BUFFALO, N.Y., July 7, 2009 – AAA Western and Central New York recently recognized the Town of Cheektowaga, the Village of East Aurora, and their respective police departments for their success in AAA’s Community Traffic Safety Program.

AAA’s Community Traffic Safety Program is an awards and recognition program for communities of all sizes nationwide that identify and address their local traffic safety issues. The program considers basic crash statistics, presence of a traffic safety leadership group, programs, projects, and their effectiveness. The awards progress from Honorable Mention to Bronze, Silver, Gold, and to the highest level, Platinum.

“AAA’s Community Traffic Safety Program recognizes the leadership and rewards the efforts of communities that strive to advance the cause of traffic safety,” said Wally Smith, Vice President of AAA Western and Central New York. “We are delighted to honor these communities for their vital and lifesaving work.”

The Town of Cheektowaga received their sixth consecutive Gold Award in the program. Gold Awards are given to communities that implement programs and projects that demonstrate superior effort at addressing local traffic safety issues. Cheektowaga demonstrated success with programs addressing child passenger safety, occupant protection, underage drinking and driving, DWI, and commercial vehicle safety.

The Village of East Aurora was honored with a Silver Award during their first year in the program. Silver Awards are given to communities that implement programs and projects which demonstrate a strong, sustained effort to address local traffic safety issues. East Aurora demonstrated success with programs addressing pedestrian, bicycle, and school bus safety; DWI; child passenger safety and occupant protection; speeding, distracted driving and defensive driving.

Platinum Awards are given to communities that not only demonstrate outstanding success in addressing local traffic safety issues, but show a clear trend of improvement over five years and/or provide data that is substantially better than the statewide data for communities of similar size. Only nine communities in New York State received Platinum Awards: Baldwinsville, Camillus, Dobbs Ferry, East Syracuse, Fulton, Garden City, Irvington, Manlius, and Port Washington.

As Upstate New York’s largest member services organization, AAA provides nearly 880,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive related services. Since its founding in 1900, AAA has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Visit AAA at www.AAA.com.

The Village of East Aurora has earned their first AAA Community Traffic Safety Program Award. The Silver Award honors communities that demonstrate a strong, sustained effort to address local traffic safety issues. Pictured: Mayor Clark Crook, Village of East Aurora; Wally Smith, Vice President of AAA Western and Central New York; and Village of East Aurora Police Chief Ronald Krowka.