Lettiere, State Police, Highway Officials
kick off July 4th weekend with safety announcements

"As we all prepare to share this holiday weekend with our families and friends, we ask that everyone follows a few rules to be sure they arrive safely: leave a little early, keep your distance, obey the speed limit," said NJ Transportation Commissioner Jack Lettiere. "Safety begins with all of us and statewide we have zero tolerance for anyone who jeopardizes the well-being of New Jersey's motorists."

The New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety has awarded $230,000 in grants to 10 New Jersey counties in a statewide "You Drink and Drive….You Lose" campaign to fund sobriety checkpoints and roving impaired driving patrols by municipal and county police

"If you plan on drinking alcohol during the holiday weekend, even one drink, do not get behind the wheel," said Roberto Rodriguez, director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. "Police will be out in force looking for impaired drivers. The price you will pay if you are caught driving under the influence, and the devastation you may cause on our roads, is too great to risk."

State Police will also increase patrols throughout the holiday weekend and drivers are encouraged to pull over and dial #77 on their cell phones to report aggressive drivers.

"The New Jersey State Police vision for the Fourth of July Holiday is a fatality free holiday on New Jersey's roads and highways, " said Capt. Thomas Dreher, who heads the NJ State Police Traffic Bureau. "Our troopers will be patrolling diligently to bring this goal to fruition."

Statewide, motorists can also take advantage of new services including:

#GSP on the Garden State Parkway, a new cellular service that allows customers to dial #477 to report accidents, disabled vehicle and debris along the Parkway. Signs along the Parkway will advertise the new, free service, which will connect motorists to the Parkway Communications center.

On the Atlantic City Expressway, July 4th travelers who break down can count on help from new Emergency Service Patrol, which provide assistance to stranded motorists. Hours will be expanded through the holiday weekend and motorists can dial the new #ACE number to be linked to the South Jersey Transportation Authority Communications Center.

On the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, officials are expecting to reach an all-time record of 3,975,000 vehicles between Wednesday, July 2nd to Monday, July 7th. Thursday will be the most heavily traveled day between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. with traffic concentrated at Interchanges 1, 13 and 13A, the I-95 extension, portions of the westerly roadway, and just south of 8A at the merge. Drivers on the Turnpike can dial #95 to report disabled vehicles.

NJDOT will suspend construction, as usual, throughout the holiday weekend.