PRINCETON — New Jersey State Police and federal officials are stepping up efforts to reduce deadly accidents involving commercial vehicles, with a new education and enforcement program. Officials are buying radio advertisements, distributing brochures and putting up signs in an attempt to keep car drivers from tailgating or cutting in front of tractor trailers. In addition, troopers will be...
File photo of the New Jersey State Police symbol. PRINCETON — New Jersey State Police and federal officials are stepping up efforts to reduce deadly accidents involving commercial vehicles, with a new education and enforcement program.
Officials are buying radio advertisements, distributing brochures and putting up signs in an attempt to keep car drivers from tailgating or cutting in front of tractor trailers.
In addition, troopers will be targeting unsafe driving in five areas, including on Route 1 from Lawrence Township to North Brunswick and on I-78 from Berkeley Heights to the New Jersey Turnpike. In South Jersey, troopers will be increasing enforcement on I-295, I-76 and State Highway 42.
Last year, 46 of the 583 deaths on New Jersey roads involved collisions between passenger and commercial vehicles. Forty-three of those deaths were people in the smaller car.
"Vehicles going up against a commercial vehicle . . . are going to lose that fight," State Police Maj. Edward Cetnar said. "These vehicles are dangerous."
The program, called New Jersey Targeting Aggressive Cars and Trucks, or NJTACT, will run until September and is funded by a $800,000 federal grant.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Division Administrator Christopher Rotondo said the program has already been successful in dropping fatalities other states.
"Any loss of life is unacceptable," he said.