(This letter was sent to County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi and printed at the writer's request.)

Thank you for giving me the opportunity of presenting my concerns regarding Plandome Road safety in the business district at the community meeting on Jan. 12. Your presentation depicted Plandome Road to be "pedestrian-friendly." I have to disagree with you strongly on this point and judging by the applause from the audience there are other concerned citizens of Manhasset to substantiate this.

Nassau County Police visibility in town is virtually non-existent on a patrol basis at any time of the day. Your commitment to do a traffic survey is welcomed and I request that you please consider adding some women to your traffic safety committee.

U Turns are the largest, most dangerous problem with blatant disregard for signs in addition to the double yellow lines in the middle of Plandome Road. There are a total of 20 "No U Turn" signs posted on both sides of Plandome Road, both safety installations are totally ignored by lawbreakers with no police presence to issue a summons. The other problem is the double parking by private vehicles and in particular trucks making deliveries that should be done at the rear entrances of the buildings.

Suggestions for precautions that would discourage "U Turns," slow down the traffic considerably and hopefully encourage respect for the law and fellow pedestrians and drivers are:

1. Better coverage by Nassau County police to enforce the law.

2. Pedestrian crosswalks added at Memorial Place (by the Mary Jane Davies Park) that is heavily traversed by students and commuters.

Maple Place (street leading to the Post Office) and Gaynor Ave. (Gino's corner) both very difficult locations to cross.

3. Add left turn signal lights at two locations on Plandome Road - Park Avenue (traveling south) and Bayview Avenue (traveling north).

4. Mount "No Right Turn" signs on traffic signals not on freestanding signs at curbside.

5. Proper road striping and movable center stanchions placed at all pedestrian crossings.

"NYS Law requires pedestrians have the right of way."

The lack of police protection and law enforcement is inviting yet another pedestrian or automobile accident to happen. In the past five years we have had several serious accidents involving pedestrians, most of who required hospitalization, surgery and rehabilitation. Do we need a fatality before we recognize we have a serious problem that must be addressed?

What message are we sending to our new teenage drivers? Obey the law, or do as I do, break the law - with no consequences by lack of Nassau County police surveillance! Let's all work together to make Plandome Road a safer "pedestrian-friendly" street.

Katie E. Miller

Concerned Citizen for Safety

ccfsafety@yahoo.com