Speeding in Mineola is considered by some to be a problem. While cars often speed down Mineola's major roadways such as Westbury Avenue and Union Street as well as Mineola Boulevard, some residents feel that speeding has become a problem even on streets that are close to major roadways.

Even statistics would seem to support that roads have become more dangerous. According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, there were 9,240,000 licenses in the state on file in 1980 with 269,747 reported accidents. In 1990, there were 10,254,000 licenses on file with 308,107 accidents and in 2000, there were 10,871,000 licenses on file with 392,245 accidents. In 2000, there were more licenses on file and more accidents reported in New York State than even before.

With more cars on the roads and a greater chance of accidents occurring, speeding only makes streets more dangerous. In addition, motor vehicles are being made with more power, considering the influx of sport utility vehicles. In addition with the widespread use of cellular phones, motorists are using cell phones while driving making roads more dangerous.

Although many agree that speeding may in fact be a problem in the village, the reality is that there may not be much residents can do to prevent it.

With only three Nassau County police cars patrolling Mineola, law enforcement doesn't appear to be a threat to speeding motorists.

Inspector Vincent Muscanera from the Nassau County 3rd Precinct suggested that those who notice a particular motorist repeatedly speeding or a particular area where speeding is a problem can call the Nassau County Problem Oriented Policing office at 573-6370.

Residents can request the Village of Mineola to look into having a stop sign or traffic light put on a village street. In some instances, though, having such a stop sign or traffic light may not be feasible as it can only cause more traffic concerns.

Another difficulty is that many major roadways where speeding occurs are not village roads. Roads such as Westbury Avenue and Willis Avenue are Nassau County roads. Other county roads include: Second Street between Third Avenue and Roslyn Road, First Street, Herricks Road, Main Street (between First Street and Old Country Road), Mineola Boulevard, Nassau Boulevard, Old Country Road, East Old Country Road (Roslyn Road East to East Village Line), Roslyn Road and Sheridan Boulevard (between Westbury Avenue and Jericho Turnpike). The state roads in the village include Jericho Turnpike and Hillside Avenue.

In order for a light to be placed on a county road, the village must request someone from the county's traffic engineering department to conduct a survey of the area. However, past requests for lights on county roads have sometimes in the past been unsuccessful. Former Mayor John P. Colbert requested traffic lights on Mineola Boulevard and Washington Avenue, Willis Avenue and Washington Avenue and Willis Avenue and Garfield Avenue. However, those attempts were unsuccessful.

Many of the village streets seem to have adequate stop signs already. The best way to stop speeding may be for motorists to simply respect the quality of life of their fellow residents and not speed through the streets.

Education may be another preventative way to protect pedestrians from speeding cars. Parents and guardians may be wise to keep a careful eye and their children and schools may be wise to teach children about exercising safety around village streets.

Here are some of the responses the Mineola American received from residents about speeding in the village:

"Your article on Mineola speeding reminded me once again how dangerous East Jericho Turnpike has become in the last few years. While standing with Sal Cataldo one evening, Sal asked me if the speed limit on East Jericho Turnpike (heading eastbound) was 55 MPH. That night we watched too many cars and trucks zoom by us at high speeds. The lights on East Jericho are so badly timed that you are unable to cross the street within the allotted time, thereby many times pedestrians are stranded in the middle. It does not surprise me that Westbury Avenue is also mentioned in your article. I have said for many years that the east end of Mineola (from Roslyn Road east) is the most neglected area in Mineola. In fact, I would say that this area would be better off as part of Carle Place when it comes to attention afforded by the village. Accidents and injuries are a part of life, but I feel that the Village of Mineola is not paying attention to the safety issues that it can control."

- A resident of Columbus Parkway

"I live on the 400 block of Latham Road, which is near Hillside Avenue and Herricks Road. The cars coming from Herricks Road use Latham Road to get to other blocks as well as, probably, Jericho Turnpike. It's Indianapolis speedway! The cars go whizzing by at such a fast clip the wind from the cars makes all the leaves and such swirl all over the street! I have a grandchild living with me temporarily and I make sure she isn't standing near the curb when a car speeds down the block. Is speeding in Mineola a problem? You bet it is!"

