The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
Fairview: 114 tickets
Allendale 2
Alpine 2
Carlstadt 19
Demarest 5
Glen Rock 1
Hackensack 4
Hasbrouck Heights 13
Haworth 5
Leonia 4
Lyndhurst 19
Midland Park 4
North Arlington 19
Northvale 9
Norwood 2
Ramsey 1
River Vale 1
Upper Saddle River 19
Westwood 9
Wood-Ridge 4
Read More: Don’t get caught texting while driving through these small NJ towns | https://nj1015.com/dont-get-caught-texting-while-driving-through-these-small-nj-towns/?trackback=tsmclip
file photo by Boyd Loving
The prevalence of driving with phone in hand is very high. But the worst case I have seen was a woman driving a Hummer, talking on her cell phone with one hand and holding a cup of coffee in the other. She would regularly turn from Meadowbrook onto Fairfield during the school rush while steering that Hummer with her knees! She was followed closely in stupidity to the man driving down Rt 17S during rush hour while reading his newspaper. PLEASE, for everyone’s sake, DRIVE SAFELY!
the staff of the Ridegwood blog
According to the Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld , “The PRIMARY purpose of the new LED sign is to serve as an emergency public information tool to communicate with the public. The village is constantly refining its Emergency Operations Plan, including the Emergency Public Information component of that plan, working in conjunction with Bergen County’s OEM and following all the recommended practices of the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA. The installation of the sign was carefully planned as part of the village’s overall communications strategy during times of emergency, especially in the event of a widespread power failure where other means of communication are unavailable. ” Roberta goes on ,” the location of this sign was carefully chosen and has been evaluated by the RPD and Village Engineers. Thankfully we have not had a crisis situation since Sandy but If we were in crisis mode this would be a place for residents to come and know the steps that are being taken to address an emergency situation.”
Many residents have again voiced concern that the sign is yet another distraction , A study conducted in 2006 by Virginia Tech for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that anything that takes a driver’s eyes off of the road for more than two seconds greatly increases the risk of a crash. The same study also concluded that nearly 80% of all crashes involved driver inattention just prior (within three (3) seconds) of the crash.
According to the Village Manager , the cost for the sign was approximately $13,600, inexpensive by Ridgewood standards ,but still these things add up . Whats seems even odder is that the Village has and “Electric Sign ” ordnance which clearly states that any electric sign had to be placed a certain distance from the public roadway. Clearly this sign is in violation of the Villages own ordinance.
The 25 mph speed limit is more dangerous than 35mph.
The rate of travel is so slow that your mind wanders.
You are lulled by the slow rate of speed to think you are able to safely perform other tasks – like texting – you feel confident in your ability to perform these tasks due to the slow rate of travel.
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A 35mph (or even 30mph) speed limit is inherently safer since it requires more concentration by the driver but is still well within the capabilities of virtually every driver (unlike say a 100mph speed limit which requires even more concentration, knowledge and reactions but is beyond the capabilities of many drivers).
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The village wide 25mph edict is another wrong headed politically correct decision that has the reverse results of its intent – making our streets more dangerous rather than safer
file photo Boyd Loving
Drivers are becoming more dangerous
OCTOBER 24, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014, 9:58 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Print
Drivers are more dangerous today
Linda Moran
To the Editor:
We all know that over the years, traffic has gotten heavier and drivers have not adjusted their patience level. Instead, one might say that we’ve all adjusted to the impatience. But perhaps the extent of the hurriedness is never more obvious than when you are teaching a teenager to drive. This is my third child I’m teaching to drive, and again, I am appalled at the behavior of drivers, and not just at any old time of day, but during school dropoff hours, when many of those drivers are school parents themselves, and those who aren’t parents should know better – it’s hard to overlook the buses, crossing guards and kids with backpacks.
Recently, as my son was driving west on East Glen Avenue getting ready to turn onto Van Dien, an SUV came up behind him, crossed the double yellow line, and passed us. I shudder to think what would have happened had there been kids in that crosswalk by Benjamin Franklin Middle School.
Even if my son had been a pokey new driver, which is well within acceptability, there is no excuse, but in fact he had been doing the speed limit. Apparently that wasn’t good enough for Mister SUV.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/letter-drivers-are-becoming-more-dangerous-1.1117448#sthash.yiXrxMay.dpuf
file photo Boyd Loving
Ridgewood Police Warn “UDrive. UText. UPay.”
The Ridgewood Police Department will take part in a new program being initiated by the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. From April 1st through April 21st , we will participate in the Distracted Driving 2014 Statewide Crackdown “UDrive. UText. UPay.”
The purpose of the campaign is to undertake visible, targeted enforcement during the National Distracted Driving Month. Enforcement activities will focus on driver behaviors that distract from the task of driving. This will include the use of cell phones and texting.
file photo Boyd Loving
Statewide Cellphone crackdown starts Tuesday
MARCH 30, 2014 LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 2014, 1:21 AM
BY JOHN CICHOWSKI
THE RECORD
Cellphone yakkers and texters, beware!
Starting on Tuesday, hundreds of New Jersey police departments will be focusing on distracted-driving in a crackdown that is likely to yield more cellphone and texting tickets than have the token campaigns of the past.
The reason: For the first time, the state is putting federal money into this offensive, which means police in 60 communities, including Englewood Cliffs, Hillsdale, Paramus, Ramsey, Hawthorne and West Milford, will each be earning overtime pay to conduct distracted driving patrols. In the past, this strategy has been confined only to seatbelt and drunken-driving enforcement.
“But this year, the feds are encouraging the states to do more,” said Gary Poedubicky, acting director of the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “We don’t have enough to fund every town, but it’s a start.”
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/area-cops-taking-on-cellphone-drivers-1.836506#sthash.qCwlwr43.dpuf
file photo Boyd Loving
Survey: More Than 1 In 4 Car Crashes Involve Cellphone Use
National Safety Council: 26 Percent Tied To Use, But Only 5 Percent To TextingMarch 27, 2014 11:34 AM
STAMFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork) — Texting and driving is dangerous but a new survey finds talking on a cellphone while behind the wheel may be even worse.
As WCBS 880′s Paul Murnane reported from Stamford, the National Safety Council’s annual reportfound 26 percent of all crashes are tied to phone use, but noted just 5 percent involved texting.
Safety advocates are lobbying now for a total ban on driver phone use, pointing to studies that headsets do not reduce drive distraction.
Some motorists said they support the idea.
“Everybody’s on a telephone. If people do cut you off, you look and they’re talking on the telephone. I think they are a problem.” a driver told Murnane. “Hands-free or not.”
https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/03/27/survey-more-than-1-in-4-car-crashes-involve-cellphone-use/
