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Park
Ridge – The Division of Highway Traffic
Safety today launched a pilot program in
Bergen County that includes law enforcement
checkpoints for young drivers, a recommendation
that was highlighted by the Teen Driver
Study Commission in its recently released
report. A public education component is
also featured in the initiative, which will
run from April 7-25.
According to Division Director and Commission
Chairwoman Pam Fischer, the initiative ties
directly into the recommendation to establish
teen driving checkpoints. This is the first
recommendation to be implemented since the
report was delivered to Governor Jon S.
Corzine and the Legislature on March 27.
“This
program directly supports the recommendation
of the Teen Driver Study Commission calling
for the establishment of teen driving checkpoints
near high schools and other locations frequented
by teens. By coupling law enforcement with
public education we’re working to
ensure that teens are kept safe and free
from harm behind-the-wheel,” Fischer
said. “In New Jersey in 2006, there
were 55,792 teen driver crashes. Although
many of these crashes were not life threatening,
sadly, 48 teen drivers and 19 teen passengers
lost their lives. With teens clearly at
risk on our roadways, it is imperative that
we implement initiatives that let young
people know first-hand about the consequences
of unsafe driving.”
Fischer
added that speed, driver distraction (particularly
caused by cell phones and too many passengers),
inexperience, overconfidence, and lack of
seat belt use are all contributing factors
in teen crashes.
Under
the Bergen County initiative, law enforcement
officers will run a series of special enforcement
details, where they will look for teens
who may be in violation of the Graduated
Driver License (GDL) law. All teen drivers
who go through the checkpoints will receive
a handout outlining the GDL restrictions
as well as tips for behind-the-wheel safety.
While summonses will be issued to teens
in violation of the GDL law, the program
will place equal emphasis on education.
The
handouts, along with posters and other written
materials, help to round-out the public
education component, entitled “Don’t
Drive Stupid.” The effort was adapted
from materials developed and tested with
teens in Utah. All high schools in Bergen
County received information about the “Don’t
Drive Stupid” campaign and were encouraged
to display the posters and other promotional
items in and around their campuses. Talking
points were also distributed to schools
for use as public service announcements
in school-based media, during assemblies,
at sporting and other school events, and
in conjunction with daily morning announcements.
As part of the pilot program, the DHTS provided
grants of $2,000 each to 37 police departments
in Bergen County to run the teen driver
checkpoints. (A list of those towns receiving
grants, as well as information on the campaign,
including posters and handouts, is available
on the Division’s web site, at www.njsaferoads.com)
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