- A resident of Latham Road

"I am a resident of Mineola living on Westbury Avenue for about six years. I have seen three accidents near my home in that time, caused by excessive speed. The last of which a car slid the distance of at least six houses on wet pavement into the rear of a car stopped waiting to make a left turn into a driveway. I also watched cars and trucks passing other cars, that were driving a reasonable speed. Another accident waiting to happen, I believe is people pulling their vehicles part way into their driveways blocking passage on the sidewalk. This forces pedestrians, including children, to ended the roadway in order to pass. In all the time we have lived here, I have never seen any enforcement on this avenue other than seat belt checks."

- A resident of Westbury Avenue

"Speeding in Mineola is not a problem, it's a crisis that should be taken under consideration and dealt with. Westbury Avenue is a good stretch of road that basically has no speed limit and nothing to prevent you from putting the pedal to the metal. There have been many accidents here. Not long ago a car lost control and rammed into a house, damaging the front of the house. About two to three months ago, a car got slammed by a speeding car while trying to turn into Wilson Park's parking lot. During school time, nobody even knows what the red lights and the stop sign on a school bus are for. Like these examples, there are many others. What can be done to slow down Westbury Avenue? Everyone that I've spoken to on this street asks why can't there be stop signs in between the traffic lights or speed bumps on the road, even hidden cameras to snap your picture if you speed? Who can the residents turn to for help? Is there anyone we can call to report drag racing when the lights turn green? There are towns that if you go even 5 MPH over the limit, you get a ticket. Why can't Mineola be one of those towns? In my opinion, stop signs would be the least expensive way to tone down this problem. One as you come into Mineola from the Waldbaum's side and other ones in between traffic lights from Sheridan Boulevard to Roslyn Road. I hope someone looks into this matter, especially our mayor."

- A resident of Westbury Avenue

"We are residents of Wellington Road, north of Jericho Turnpike. We live on the first block off Jericho. There are many small children on the block who like to play on the front lawns and sidewalks of our homes. We frequently see cars speeding down our block from Jericho. We are worried that they would not have time to stop to avoid a child on a bicycle or chasing a ball into the street (though we teach our children never to run into the street). There is a stop sign at the end of the block. Drivers barely slow down and rarely stop for this sign. We are also concerned that a driver might turn into one of our driveways to make a U-turn or park and hit a child who is playing there, but not immediately visible. The residents of the block have discussed this problem at length. We think the block should possibly be made one way so that we wouldn't have this problem, or have a speed bump put in to condition motorists to be more cognizant of their speed on this small, residential street."

- A resident of Wellington Road

"Yes, absolutely, there are speeding issues in the Village of Mineola. We have lived on Roslyn Road since 1966. Cars, buses and heavy trucks fly on Roslyn Road even though we had the village post 30 mph speed signs along the road thanks to longtime, devoted trustee Elizabeth Conlon.

- A resident of Roslyn Road

"The speeding in Mineola is horrendous. I live on Grant Avenue near the Red Cross and I feel I live on a speedway. When I see kids playing on the block, I cringe. Near the Mineola train station, cars speed and ignore the light to drop off people when the train is arriving. The problem isn't only speeding but other traffic law problems as well. When I drop off my husband at the Mineola train station, when I come around the block (the street just before the bridge) there is a left turning lane. I stay to the right to go straight and the cars on the left, half the time, go straight. The stop signs on the next block are constantly being ignored or the car behind feels that because the car in front made the stop, he or she doesn't."

- A resident of Grant Avenue

"I live on Burkard Avenue and because we are around the corner from Mineola Boulevard, people use it as a cut-through. It does not matter that there are stop signs or that the limit is 30 miles per hour. There are many, many children on the street all the way up, and some with special needs. I would hate for any one of them to be hit by a speeding car. We (all the neighbors) have called and complained to the 3rd Precinct, which never does anything to stop the problem. Horton Highway is also a problem and there is a kindergarten stop there and no one stops at the stop sign."

- A resident of Burkhard Avenue