Six Neighboring Police Departments Launch Cross Keys Road Safe Passage Initiative to Enhance Road Safety
Video of the Berlin Cross Keys Road Safe Passage Initiative can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/svu9gVfT7kQ
Camden and Gloucester Counties, NJ – On September 2, 2025, six neighboring Police Departments from Camden and Gloucester Counties collaborated to participate in “The Cross Keys Road Safe Passage Initiative”, an ongoing multijurisdictional traffic enforcement operation that proactively targets aggressive driving behaviors in an effort to reduce motor vehicle crashes. Addressing these unsafe driving behaviors such as speeding, failure to stop at a controlled intersection, unsafe lane changes, driving while intoxicated (DWI), and distracted driving can greatly reduce the number of injuries and fatalities on our roadways.
Berlin-Cross Keys Road, a heavily traveled County Road stretching across both Camden and Gloucester Counties and intersecting major State Highways like the Atlantic City Expressway and Black Horse Pike, has been identified as a priority area due to crash data analysis and high traffic volume. On any given day 25,000 to 30,000 vehicles utilize this roadway. The data revealed a concerning number of motor vehicle crashes, including those resulting in serious bodily injuries, underscoring the need for targeted enforcement and education.
The timing of this operation is critical, as schools are back in session, increasing the presence of school buses and children on and near roadways. This heightened activity necessitates greater driver awareness to ensure the safety of students, pedestrians, and other motorists. The Cross Keys Road Safe Passage Initiative aims to increase awareness of safe driving behaviors and reduce the incidence of both minor and serious motor vehicle crashes. By conducting this high-visibility enforcement, the participating police departments sought to educate drivers and promote safer driving practices during this busy transition period from the Summer.
“This collaborative effort reflects our commitment to public safety,” said Chief David J. Harkins of the Gloucester Township Police Department. “With schools back in session, protecting our children and ensuring safe roadways is more important than ever. By combining resources across jurisdictions, we aim to magnify our efforts and make Berlin-Cross Keys Road safer for all motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. Our goal is to prevent crashes and save lives through enforcement and education.”
As a result of the first Cross Keys Road Safe Passage Initiative, Officers from Gloucester Township Police, Winslow Township Police, Pine Hill Borough Police, Berlin Borough Police, Monroe Township Police and Washington Township Police engaged in proactive enforcement over several hours, resulting in 243 traffic stops. This effort led to 123 traffic summonses issued, 161 warnings given, and 5 arrests made. Notably, several speeding violations were observed for vehicles traveling over 70 mph, highlighting the need for continued enforcement to address high-risk behaviors on such a heavily traveled roadway. The Cross Keys Road Safe Passage Initiative is also supported by the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Crash Response Investigation Team, Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety.
The Cross Keys Road Safe Passage Initiative will be ongoing and involve enhanced patrols with all the participating jurisdictions as well as community engagement to reinforce safe driving habits. No matter the time of day or day of the week motorists are urged to drive responsibly, obey speed limits, avoid distractions, and never drive impaired, especially in areas with increased pedestrian and school bus activity. Community members can expect increased police presence along Cross Keys Road and are encouraged to report unsafe driving behaviors to local authorities.
https://gtpolice.com/news/article/2433
