A chronic problem involving motorists in the village is the failure to safely yield the right of way to volunteer firefighters who are responding to a fire alarm.

Under state law, volunteer firefighters are permitted to display a flashing blue light in their vehicles as they are responding to fire emergencies. While this flashing blue light does not entitle the driver to violate any of the speed limits, traffic controls, etc., it does signify that the driver is responding to an emergency. All motorists seeing an approaching vehicle displaying this flashing light are encouraged to safely yield the right of way as they would were it an emergency vehicle displaying red flashing lights.

Residents are reminded that the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law requires that when a school bus stops and flashes red lights traffic approaching from either direction must stop before reaching the bus. Once stopped for a school bus, you may not go again until the red lights stop flashing or the bus driver or a traffic officer waves you on. Our children's safety is of paramount concern. Please obey the law.

Speeding within Garden City will not be tolerated. A subject often addressed at property owner's association meetings is resident concern over vehicular speeds within residential areas of our village and the observation that vehicles are exceeding the 30 mph village-wide limit and the 20 mph limit within school zones. I want to assure our residents that violations will not be tolerated and that police department speed enforcement will be increased. It is most disconcerting to note that many of those who violate our speed limits are our neighbors - residents of Garden City.

We know that traffic lights, Stop signs and Children at Play signs may deter accidents but it takes a community of residents obeying the speed limit and rules of the road that will help keep our community safe. Please, in the interest of public safety, be mindful of the responsibility that each of us has as an operator of a motor vehicle.