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Trenton
– Do you buckle-up every ride? Do
you talk on your cell phone when you’re
behind the wheel? Do you drive faster then
the posted speed limit? Did you know that
85 percent of traffic crashes are caused
by these types of bad driving behaviors?
On October 10, the New Jersey Division of
Highway Traffic Safety is encouraging all
motorists to join in the national “Put
the Brakes on Fatalities Day,” an
effort designed to bring to the forefront
driving behaviors that can result in tragedies
on the roadways.
“This
effort goes a long way in helping to prevent
the senseless loss of life that occurs nearly
every day on New Jersey roadways,”
Division of Highway Traffic Safety Director
Pam Fischer said. “By encouraging
motorists to buckle-up, every ride; drive
the posted speed limit; and avoid distractions
for one 24-hour period, we can make our
roads safer for everyone.”
In
New Jersey, 724 individuals lost their lives
in traffic crashes in 2007, an average of
two deaths every day. Across the country,
one person is killed every 12 minutes on
roadways.
Last
year on October 10, 965 crashes took places
in New Jersey, resulting in two fatalities.
This year will be the second year for the
national campaign.
According
to a recent Fairleigh Dickinson University
PublicMinds Poll on driving behaviors, one
in four New Jerseyans substantially underestimated
the number of fatalities that occurred on
our highways. In addition, almost half said
that they exceed the 65 mph speed limit
“often” or “most of the
time.” While a record 91.75 percent
of New Jerseyans buckle-up in the front
seat, only a bare majority of 54 percent
report wearing a seat belt in the back seat.
The survey also noted that while most New
Jersey drivers say they never use a hand-held
phone while driving, 79 percent say that
they see others driving while holding a
phone “very often.”
“Many
drivers simply just don’t realize
how many lives are lost in traffic crashes
and how their driving behaviors contribute
to dangerous situations on our roadways
every day,” Fischer said. “All
of these driving behaviors can result in
a tragic loss of life,” she added.
“Put
the Brakes on Fatalities Day is designed
to raise awareness about the individual
responsibility we have for our own driving
behaviors,” Fischer said. “On
October 10, we’re asking motorists
to take a personal inventory of these behaviors
and to see what they can change to stay
safe and free from harm behind the wheel.”
Fischer
also encouraged motorists to visit the Division’s
web site, www.njsaferoads.com,
and click on the “Smooth Operator”
icon, where a quiz is available to help
people learn more about their driving habits.
“This
quiz was designed to help drivers identify
driving behaviors that can create a potentially
tragic situation on the roadways,”
Fischer said. “It only takes a few
minutes to learn how to better protect yourself
and your family on our roads.”
As
part of “Put the Brakes on Fatalities
Day,” police departments throughout
New Jersey are being asked to report all
traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities
that occur on October 10 to the Division
of Highway Traffic Safety, the State’s
lead traffic safety agency. The Division
will post this information on its website
and distribute it to the media the week
of October 13. Law enforcement agencies,
community groups, local government and highway
safety organizations can visit the Division’s
web site, where educational materials are
available to help publicize the effort.
Additional information on the program can
also be found on www.brakesonfatalities.org.
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