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Union County Traffic Officers Association
P.O. BOX 124
Cranford, NJ 07016


Phone: 908 709-7337

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Union County Traffic Officers Association
Union County Traffic Officers Association
Distracted Driving Overview
Distracted driving kills. The friends, family, and neighbors of the thousands of people killed nationwide each year in distracted driving crashes will tell you it is a very serious safety problem. The nearly half a million people injured each year will agree. Distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic on New Jersey’s roadways, being cited as a major contributing factor in nearly 800,00 motor vehicle crashes in the state from 2012 to 2016. Nationwide 3,166 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in 2017 alone.
 
Distracted Driving Key Facts and Statistics
Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety. These types of distractions include:
Texting
Using a cell phone or smartphone
 
It is a primary offense for a motorist to talk or text message with a hand-held wireless telephone or electronic communication device while driving.
Use of a hand-held wireless telephone or electronic
communication device includes, but is not limited to:
 
Talking or listening to another person.
Text messaging or sending an electronic message.
The penalties associated with these infractions have
been adjusted in New Jersey to the following:
 
Second, third and subsequent offense penalties will
be applicable only to convictions that occur within the
current ten-year period.
The operator of a motor vehicle may use a hand-held wireless telephone while driving with one hand on the steering wheel only if:
 
The operator has reason to fear for his/her life or safety, or believes that a criminal act may be perpetrated against him/herself or another person.
The operator is using this device to report to appropriate authorities: a fire; traffic crash; serious road hazard; medical or hazardous material emergency; or another motorist who is driving in a reckless, careless or otherwise unsafe manner or who appears to be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Eating and drinking
Talking to passengers
Grooming
Reading, including maps
Using a navigation system
Watching a video
Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player
But, because text messaging requires visual, manual, and
cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming
distraction.

9-1-1 and #77 Emergency Message

 

Each year millions of cellular telephone calls regarding roadside emergencies and life-threatening accidents pour into New Jersey's emergency call centers. The calls come in through the motorists use of the 9-1-1 System, the #77 Dangerous Driver System, and various other cellular hotlines that have been established. It is very important to use the appropriate system to report incidents you observe, so that the right priority is given to your call and it is properly directed.

Generally, 9-1-1 should be used to report life-threatening emergencies, such as motor vehicle accidents, disabled motor vehicles, all suspected criminal activity, and other general emergencies requiring immediate police or medical service response. 9-1-1 calls are priority calls and services are dispatched immediately.

The #77 Dangerous Driver System should be used to report aggressive or erratic driving that poses a risk to other motorists on the roadway. While these calls are important, 9-1-1 calls are prioritized over #77 calls as required by law. In #77 call response, police services are made aware of the report and respond according to availability and proximity to the incident, as well as, seriousness of the report. This system should not be used to report 9-1-1 emergencies.

Callers are reminded that when using either system, current wireless phone technology does not automatically provide calltakers with the information they need to provide appropriate response to the emergency. That's why it is important for all wireless users to remember to provide calltakers with the exact location of the incident (roadway, direction, milepost), type of emergency, description of those involved(vehicle registration, make, color), and a callback phone number.

As always, safety of the motorists is our first concern, so if you need to use the above services when driving, please pull over to a safe place, and then provide as much specific information as possible. The more detailed information you provide, the quicker we can help.

Safety Tips Crossing Signs

Railroad Safety Tips
Always expect a train. Trains operate on one or more tracks at any time in either direction.
Pay attention at railroad crossings. Signs and signals indicate where to stop and when trains are coming.
Trains cannot swerve or stop quickly. Passenger trains traveling 80 mph take about 2,200 feet to stop or the length of seven football fields.
You cannot judge the speed or distance of a moving train. Moving trains create optical illusions, appearing to move slower and be farther away than they actually are.
Never go around lowered crossing gates or through flashing lights at railroad crossings. These warning devices indicate a train is coming.
Do not get caught on tracks. Be sure there is room on the other side to completely clear tracks before crossing.
Never stop on tracks. If gates begin to lower, continue crossing until you clear tracks.
If your car stalls, immediately get out of your car and away from the tracks. Call 911 for assistance.
Prepare to stop behind school and commercial buses and trucks carrying hazardous materials. These vehicles must stop at railroad crossings.

