The South Brunswick Police Department’s Operation Safe Summer traffic safety initiative has produced significant results, with crashes down 6.30% compared to last summer.
From the end of May through August, officers conducted an aggressive and targeted traffic safety campaign that resulted in:
- 911 traffic enforcement details
- More than 4,086 motor vehicle stops
- 2,650 summonses issued
The enforcement campaign combined department-wide traffic enforcement with targeted details focused on locations and violations identified through crash data and community complaints.
“While the number of traffic stops and summonses demonstrates the tremendous effort by our officers, the number that matters most to us is the 6.30% reduction in crashes,” said Chief James Ryan. “Every crash we prevent means fewer injuries, less property damage, and, most importantly, safer roads for our residents and everyone traveling through South Brunswick.”
A Three-Part Approach to Traffic Safety
Operation Safe Summer was built around three key components: Awareness, Enforcement, and Engineering.
The department’s focused public awareness campaign generated hundreds of thousands of views and received coverage from multiple media outlets and widespread social media. The department’s Instagram campaign alone generated more than 63,000 views of Operation Safe Summer enforcement efforts.
“Our goal was never simply to write tickets,” Ryan said. “We wanted to change driving behavior. By combining enforcement with public awareness and engineering improvements, we believe we can have a lasting impact on traffic safety.”
Engineering Improvements
As part of the initiative, the Police Department has also worked with the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) to identify roadway and traffic-control improvements.
Several improvements are planned or being evaluated:
Route 1 / New Road
- Additional signage and roadway striping will be installed.
- NJDOT will review the off-ramp median for potential improvements.
Route 1 / Ridge Road
- Additional signage and striping will be installed.
- Long-term improvements to the intersection
Route 1 / Henderson Road
Route 1 / Blackhorse Lane
Beekman Road / Route 1 South
- A future improvement will add a dedicated left-turn lane.
Thank You to the Community
The South Brunswick Police Department also recognizes that the success of Operation Safe Summer was a community effort.
“We want to thank the residents, business owners, commuters, and community members who supported this initiative and shared their concerns with us,” Ryan said. “Your calls, complaints, observations, and willingness to talk with our officers helped us identify problem areas and dangerous driving behaviors. Traffic safety is something we all have a role in, and our community helped make this effort a success.”
Enforcement Will Continue
Although Operation Safe Summer has reached the end of its initial summer campaign, traffic enforcement will continue throughout the year.
Officers will continue to use crash data, traffic complaints, and enforcement activity to identify areas where targeted enforcement can have the greatest impact. “Traffic safety remains one of our highest priorities,” Ryan said. “We will continue to put our officers where they can make the greatest difference, while working with our transportation partners to address roadway issues.
The South Brunswick Police Department will continue its efforts to make local roads safer for motorists while working toward the ultimate goal of preventing crashes and saving lives.
