NJDOT kicks off Memorial Day
weekend by promoting traffic safety

(Trenton) - Commissioner Stephen Dilts today kicked off the Memorial Day holiday weekend 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.

"NJDOT is promoting safety as we welcome the summer season by suspending construction operations on state highways and urging drivers to obey the speed limit,” Dilts said. “In addition, I encourage motorists to check out our real-time traffic website, www.511nj.org, and to call 511 for voice-activated telephone information regarding current traffic conditions.”

NJDOT announced the following statewide highway safety initiatives:

• NJDOT will suspend all construction on state highways from 6 a.m. on Friday, May 22, until noon on Tuesday, May 26.
  
• NJDOT’s 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, the New Jersey Turnpike and the Atlantic City Expressway. The Web site highlights incidents, delays, construction, weather related closures and special events.
  
• The state-of-the-art Statewide Traffic Management Center which enables the NJDOT, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the New Jersey State Police to improve their management of and response to accidents, adverse weather, special events and congestion. The 26,000 square foot facility operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
  
• NJDOT’s 511 interactive telephone line provides motorists personalized real-time traffic information. Motorists may also subscribe to MyNJ511, a Personalized Traveler Service that sends free, real-time traffic alerts to cell phones, email addresses and Personal Digital Assistants.
  
• 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.
  
• New Jersey State Police are joining law enforcement agencies nationwide in conducting a "Click It or Ticket" campaign, from May 18 through May 31. 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.

Calls are toll and airtime free with most major New Jersey cellular suppliers. Any motorist with a cellular phone can expedite aid to disabled vehicles by simply dialing this number. Callers should note the nearest mile marker, the direction of travel and a description of the vehicle.

Express E-ZPass is 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 3,795,100 drivers are expected on the New Jersey Turnpike and 7,392,000 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.