Full Notification

South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka has created a multi-prong approach to address the increase in serious crashes around the Township. “Traffic deaths are on the rise around the State and nation and we must address it,” said Chief Hayducka. United States Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT or the Department) issued a report that roadway fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled have not substantially improved over the last ten years, and increased significantly in 2020. An estimated 38,680 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2020, of which an estimated 6,236 were people walking.  In the first six months of 2021, an estimated 20,160 people died in motor vehicle crashes, up 18.4 percent over 2020.

In South Brunswick, the total number of crashes has decreased over the past five years, but the severity has increased. In 2021 seven people were killed in crashes and six so far in 2022.  

Date	Motor Vehicle Crash Comparison
January 1, 2018 - September 21, 2018	1,783
January 1, 2019 - September 21, 2019	1,703
January 1, 2020 - September 21, 2020	1,116
January 1, 2021 - September 21, 2021	1,245
January 1, 2022 - September 21, 2022	1,336

 
The multi-prong approach will use enforcement, education, and community engagement to improve safety. 
 
Enforcement – Zero Tolerance Zones
Teams of officers will be out in marked and unmarked patrol cars creating zero-tolerance zones. These high-visibility enforcement efforts will focus on areas based on crash data, citizen complaints, and violation data. These details will target the leading causes of crashes in the community.

• Aggressive Driving
• Careless Driving
• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Failure to observe traffic signs or signals
• Driving impaired

Education - SRO
It is critical that we provide our youngest drivers with insight into driver safety. The United States Department of Transportation report indicated that traffic crashes are a leading cause of death for teenagers in America. The School Resource Officer (SRO) at the South Brunswick High School, in conjunction with Traffic Officers, will continue to instruct on driver safety in driver’s education classes. We are also opening this training to any other groups serving youth in the Township.

Community Engagement
Our Community Policing bureau is creating presentations on driver safety practices to present to community groups. These safety lessons will address basic steps drivers can do to improve roadway safety. We will also be putting weekly safety tips on our website, Nixle, Twitter, and Instagram to raise awareness.
 
Future Efforts –
We are constantly evaluating how to improve roadway safety. We will continue to seek to expand the Safe Corridor designation on our highways. A “Safe Corridor” or “Safe Corridor area” is defined as a segment of highway, under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Department of Transportation (Department) which, based upon crash rates, fatalities, traffic volume, and other highway traffic safety criteria, is identified by the Commissioner of Transportation as a segment warranting designation as a “Safe Corridor”. The designation would create more funding for education, enforcement, capital undertakings, and other related measures that foster highway safety.

Working together we can drive down serious crashes and injuries. 

• If you would like information on having a traffic safety presentation for your group or organization, contact Lieutenant Gene Rickle at (732) 329-4000 extension 7459.

 

• If you have questions about traffic safety for your teenage driver contact School Resource Officer Detective Scott Bucca at (732) 329-4044 extension 3281.

 

• If you have a complaint or concern about a traffic-related issue, contact our Traffic Safety Bureau at (732) 329-4000 extension 7472.

 
 
 

Instructions:

Drive Slow, Stay Alert