newjerseynewsroom.com

5 people died in accidents last Labor Day

State troopers will be out in force on New Jersey roads and waterways this holiday weekend looking for speeders or drunk, drugged or aggressive drivers whose actions might lead to serious or fatal crashes.

"If you operate a vehicle or watercraft in a way that threatens safety, we will hold you accountable," Col. Fuentes, State Police superintendent, said. "In addition to DWI, we will not tolerate speeding, driving aggressively, and distracted driving."

Fuentes said that during long holiday weekends, fatigue often contributes to crashes. He said many travelers try to squeeze every last minute out of the long Labor Day weekend, and end up driving while exhausted.

During the 2009 Labor Day holiday, five people lost their lives on New Jersey roadways. One was a pedestrian, but incredibly, the other four were all on motorcycles.

Overall, statewide traffic fatalities are at an all time low, but that's still nothing to celebrate. So far this year, 362 people have died in New Jersey vehicle crashes. That's about 12 percent lower than last year's historic lows.

Nationally, drowsy driving causes more than 100,000 crashes a year, resulting in 40,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths. A survey by the U.S. Department of Transportation showed that 37 percent of the driving population admitted to nodding off at least once while driving. Forty-three percent of those incidents occurred between noon and 9:00 p.m., so it's not just late night or early morning drivers who are prone to fall asleep.

Fuentes said inattentive driving is perhaps the single most unreported factor leading to motor vehicle crashes. Texting and handheld mobile phone usage are illegal in New Jersey and many other states, but it's still a common sight to see people violating these laws when police are not around.

There are a variety of unmarked State Police cars being used by uniformed troopers, so the only sure way to avoid a ticket is to use only phones equipped for hands-free operation. Other common distractions include map reading, sound system adjustments, built-in video/game monitors, and dealing with children in the back seat.

Fuentes said troopers will continue to target drivers and their passengers who are not wearing seat belts including children not properly secured in approved child restraint safety seats. Although the front seat seatbelt compliance rate is at a record high at 93.7 percent in New Jersey, more than half of the traffic fatalities in the state involve people who were not using a seatbelt.

"We want people to have a fun and relaxing holiday, but then to take very seriously the ride back home," Fuentes said. He urged motorists to use these common sense safety tips: get enough sleep, leave a little early and pay attention.

— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM