the staff of the Ridgewood blog
West Trenton NJ, This weekend marks the unofficial end of the summer season, which means many will be taking advantage of the long Labor Day weekend to travel to various destinations. As more businesses continue to open, including indoor dining and movie theaters, we expect our roadways to experience increased traffic. Although we know our citizens have been responsibly practicing social distancing, we would like to remind everyone to make responsible decisions on the road and in the water as well.
During the 2019 Labor Day holiday period, five of the seven fatal crashes in New Jersey involved impairment from alcohol or drugs as a contributing factor. If you plan on drinking alcohol this weekend, don’t make a bad decision by getting behind the wheel. Tragedies can be avoided by calling a taxi, using transportation applications such as Uber and Lyft, having a designated driver, or making plans to stay where you are.
The New Jersey State Police have planned to significantly increase traffic enforcement details across the state from 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 4 to 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8. During this period, more than 150 additional troopers will be on special details targeting aggressive driving, speeding, seatbelt usage, distracted driving, and DWI in addition to regularly scheduled patrols.
This year, there have also been eight boating fatalities, seven of which were a result of victims not wearing a personal flotation device (life vest). These tragedies can be prevented by ensuring that there are enough life vests for each person on board and by maintaining safe boating practices. A synopsis of boating information and additional safety tips can be found at https://www.njsp.org/marine-services/index.shtml.
The New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau will be patrolling the state’s waterways, focusing on impaired boat operation and people recklessly operating personal watercraft and other powered vessels. Marine troopers will also be checking to see that boat operators have obtained the proper licenses to operate their vessel.
“Despite the challenges we have faced this year, our citizens have remained resilient as New Jersey continues to re-open. As a result, we will be able to enjoy additional activities and travel to more destinations this upcoming holiday,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “While our focus remains on practicing social distancing to keep each other safe, we cannot forget about the dangers of impaired and distracted driving. Public safety remains a top priority for the New Jersey State Police. We will be doing our part by deploying additional troopers, but we ask that you do your part by driving responsibly on the road or on the water.”