Kolluri promotes highway safety
to kick off Memorial Day weekend in New Jersey

(Trenton) –Commissioner Kris Kolluri today kicked off Memorial Day by reiterating the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s (NJDOT) commitment to highway safety and encouraging motorists to exercise caution as they enjoy the upcoming summer season.

"As we welcome the summer season, NJDOT is promoting safety by suspending construction on state highways, expanding the hours of our Emergency Service Patrols throughout the state, and urging drivers to obey the speed limit,” Kolluri said. “In addition, I encourage motorists to check out our new real-time traffic website, www.511nj.org, and to dial 511 for voice-activated telephone information regarding traffic, weather and construction.”

Kolluri announced the following statewide highway safety initiatives:

• NJDOT will extend the hours of operation of the Statewide Emergency Service Patrols (ESP) over the holiday weekend. ESP helps stranded drivers with extra gas, tire changes and other services.
• NJDOT will suspend all construction on state highways from 6 a.m. Friday, May 23, until noon Tuesday, May 27.
• NJDOT recently launched its new real time traffic Web site, www.511nj.org, which offers interactive maps and displays traffic incidents. The Google Maps-based Web site offers motorists real time traffic conditions on State highways, interstate highways, the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike. The Web site highlights incidents, construction, weather and special events.
• New Jersey State Police are joining law enforcement agencies nationwide in conducting a "Click It or Ticket" campaign, from May 19 through June 1. The campaign calls for zero-tolerance enforcement of safety belt laws with a special emphasis on teens. These efforts are expected to save lives by resulting in dramatic increases in safety belt use.
• New Jersey State Police and local police departments will increase their patrols during the holiday weekend. They will be looking for drivers who are aggressive, drowsy or intoxicated. State Police will be using unmarked vehicles for traffic enforcement.
• Drivers are encouraged to call the following numbers for roadside assistance or to report a disabled vehicle, roadside debris or other problems;
  - On the Turnpike, call #95.
  - On the Parkway, call #GSP (#477).
  - On the Atlantic City Expressway, call #ACE (#223).
  - To report aggressive driving on any road, call #77.
  - Motorists should continue to dial 911 for emergencies.
• Drivers can also find updated information on all roads, 24 hours a day, at www.njcommuter.com.

Express E-ZPass is now available at eight toll plazas along the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway, including the Bergen Toll Plaza. Express E-ZPass allows E-ZPass customers to travel through toll areas at normal driving speeds, thanks to the removal of certain toll barriers and the addition of E-ZPass sensors on an overhead gantry. At each location, traditional E-ZPass and cash lanes are also available.

A total of 3,982,000 drivers are expected on the New Jersey Turnpike and 7,749,000 on the Garden State Parkway from Friday through Tuesday. Friday will be the most heavily traveled day, with highest volume expected between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. On the Turnpike, the heaviest traffic will be on Interchanges 1-4, 11, 14, 18W and just south of 8A at the merge. On the Parkway, the heaviest traffic will be from the Union Toll Plaza through the Toms River Toll Plaza.

NJDOT urges motorists to exercise caution while driving this summer. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for people between the ages of three and 33 in the United States. According to the American Automobile Association, nearly 13,000 people will die in highway crashes nationwide during the period that begins with Memorial Day weekend and ends Labor Day.