Trenton
-- Division of Highway Traffic Safety Director
Pam Fischer today unveiled a new law enforcement
and public education pilot program designed
to deter aggressive driving behaviors on
selected highway corridors in four southern
New Jersey counties.
Known
as “Smooth Operator,” the two-week
concentrated initiative will run from June
23 through July 6 in Atlantic, Burlington,
Camden and Gloucester counties. The initiative
will use both highly visible law enforcement
patrols and public awareness materials,
including ticket jackets, posters, handouts,
and an on-line quiz to help motorists recognize
aggressive driving behaviors and take steps
to prevent them from occurring when they’re
behind the wheel.
“Aggressive
driving behaviors, including speeding, tailgating,
red light running and improper passing,
pose a grave risk to motorists,” Fischer
said. “Excessive speed, the most common
cause of aggressive driving associated with
traffic crashes, was a contributing factor
in 31 percent of all fatal crashes across
the nation, killing nearly 1,000 people
every month. In New Jersey in 2007, 25 percent
of all fatal crashes involved traveling
at unsafe speeds.”
The Division analyzed aggressive driver-related
crash data from 2004-2006 in the four counties,
with particular emphasis on crashes occurring
on major corridors, including Rt. 130, Rt.
42, Rt. 73, and the Atlantic City Expressway.
Based on this analysis, 23 municipalities
were identified as having corridors with
a high incidence of aggressive driver-related
crashes.
Each municipality will receive a $6,000
grant to implement the program. State Police
will also participate in the effort.
“The
summer temperatures produce “hot heads”
and “hot heads” have no place
behind the wheel,” said New Jersey
State Police Lt. Colonel Juan Mattos. “Through
the Smooth Operator Program, we look to
both enforce traffic laws and educate motorists.
Our troopers will vigilantly patrol New
Jersey’s roadways this summer to protect
responsible drivers from the great dangers
aggressive drivers pose.”
A
regional public safety initiative, the Smooth
Operator program was developed in 1997 by
a group of law enforcement agencies in the
Washington, D.C. area to help address the
number one complaint of drivers in the northeastern
United States, aggressive driving. Also
implemented in Maryland, Virginia and most
recently, Pennsylvania, the program helps
to raise awareness about the deadly consequences
of aggressive driving behaviors.
Posters
and flyers that can be used by local law
enforcement agencies and municipalities
to publicize the initiative can be downloaded
from the Division’s web site, at www.njsaferoads.com.
In
addition, a 38-question quiz designed to
help motorists determine if they are an
“aggressive driver or a smooth operator”
is also available on the web site. Questions
include: “Do you maintain appropriate
distance when following other vehicles,
bicyclists, motorcyclists; provide appropriate
distance when cutting in after passing vehicles;
yield to pedestrians; maintain speeds appropriate
for conditions; yield and/or move to the
right for emergency vehicles; avoid challenging
other drivers; and, refrain from flashing
your headlights to signal a desire to pass.”
According
to national research conducted for the Smooth
Operator program, most drivers indicated
that in the past year they have personally
seen aggressive driving so dangerous that
it put others on the road at risk. Additionally,
55 percent of the motorists polled felt
the problem was becoming worse. In New Jersey,
58 percent of motorists polled for a 2007
survey on driver attitudes and behavior
believe aggressive driving and drunk driving
are the top two issues facing drivers, and
they support enforcement efforts in these
areas.
Fischer
also noted that factors contributing to
aggressive driving include increased congestion
on area roadways, both local and nationally.
“Impatience,
hurrying, stress, and frustration can all
work to create an unsafe driving environment
for motorists, their passengers, and everyone
sharing the road,” she added. “Smooth
Operator will help New Jersey drivers become
more aware of their own driving behaviors
and ultimately make the roadways safer for
everyone.”
A
list of towns participating in the program
is available on the Division’s web
site.
# # # |