Hempstead Village adds patrol cars, increases enforcement in push for traffic safety

The Village of Hempstead has added four new police cruisers, additional patrols and beefed-up enforcement as part of an initiative to reduce speeding and traffic accidents, Mayor Waylyn Hobbs Jr. announced Wednesday.

Newsday reported last year that the intersection at Jackson and North Franklin streets in the village was among the five most dangerous intersections on Long Island, with two fatal crashes and 14 accidents with serious injuries between 2014 and 2023. On the northwestern corner is The Academy Charter School, attended by students from kindergarten through high school.

During that time period, that intersection, along with that of North Franklin and Front streets several blocks south, had the highest number of crashes involving pedestrians, with 27 and 29 respectively, Newsday reported.

“We wanted to make sure that we start implementing things to bring a reduction in motor vehicle accidents,” Hobbs said in an interview. “Through state action and federal funding, we were able to purchase new vehicles for our traffic unit.”

The village is increasing police presence near schools around morning arrival and afternoon dismissal, particularly on "heavily traveled school routes" along Franklin Avenue, Peninsula Boulevard, Front Street, Fulton Street and Washington Street, the village announced.

The vehicles, some of which are unmarked, are equipped with radar and license plate readers, Hobbs said. The village also has installed signs that tell vehicles how fast they’re driving, he said. The mayor said the village police department has been reaching out to civic organizations and community groups to get the word out as to “how important it is to slow down when driving through the Village of Hempstead.”

“Let's take our time, be safe to get where you have to go because it's so important,” Hobbs said. “Safety is our number one priority here in the Village of Hempstead.”