| Elwood,
NJ – Violators of New Jersey’s
primary seat belt law will be the focus
of law enforcement, as the ‘‘Buckle
Up South Jersey’’ mobilization
kicked off today.
Federal,
state, county and local officials joined
law enforcement, traffic safety and medical
professionals to announce the start of the
one week crackdown. Starting today and continuing
through November 17, law enforcement throughout
southern New Jersey will stop and issue
tickets to any and all motorists who still
refuse to obey the law by not using their
seat belts.
‘‘Buckle
Up South Jersey’’ is an extension
of the successful ‘‘Click It
or Ticket’’ mobilization in
May, which saw a 90% seat belt use compliance
rate in New Jersey for 2006, up from 86%
in 2005. The average for seat belt use in
South Jersey, however, is about 10 percent
below the statewide average.
“Buckle
Up South Jersey addresses far more than
the number of tickets issued,” said
Attorney General Stuart Rabner. “It’s
about reducing the risk of crash-related
fatalities and injuries by taking the simple
step of fastening your seat belt every time
you enter your vehicle.”
There were 748 crash-related fatalities
in New Jersey during 2005. Of those, 229
people or 47 percent of the total were not
buckled up, according to the Fatality Analysis
Reporting System (FARS). The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says
seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury
to front seat vehicle occupants by 45 percent.
“The use of seat belts is the most
effective means of reducing fatalities and
serious injuries in traffic crashes,”
said Roberto Rodriguez, Director of the
Division of Highway Traffic Safety. This
message is especially significant for southern
New Jersey, where the seat belt compliance
rate is historically lower than the state
average.”
The Division of Highway Traffic Safety has
issued grants of $2,000 each to 50 law enforcement
agencies in the region (a list of grantees
appears below). In addition, the New Jersey
State Police is receiving $17,000. This
funding is used to cover overtime costs
for police officers involved in the mobilization.
However, nearly all of the 134 police agencies
in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May,
Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties
are participating in the ‘‘Buckle
Up South Jersey’’ campaign regardless
of grant funding.
# # # #
2006
Buckle Up South Jersey Grantees
Atlantic:
Atlantic City PD
Atlantic Co Sheriff
Egg Harbor Twp
Galloway Twp PD
Hammonton PD
Margate City PD
Pleasantville PD
Ventnor City PD
Burlington:
Bordentown Twp PD
Burlington City PD
Burlington Co Bridge Commission
Burlington Twp PD
Delran PD
Mansfield Twp PD
Moorestown PD
Mt. Holly PD
Mt. Laurel PD
Pemberton Boro PD
Riverside Twp PD
Westampton Twp PD
Camden:
Camden City PD
Chesilhurst PD
Clementon PD
Collingswood PD
Del. River Port Authority
Gloucester City PD
Gloucester Twp PD
Lawnside PD
Magnolia PD
Pennsauken PD
Somerdale
PD
Stratford PD
Cape
May:
Lower Twp PD
N. Wildwood PD
Wildwood Crest PD
Cumberland:
Bridgeton PD
Millville PD
Vineland City PD
Gloucester:
Deptford Twp PD
Elk Twp PD
Glassboro PD
Monroe Twp PD
Pitman PD
Washington Twp PD
Woodbury PD
Salem:
Carneys Point Twp PD
Penns Grove PD
Pennsville PD
Woodstown PD
|
