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Trenton
– Have you ever made a “quick”
call or sent a text message while driving,
thinking “it will only take a minute
so I’ll be safe?” Or maybe you
were running late and drove faster than
the posted speed limit or passed someone
on the right since they were “going
too slow anyway?”
New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety
Director Pam Fischer explained that these
unsafe and potentially deadly driving behaviors
are the cause of approximately 85% of traffic
crashes, and they’re occurring everyday
on roadways across the state and nation.
“To
help bring the tragic consequences of these
unsafe driving practices to the forefront,
the Division is again asking all drivers
to participate in Put the Brakes on Fatalities
Day on October 10,” Fischer said.
“This annual program is designed to
help move the nation toward zero fatalities
by encouraging motorists to obey all traffic
laws, including buckling up, every ride;
driving the posted speed limit; avoiding
distractions while driving, including talking
on a cell phone or texting; and never drinking
and driving.”
According to a 2010 Fairleigh Dickinson
University PublicMind, sponsored in partnership
with the Division, the number of New Jersey
motorists who admitted that they have sent
a text message while driving increased 20%
between 2009 and 2010. While young drivers
are still more likely to text and drive,
according to the poll, there has been a
marked increase in
texting
by motorists 30 to 60 years of age. The
poll found that 37% of drivers between the
ages of 30 and 44 had sent a text while
driving, up 9% from last year, while 17%
of drivers between the ages of 45 and 60
say they have also done this, a 12% increase
from 2009.
The poll also indicated that younger drivers
are more likely to drive faster than the
posted speed limit, while drivers of all
ages who commute long distances to work
are more likely to speed, and text or talk
on a hand-held cell phone.
Extra
State Police patrols will be assigned to
enforce traffic laws in some of the more
accident prone areas. But, Major Heidi Scripture,
State Police Field Operations Commander,
believes this approach is only partially
effective. “Enforcement is not a cure-all.
Ultimately, reducing fatalities comes down
to a personal decision to drive in a more
focused and defensive manner,” she
said. “I wish I could take every careless
driver to the scene of a fatal crash to
see first-hand the carnage wrought by one
poor decision.”
“The
decisions we make when behind the wheel
can have a life-changing impact not only
on ourselves, but everyone else on the road,”
Fischer added. “While “Put the
Brakes on Fatalities Day” helps to
raise awareness about our driving behaviors,
it also challenges us to make positive changes
that can last a lifetime.”
Last
year in New Jersey, 583 people lost their
lives in motor vehicle-related crashes,
down from 590 in 2008. The decline continues
a three-year downward trend in motor vehicle
fatalities and marks the lowest number of
recorded motor vehicle deaths in the State
since the 1940s.
“While
we continue to make progress in improving
safety on our roadways, there is still a
great deal to be done,” Fischer said.
“Shining the spotlight on this one
day can foster greater awareness of safe
driving practices, and help us to continue
to decrease the number of injuries and fatalities
caused by motor vehicle crashes.”
Police
departments throughout New Jersey will be
asked to report the total number of crashes,
and crashes resulting in 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
following the campaign. Approximately 72
percent of the 498 police agencies in the
State, as well as the State Police, reported
their crash data to the Division following
the 2009 “Put the Brakes on Fatalities
Day.” A total of 789 crashes took
place in New Jersey on that day, resulting
in two fatalities. In addition, 165 of those
crashes involved injuries.
Additional
information on the “Put the Brakes
on Fatalities Day” is available by
logging on to www.brakesonfatalities.org
.
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