Responding to Stacey Tranchina's letter in the Feb. 8, 2008 edition of the Farmingdale Observer, I state that conditions on Quaker Meetinghouse Road have improved in the past 10 years.

The rear yard of my house on Quaker Lane abuts Quaker Meetinghouse Road. We have lived here for 40 years.

Up until about 10 years ago we called the police to report accidents on the road in question at least 30 times a year. Every time the road was wet from rain or snow, especially at night, a car spun out into the wooded area adjacent to Bethpage State Park. Frequently, the emergency vehicles that responded would be there for lengthy periods of time disrupting any chance to sleep.

After failed attempts, including warning signs (quickly knocked down by skidding cars) and grooving the road, Nassau County finally discovered the basic cause - the road was graded in the wrong direction thus causing cars going downhill to spin out into the wooded area. After the road was correctly graded and repaved the number of road-caused accidents virtually ended. I cannot remember the last time it was necessary to call for emergency help.

I believe that accidents in recent years have been driver-rather than road-caused.

I believe that a Stop sign solution advanced by Stacey Tranchina would cause more rather than fewer accidents. Going uphill to turn into Puritan Lane I signal to trailing cars using both car and hand signals to indicate that I will be making a right hand turn. Having to obey a stop sign before turning right or proceeding ahead would often cause accidents as sightlines are shortened by the curve in the road.

A stop sign at Puritan Lane from the other direction would cause problems for those stopping while others are trying to enter or leave Bethpage State Park.

Quaker Meetinghouse Road is a major shortcut during a.m. and p.m. drive times to and from Route 110 via Round Swamp Road. Better enforcement of speed and traffic regulations would do more to prevent accidents than an accident-causing stop sign.

To repeat, I believe accidents of Quaker Meeting House Road, for the past 10 years, have been driver-rather than road-caused.

Thomas J. Lavan