NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — A federal grant is funding an initiative to reduce accidents on the White Horse Pike in Camden County.
There were seven fatal crashes along the highway last year, resulting in eight deaths — five were pedestrians; one was a bicyclist. Waterford Police Chief Daniel Cormaney says, in addition to those fatalities, there have been more than 11,000 crashes along the pike since 2010, with more than 7,000 resulting from distracted driving. Nearly 700 were related to driving at an unsafe speed.
“We must commit to putting our phones down and driving responsibly, focusing solely on the task at hand when we are behind the wheel,” Cormaney said.
Camden County prosecutor Grace MacAulay says the $400,000 dedicated to this initiative will help pay for police overtime to increase traffic enforcement, with a focus on speeding, and reckless and distracted driving.
“In our daily lives, almost nothing is worth rushing or speeding when it impedes safety, yours, other drivers and pedestrians,” MacAulay said.
MacAulay says the enforcement efforts will be spread across 14 police departments along White Horse Pike.