Avalon Police Chief William McCormick announced that the Borough of Avalon will join other municipal police departments throughout the State of New Jersey with the safety effort “Put the Brakes on Fatalities” Day”. The day will be observed on Wednesday, October 10th, 2012.
“The Avalon Police Department is proud to support this important public safety message to the motoring public”, Chief McCormick said. “Last year in New Jersey 627 individuals lost their lives in motor vehicle accidents. This is an important way to remind all motorists to practice safe driving habits and eliminate the number of distractions when they are behind the wheel”.
The number of motor vehicle accidents in New Jersey during 2011 represented a significant increase of 51 fatalities over the 2010 figures. In the United States, there were more than 32,000 fatal motor vehicle crashes last year alone. The “Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day” is an effort by municipal police departments to drive safely and realize the goal of zero motor vehicle fatalities during a calendar year. The program is an ambitious effort by the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety.
Statistics show that 24 percent of all fatal traffic accidents in the Garden State are alcohol-related accidents. The number of speed related fatalities has nearly tripled over the past four years. In 2011, 92 motorcyclists, 17 bicyclists, and 143 pedestrians lost their lives in traffic-related accidents in New Jersey last year. Motor vehicle accidents remain the leading cause of death for young Americans between the ages of 15 and 34.
“The number of potential distractions for the motoring public has never been higher thanks to cell phones and other electronic devices”, Chief McCormick said. “By participating in this important initiative we would like to remind the motoring public to keep both eyes on the road at all times, obey speed limits, avoid drinking and driving, and buckle up”.
