When the Village is asked to install a new stop sign, it is not to deter speeding on a given street. Although that may be a perfectly acceptable result of a stop sign, slowing down traffic is controlled by the speed limit and enforcement.

The challenge that our Village faces is not the number of our stop signs, but the inadequacy of our ability to enforce them—or our speed limits. A greater police presence in our Village would serve as an important reminder to our motorists that the "rules of the road" are not to be ignored.

Since being elected mayor, I have consistently requested that our funding of Nassau County's police force translate into greater police presence for the protection and safety of our Village and its residents. The positive impact on traffic safety would be immediate and only one of the significant reasons for demanding a dedicated police force of at least two patrol cars.

So, instead of yielding on the safety role of our stop signs, let's get a greenlight for assigning more police to Massapequa Park.

James Altadonna Jr., Mayor

Massapequa Park Village