Related Links
NJ TRANSIT - Additional safety tips and information are available on this web page which also includes safety information on buses and light rail.
Motorcycle Safety Programs in New Jersey:
90% of the riders who are involved in crashes have no formal training. Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF)Training Programs are designed to help new or experienced riders suffer fewer injuries in the event of a crash or possibly avoid crashes altogether. Other potential benefits of a credited training program include road test waivers, insurance discounts and license point deductions. For a complete list of MSF certified RiderCourse training locations in New Jersey, please visit our partner organization NJRIDESAFE.ORG.
 
Working on the roadside is a dangerous and sometimes deadly job. That’s why the Division of Highway Traffic Safety is asking motorists to Make the Move. What’s the Move? When you see flashing lights on the side of the road, slow down, and if it’s safe, Move Over – away from police, fire crews, paramedics and tow truck drivers. If you make the move, others will follow.

As of September 1, 2015, the NJ Car Seat Law will change.  The Legislation is a bit difficult to understand, but if you abide by the following 5 steps you should be in compliance and your child will remain safe while traveling.

Any child under the age of 8 years old and a height of 57 inches shall be secured as follows in the rear seat of a motor vehicle:

1.    Children under the age of two (2) and weighing less than 30 pounds must be in a rear facing car seat equipped with a five-point harness. The car seat must be in a rear seat of the vehicle.

2.    From age two (2) through the age of four (4) and weighing up to 40 pounds, children must be secured in a seat with a five-point harness, either rear facing (up to the height and weight limits of the particular seat) or forward facing in the rear seat of the vehicle with a five-point harness.

3.    For ages four until age eight and less than 57” (4’9”), children must be seated in either a car seat with a five-point harness or a booster seat secured with the restraint required by the manufacturer, also in the rear set of the vehicle.

4.    Age 8 through 17 must wear a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt.

5.     If there are no rear seats (e.g., standard cab pickup truck), the child must be secured in the appropriate car seat or booster for their age, weight, and height, in the front passenger seat. If the child is in a rear-facing car seat, the passenger side airbag must be disabled or turned off.

 

Link to new law:                               http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2014/Bills/PL15/50_.PDF

 

Any further questions or concerns can be forwarded to the UCTOA by visiting WWW.UCTOA.COM and going to “Contact Us” and e-mailing a your question.  It will be answered in a timely fashion as to help you keep your family safe.  Also further information will be made available on our website, and also through your local hospitals an pediatricians.

Special thanks to NJDHTS. 

ICE AND SNOW (REMOVE IT BEFORE YOU GO)

 

Ice & Snow - Remove It Before You Go

 

Remember to remove all ice and snow from your vehicle before driving, especially from the hood, windows and roof. It’s the law in New Jersey! Motorists who fail to do so face fines of $25 to $75 for each offense, regardless of whether the ice and snow is dislodged from the vehicle. If flying ice or snow causes property damage or injury to others, motorists face fines of $200 to $1,000 for each offense.

Crackdown Overview

 

Distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic on New Jersey’s
roadways. Driver inattention has been a major contributing
factor in nearly 750,000 motor vehicle crashes in the state
since 2009 and nationwide, 3,328 were killed in distracted
driving crashes in 2012 alone.

 

To combat these troubling statistics, law enforcement agencies
throughout New Jersey will be using a combination of
traditional and innovative strategies to crack down on motorists
who text and drive. This effort is a part of the national U Drive.
U Text. U Pay
 high-visibility enforcement (HVE) campaign that
combines periods of intense anti-texting enforcement coupled
with advertising and media outreach to let people know about
the enforcement and convince them to obey the law. U Drive.
U Text. U Pay
 enforcement strategies include roving police
patrols, spotters on highway overpasses, and stationary police
vehicles prominently placed at strategic locations.

 

Historically, the most effective tool used to change driver
behavior are targeted law enforcement campaigns, like Drive
Sober or Get Pulled Over
 and Click It or Ticket. Since their
inception, these two initiatives have resulted in significant
reductions in impaired driving and gains in seat belt usage,
respectively.

 

Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s
attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions
endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety. These types
of distractions include:

 

 

 

Texting

 

 

 

Using a cell phone or smartphone

 

 

 

Eating and drinking

 

 

 

Talking to passengers

 

 

 

Grooming

 

 

 

Reading, including maps

 

 

 

Using a navigation system

 

 

 

Watching a video

 

 

 

Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player

 

But, because text messaging requires visual, manual, and
cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming
distraction.

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