Eric Scott’s Holiday Reminder: Stay Alert to Stay Safe in Record-Breaking Year-End Traffic
According to projections from the American Automobile Association (AAA), a record-breaking 119.3 million people nationwide will take to the skies, roads, and rails over the year-end holiday period, from December 21st to January 1st. Nearly 90 percent of them are expected to travel by car.
Here in New Jersey, this will likely lead to longer travel times, heavier traffic, and more unsafe driving behaviors as motorists rush and lose patience. But that doesn’t have to lead to more crash-related fatalities and serious injuries.
According to New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Commissioner, Fran O’Connor, a large part of keeping yourself and others safe on our roadways comes down to making responsible decisions.
“At NJDOT, we’re doing what we can to ensure the safety of roadway users, but motorists ultimately responsible for the choices they make behind the wheel,” O’Connor said. “Some drivers choose to avoid distractions, stay alert, and drive defensively. Others choose to text, multitask, or drive recklessly. These latter choices can have tragic consequences, especially when it comes to crashes involving pedestrians.”
“We are deploying advanced safety countermeasures throughout the state to help protect our most vulnerable roadway users, but we can’t control human behavior. That’s why the actions of each person are so critical if we want to see fewer fatalities and serious injuries.”
The public awareness messages NJDOT is currently running remind motorists that their driving habits have the power to change someone else’s life forever and calls for more self-awareness and respect for fellow roadway users.
As you plan your holiday travel, please remember that your actions behind the wheel don’t just affect you. For our streets, roads and highways to be safe, everyone must do their part.
