* YTD- PERCENTAGE CHANGE 2022 TO 2023 -20.9% (-63)

* TOTAL PERCENTAGE CHANGE 2021 TO 2022 19% (48)

TRENTON – Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, New Jersey State Police (NJSP) Superintendent Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, and Division of Highway Traffic Safety (HTS) Director Michael J. Rizol Jr., launch a new holiday impaired driving education campaign, a collaborative effort focused on increasing awareness regarding the consequences of impaired driving and the enforcement measures used to ensure safety throughout the state’s roadways.

This safety initiative employs a multi-pronged approach, utilizing radio broadcasts and strategically positioned out-of-home advertisements. Its primary mission is to deter impaired driving by illustrating the life-changing legal ramifications of choosing to get behind the wheel while under the effects of drugs or alcohol. These public service announcements will feature the Attorney General and Colonel Callahan, delivering compelling messages designed to discourage impaired driving and encourage responsible decision-making behind the wheel. Public service announcements in Spanish will also be broadcast on streaming audio throughout the state.

The radio campaign launched on November 6 and continues through February 11, maintaining a consistent presence during the holiday season. Simultaneously, billboards will be deployed across key areas from November 27 to January 7, serving as visual reminders of the increased vigilance against impaired driving.

This campaign highlights a particularly dangerous time on the state’s roadways. In 2022, between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, 24 people in New Jersey were killed in crashes involving an impaired driver.



“In this season of hope, this campaign reinforces the importance of responsible driving on our roads,” said Michael J. Rizol Jr., Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “Through collective action and heightened public awareness, we are determined to protect lives and ensure safe travels for all New Jersey’s Road users.”

• Mothers Against Drunk Driving, MADD

o  MADD would like to improve communications with the LE community in NJ –

o  MADD would like to be notified when a situation arises where their advocacy could help (IE: impaired driving crashes)

o  MADD would like to be notified when there are community events where MADD can be present (IE: National night out / community events / local events in support of the LE Community

Victoria Stuart

Victim Services Specialist

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

New Jersey State Office

751 Palisade Avenue

Post Office Box 123

Teaneck, NJ 07666

609.409.1220 x3450 direct | 877.MADD.HELP victim support

victoria.stuart@madd.org| www.madd.org/nj

• Need a DRE? 12 Counties have recall grants set up - or call the NJSP. Talk to your prosecutor’s office if your county doesn’t have a grant for DRE recalls. NEW JERSEY DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERT GUIDE, including an overview of the DRE program as well as recall procedures: Click here to download the DRE Overview and Recall Procedure Guide https://www.njsacop.org/content.asp?contentid=235

Motor Vehicle Commission:

·        MR-5 form is under-utilized. Fill out this form and send to MVC if you suspect medical or other (substance abuse) issues that should necessitate an MVC re-exam.

Crash Reporting:

Bill A4935 was signed on May 8, 2023 that requires all police departments to submit NJTR-1 crash data electronically to NJDOT. The Division of Highway Traffic Safety and the New Jersey Department of Transportation are requesting your Department’s help with the implementation of Bill A4935. To better understand the needs of police departments in implementing NJCrash, we are asking that you take a few minutes to answer the following questions: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q92TKTJ

Distracted Driving:

https://www.njoag.gov/about/divisions-and-offices/division-of-highway-traffic-safety-home/destiny/  

Bike and Pedestrian:

• The New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition has launched a Safe Passing Law Resource Center. https://njbwc.org/safepass4nj/ It has graphics, messaging, a social media toolkit, resources, information on the law, a Q&A, and suggestions on ways everyone can help spread the word. https://njbwc.org/safepass4nj/how-you-can-help/

·        NJ Safe Routes

The New Jersey Safe Routes Program, supported by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, is a statewide initiative with a mission to partner with schools and communities to prioritize and implement opportunities for people to walk, bike, or travel by other wheeled devices. By focusing on improvements to support active travel by youth, we believe we can create conditions that are safe, healthy, equitable, and appealing for all.   More information can be found here: https://www.saferoutesnj.org/

Training

NJ Police Traffic Officers Association Meeting

Date:              December 6, 2023 @ 1000

Location:       AAA, Hamilton, NJ

·Below 100 is a law enforcement officer safety program that focuses on the reduction of the number of law enforcement related deaths to below 100 per year; a number that has not been reached since 1943.

Below 100 has a vision “to permanently eliminate line of duty deaths and injuries through innovative training and awareness” and a mission “to influence law enforcement culture by providing innovative training and awareness, through presentations, social media, and webinars on identifying the leading causes and current trends in preventable line of duty death and injuries.”

The focus of this effort is to address line-of-duty deaths which are a direct result of motor vehicle crashes using the Below 100 program’s five tenets:

1. Wear your seatbelt

2. Watch your speed

3. Wear your vest

4. WIN: What’s Important Now

5. Complacency kills.

To request training classes or technical assistance for this project, please contact Mark Damitio, IADLEST Accreditation and Grants Manager at markdamitio@iadlest.org or (316) 640-6513. https://www.iadlest.org/training/below100       

 NJ Traffic Incident Management (TIM)

·        Effective TIM reduces the duration and impacts of traffic incidents and improves the safety of motorists, crash victims and emergency responders. The sooner incidents are detected, the sooner personnel can respond to the incident and clear it from the roadway, thereby allowing traffic lanes to re-open. More information and training opportunities can be found here: https://www.njtim.org/NJTIM/

·        NJSP Alcohol & Drug Testing Unit

o  2023 (SFST, ARIDE, DRE, Alcotest) Training schedule can be found here: https://nj.gov/njsp/division/investigations/alcohol-drug-testing.shtml

·        Kean University, New Jersey Traffic Safety Specialist (TSS) Program: The NJ TSS program intends to promote highway safety among police officers, as well as provide a mechanism for support, acknowledgement, recognition, and prestige among officers who have achieved advanced levels of training proficiency. This award program serves to motivate officers who have attained notable levels of proficiency in traffic safety. A long-term commitment to the program is required, which results in outside recognition of highway safety efforts. This designation is not considered an advanced rank, nor does it qualify for an increase in pay compensation but has been recognized a testament to an officer’s level of training and experience. For more information contact:

Michael Tullio

TSS Coordinator

609-705-6399

mtullio@kean.edu

If you have any questions, or suggestions for future posts, please do not hesitate to contact the NJSACOP Traffic Safety Team @ mmorris@njsacop.org The NJ Traffic Safety Coalition is constantly looking for new ideas, images, and traffic safety success stories to publicize. Thank you in advance for your efforts in making our roadways safe. #SafeRoadsNJ