It's summer time and the driving, particularly yours, is being watched this coming Friday July 20 and Wednesday August 1 with police across Monmouth and Ocean County setting up an enforcement and education effort along Route 70.

Ocean County Prosecutor Joe Coronato laid out his Traffic Safety/Enforcement Initiative today that will team up law enforcement agencies to remind motorists to drive responsibly.

The efforts of the partnership will focus on seven municipal jurisdictions traversing Highway Route 70 in Ocean and Monmouth County from Brielle Borough (Monmouth County) traversing Brick Township, Lakewood Township, Toms River Township, Manchester Township, Lakehurst Borough and Lakewood Township.

Why are they doing this?

The OCPO says it's due to numerous serious motor vehicle accidents that have occurred on this highway.

In 2016 there were 548 motor vehicle crashes on State Highway 70 including 10% of the fatal crashes within Ocean County.

In 2017 the percentage of fatalities attributed to SH 70 rose to 19%.

This safety action will be addressed through three critical components; engineering, education and enforcement.

The enforcement initiative will bring strict and aggressive traffic enforcement of the various moving and equipment violations that are contributory causes to crashes.

These causes include, but are not limited to, Driving While Under the Influence, aggressive drivers, improper turning, failing to yield, failing to keep right, improper passing, inattentive driving, disregard of traffic signal, excessive speed, following too close, pedestrian violations and various commercial carrier violations such as overweight, equipment maintenance and brake pressure.

The participating agencies will also utilize Automated License Plate Reader to identify those operating illegally.

Variable Message Signs will be strategically and will read "Traffic Enforcement Detail in Effect" - "Obey All Traffic Laws".

Ocean County Prosecutor's Office personnel assigned to the detail will utilize unmarked police vehicles.

This is a multi-jurisdictional effort supported by the Chiefs of Police and supervisors from the following jurisdictions:

Brick Police Department

Brielle Police Department

Lakehurst Police Department

Lakewood Police Department

Manchester Police Department

Toms River Police Department

Wall Township Police Department

Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office

NJ State Police Troop “C” – Tactical Patrol Unit

NJ State Police – D.U.I. Enforcement Patrol

Ocean County Road Department

Ocean County Engineering Department

“The Policing Partnership details have managed to raise significant awareness among the motoring public regarding roadway safety issues, but more important it has led to coordinated efforts by Ocean County Law Enforcement to take important steps toward making commuting local roadways safer," Ocean County Prosecutor Joe Coronato. "The partnership logistics and plans having been worked out for our prior enforcement efforts on CR539, CR528, Routes 35 and 37 insures the coordinated enforcement element can be quickly re-instituted to address any reports of increased accidents and dangerous driving behaviors.

We continue to ask the motoring public to police themselves by simply driving responsibly."

Route 70 Traffic Safety/Enforcement Initiative. (Ocean County Prosecutors Office)
Route 70 Traffic Safety/Enforcement Initiative. (Ocean County Prosecutors Office)
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