Fatal car crash rate decreases

WEST TRENTON As the Memorial Day Weekend was about to begin Friday, New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Rick Fuentes said fatal traffic accidents were down by 17 percent this year over 2007.

According to Fuentes, 207 people have died in traffic-related accidents so far this year according to statistics from the period from Jan. 1 through May 17.

"The 17 percent decrease in traffic fatalities is a marked improvement, but the number of deaths is still unacceptable. We need to get to a point where traffic fatalities are an anomaly and not the norm," Fuentes said.

In Salem County during the period through May 17, six people had died in traffic-related accidents this year compared with just three at this time in 2007.

The last fatal accident took place on April 28 in the county.

In an effort to maintain a safe environment throughout the holiday weekend, state troopers and local police officers will partner with the Division of Highway Traffic Safety in the "Click-It or Ticket" campaign to enforce seat belt violations.

Aggressive drivers, drowsy drivers and drunk drivers will also remain a focal point of law enforcement efforts.

State Police Deputy Superintendent of Operations Juan Mattos said, "Four of the seven fatal motor vehicle accidents last Memorial Day were alcohol related. This is a pointless waste of lives we will attempt to avoid by relentlessly pursuing intoxicated drivers."

Troopers will patrol state highways providing aid and enforcing the law with the ultimate goal of enjoying a fatality-free Memorial Day Weekend. Fuentes hopes that a concerned public will do its part to achieve that goal.

"We can only do so much to encourage safe behavior. In the end, New Jersey's drivers and boaters must decide to act responsibly," Fuentes said.

The 2008 Memorial Day holiday weekend officially kicked off Friday at 6 p.m. and continues through 6 a.m. Tuesday. During the 2007 Memorial Day holiday, seven persons lost their lives on New Jersey roadways in seven separate crashes.

Along with increased land-based safety responsibilities, personnel assigned to the State Police Marine Bureau will be patrolling the waterways throughout the summer boating season. Enforcement activities will focus on boaters drinking alcohol, and recklessly operating personal watercraft (jet skis) and other powered vessels.

Marine troopers will also be checking to ensure that boat operators have obtained the proper licenses to operate watercraft.

A good synopsis of boating requirements can be found on the state police Web site at www.njsp.org under boating safety.