Crime & Safety

Port Police Announce Winner of Safe Driving Slogan

Grassroots effort sends message urging drivers to say no to reckless driving.

Port Washington Police recently announced the winning slogan for a community-wide safe driving initiative, aimed to prompt people to obey traffic laws and prevent accidents. 

Port Washington residents Steve Kaplan and Jo McGinty created the winner:  “Be S.M.A.R.T. Safety Matters. Act Responsibly. Tell Your Friends! Safe Drivers Make Good Neighbors!”

“We are getting the lawn signs with the full slogan made up now, and shortly thereafter bumper stickers that say 'BE S.M.A.R.T." will be printed up,” said Port Washington Police Commissioner Dave Franklin, who spearheaded the campaign.

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Both the bumper stickers and lawn signs will be available at Port Washington Police headquarters, free of charge.

The effort comes at a time when locals are seeking to put an end to the texting while driving, speeding, illegal U-turns, disregard for stop signs and pedestrians in crosswalks, and more. The idea is to inspire community involvement from the schools, scouting troops and others, and back it with strict and steady police enforcement.

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The goal, Franklin said, is to educate the community members to warn against not only texting and driving, but also walking and texting.

“This is a great town,” Franklin has said, “But with the traffic situation, we need to make the town safer.”

Acting Chief James Salerno has noted that working “as a community, we can increase our traffic safety awareness and prevent accidents and injuries.”


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