def #212 10/04/07

OCEAN COUNTY FOCUSES ON TRAFFIC SAFETY; PUT THE BRAKES ON FATALITIES DAY - OCT. 10

TOMS RIVER - In any given year, 43,000 people die on the nation's roads as a result of traffic accidents - about 118 fatalities everyday.

"At the county we see more than statistics," said Ocean County Freeholder Director John P. Kelly, who serves as Director of Law and Public Safety. "We know that these lives lost are someone's son, daughter, mother, father and friend."

Ocean County has had the distinction so far in 2007 as having the highest number of traffic facilities of any county in the state of New Jersey.

Kelly was joined by members of the Ocean County Department of Engineering and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office today to announce the county's participation in the national Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day on Oct. 10 and to use the opportunity to highlight on- going driver safety programs and to announce some new initiatives.

"If there were just one answer to why these tragic accidents were occurring in Ocean County, then we could focus solely on that and correct whatever it might be," Kelly said. "But that does not appear to be the case."

Absent any obvious fix, county officials say heightened awareness and education are certainly two areas that could help.

"This morning we will talk about some conclusions from our teen driver conference held in August," Kelly said. "We will provide information on an expanded website where residents can find information about defensive driving courses run by the county and other safety programs. We will also talk about the formation of a new traffic safety work group and expanding the DUI checkpoints run by the Prosecutor's Office.

"The Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders is not alone in this challenge," Kelly said. "We recognize many individuals and organizations are dedicated to promoting traffic safety."

Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford noted that motor vehicle crashes are the greatest cause of death for our teenagers.

She added she was grateful the Board of Freeholders recognized the significance of such programs as the Driving Under the Influence roadblocks and supports an expansion of this program.

"Novice drivers are three times more likely to die from a motor vehicle crash than any other class of drivers," she said. "While not all crashes are avoidable or the fault of the teen driver, alcohol consumption and driving is a deadly cocktail. I am grateful that the Ocean County Board of Freeholders, led by Freeholder Kelly, recognize the importance of year round DUI roadblocks.

"This is a year round problem and not limited to the tourist season," she said. "The freeholders' support will enable the current DUI task force to establish roadblocks during the other 9 months of the year. It is but one building block in a comprehensive program to make our roads safer for everybody."

In addition, the county is spearheading the creation of a traffic safety work group, which will provide a venue for different agencies such as schools, law enforcement and the public to come together and share ideas and information on traffic safety and related programs and initiatives.

"This group will help serve as a clearinghouse for information throughout the County," Kelly said. "There may be programs going on that we're not aware of and sharing information can only help in this endeavor."

Ocean County Engineer Ronald A. Lotrecchio said group members will include the county engineer, prosecutor, the police traffic safety officers association, Automobile Association of America representative, driver education teachers, school superintendents, Older Adult Traffic Safety Committee members, the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, high school students and some members of the general public.

Lotrecchio added that as part of the awareness campaign his office will be setting up message boards and trailers highlighting driver safety awareness messages.

"We want our message to be that on Oct. 10 everyone who is on the roads either behind the wheel or a passenger, on a motorcycle, or pedestrian takes to the roadways responsibly like 'their life and the lives of others depend on it,' and if we all had that attitude everyday we would see a significant reduction in the number of folks killed or seriously injured on our nations roadways," he said.

In addition, information on defensive driving courses offered by Ocean County, car seat and bike helmet programs and other traffic safety programs can be accessed from the Ocean County website at co.ocean.nj.us and clicking on the expanded link to the Department of Engineering.

"By using the county website, residents can find a great deal of information on programs in one convenient place," Kelly said. "We encourage people to visit the site and explore what is available to them."

According to Roden S. Lightbody, Ocean County Traffic Safety Engineer, about 3,000 people take the eight-hour defensive driving course offered several times a year by Ocean County.

"I hope that every driver would consider a refresher course and take a Defensive Driving Course,' Lightbody said. "Almost after every session I will have someone come up to me and thank me and say that I learned something new today."

During a recent teen driving conference hosted by Ocean County, young drivers raised safety concerns including their peers are not wearing seatbelts and are overcrowding their cars.

The conclusions drawn from the conference will be sent on to the state but in the meantime the county will use the information to again heighten awareness.

"It is our hope that we all take operating and riding in any vehicle seriously and responsibly every day not just one day a year," said Director of Engineering Frank Scarantino. "People are smart. If we can provide the appropriate information and education the roadways will be safer."

Freeholder Kelly said that the county can help with education and by reviewing the engineering of county roads from a safety standpoint.

"We can even help support enforcement efforts," Kelly said. "But we also want to re-enforce the message that drivers need to drive safely. They need to wear seatbelts, obey the rules of the road; they need to be alert and aware of what is happening around them."


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