Albany, NY - August 8, 2014 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the completion of six new law enforcement pullover areas along the Long Island Expressway (LIE/I-495) in western Nassau County, for a total of ten areas that provide additional room for police officers to safely conduct traffic stops. The pullover areas are a result of a Road Safety Assessment (RSA) that was conducted following the death of Nassau County Police Officer Michael J. Califano, who died on February 5, 2011 during a routine traffic stop when his patrol car was struck from behind by a flatbed tow truck. Another Nassau County Police Officer, Joseph Olivieri, was struck and killed in October of 2012 while responding to a car crash near Exit 35.
“Ensuring the safety of New York’s police officers is one of this administration’s top priorities, and today we are making the Long Island Expressway safer for those who enforce the rules of the road, “Governor Cuomo said. “This project provides additional room for the men and women who patrol the LIE every day, making it less dangerous for them as they crackdown on reckless drivers.”
New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald said, “Thanks to Governor Cuomo and our federal and local partners, we have improved safety for the police officers who do their best to protect everyone else from harm. These pullover areas allow officers to conduct traffic stops out of the travel lanes of the very busy Long Island Expressway, enhancing safety for them and motorists.”
The Road Safety Audit, which was conducted by NYSDOT, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, the Federal Highway Administration, the Nassau County Traffic Safety Board and local law enforcement agencies, recommended the construction of the pullover areas to enhance safety for police officers conducting traffic stops. The average traffic volume along the Long Island Expressway is approximately 210,000 vehicles per day.
The new enforcement areas expand the shoulder with an additional ten feet, and are 250 feet long, including the deceleration and acceleration lanes. The project also includes new and/or relocated lights and signage.
- The location of the LIE enforcement areas are:
- Eastbound, east of Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury;
- Eastbound, east of Powells Lane, Old Westbury;
- Eastbound, east of Route 106/107, Oyster Bay;
- Westbound, west of NY Route 106/107, Oyster Bay;
- Westbound, east of Powells Lane, Old Westbury;
- Westbound, east of Searingtown Road, North Hempstead;
- Eastbound, west of the Shelter Rock Road bridge, North Hempstead;
- Eastbound at the Glen Cove Road interchange, North Hempstead;
- Westbound at the Glen Cove Road interchange, North Hempstead; and
- Westbound, east of the New Hyde Park Road Bridge, North Hempstead.
Senator Charles E. Schumer said, “Police officers do critical work to keep Long Island communities safe, and in turn, we must do everything possible to ensure their safety on the job. Following the tragic death of Officer Michael J. Califano, I urged Federal and State Highway officials to conduct a safety audit of the Long Island Expressway to help keep our officers and motorists out of harm's way, and today’s announcement of six new police enforcement areas is a smart plan that will better protect our officers during traffic stops and other work along the Long Island Expressway.”
Senator Carl L. Marcellino said, “Any kind of action that can be taken to keep Police Officers as safe as possible when they are performing their duties is important. It’s not that drivers are deliberately trying to hurt anyone, but at speeds of 55 mph any mistake can quickly cause injuries or even death.”
Assemblyman David McDonough said, “I applaud the Governor and Commissioner Joan McDonald in creating these pullover areas to help ensure the safety of our law enforcement personnel and motorists. This will hopefully reduce, and help eliminate hazardous situations on the LIE.”
Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano stated, “Governor Cuomo’s initiative will no doubt save lives as we continue to mourn the loss of Police Officer’s Michael Califano and Joseph Olivieri who both lost their lives while patrolling the Long Island Expressway.”
Under New York State’s Move Over Act, motorists are required to move one lane away from an emergency vehicle stopped at the side of a highway, which is displaying either red and white flashing emergency lighting, such as a police car, fire truck or ambulance; and any hazard vehicle displaying a flashing amber light, including tow trucks and construction vehicles.