Ocean County safe driving initiative sets up in Lakewood

TOMS RIVER - Thirteen fatal crashes in 2017 bring township, Ocean County, and New Jersey law enforcement to key Lakewood highways and intersections for nine days, beginning Thursday.

County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato's Policing Partnership returns in an attempt to capitalize on successes along County Routes 539 and 528, and state Highway 35.

Officers will patrol from Thursday, December 7, until Saturday, December 16. Areas of focus include: Cedar Bridge Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive; Route 9 and County Route 526 (County Line Road); Route 70; Route 88.

Variable-message signs, being set up today, will bear legends including "Traffic Enforcement Detail in Effect" and "Obey All Traffic Laws".

Patrol officers from Prosecutor's Office, Lakewood PD and New Jersey State Police Troop C, tactical patrol unit, will remind drivers about responsible driving habits while they bring "strict and aggressive" response to violations and behavior that contribute to crashes and road deaths, including:

• Driving while Under the Influence of alcohol or drugs
• Aggressive driving
• Improper turning
• Failure to yield
• Failure to keep right
• Improper passing
• Disregard of traffic signals
• Speeding
• Inattentive driving
• Tailgating
• Overweight commercial vehicles, or those with poorly-maintained equipment or poor brake pressure.

Squads will also use Automated License Plate Reader technology to identify illegal operation of motor vehicles. Officers assigned through the Prosecutor's Office will travel in unmarked vehicles.

Prosecutor Coronato stated, "The Policing Partnership details have managed to raise significant awareness among the motoring public regarding roadway safety issues," Coronato said in prepared comments. "Bbut more important, it has led to coordinated efforts by Ocean County Law Enforcement to take important steps toward making commuting Ocean County roadways safer." .

The participating agencies will also utilize Automated License Plate Reader to identify those operating illegally.

Variable Message Signs will be strategically placed no later than December 4th and will read "Traffic Enforcement Detail in Effect" - "Obey All Traffic Laws".

Ocean County Prosecutor's Office personnel assigned to the detail will utilize unmarked police vehicles.

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