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New Jersey Launches '101 Days of Summer' Safe Driving Initiative
As summer gears up, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Highway Traffic Safety combine forces to remind motorists of safe driving practices during the state's busiest travel period.
With summer's arrival and the lure of New Jersey's entertainment and recreational spots, traffic is expected to surge across the state. Anticipating this, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Highway Traffic Safety (HTS) are urging residents and visitors to prioritize safe driving practices during the season, often called the "101 Days of Summer."
Between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, traffic volumes escalate due to warm weather and numerous tourist attractions. As such, this period is not only the busiest but also the most hazardous for motorists.
Attorney General Platkin remarked, “New Jersey, from its iconic shore to vibrant downtowns and outdoor recreation, is a top summer destination. With thousands of residents and visitors set to hit the road, our '101 Days of Summer' campaign seeks to highlight the risks of unsafe driving. Whether it's always buckling up, driving at safe speeds, or never driving impaired, we want to convey that safety is our foremost priority.”
Over the next three months, the HTS, in collaboration with local, county, state, and national law enforcement and traffic safety partners, aims to minimize summer travel-related risks, prevent crashes, and save lives. The "101 Days of Summer" Traffic Safety Campaign will implement rigorous enforcement on the state's roads and highways.
Michael J. Rizol Jr., Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, stressed the importance of responsible driving, saying, “Every driver has a choice to protect lives or endanger them. During the '101 Days of Summer', remember that impaired driving, speeding, and neglecting seat belts compromise road safety. Consider the weight of your decisions when you get behind the wheel and the lives at stake.”
Three major public messaging campaigns are slated throughout summer, each designed to educate the public on pivotal traffic safety issues.
From May through June, approximately $800,000 in HTS grant funding will mobilize law enforcement agencies across New Jersey for the "Click It or Ticket" campaign, targeting unbelted drivers and passengers.
In July, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, HTS will introduce a speed prevention campaign as fatalities linked to speeding have increased nationally by 17% over recent years.
Lastly, from August through September, the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" enforcement drive will clamp down on motorists driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
For additional information on these campaigns and other traffic safety matters, please visit the New Jersey Safe Roads website at https://www.njsaferoads.com.
