Articles Posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents

New Jersey lawmakers are considering legislation that would provide stiffer penalties for people who talk or text on their cell phones while driving – a move that would make New Jersey’s laws among the toughest in the country. (1)

New Jersey has had laws against the use of cell phones while driving in place since 2004. In late 2007, those laws were amended to make using cell phones without a hands-free device a primary offense. Prior to that, drivers could be cited for cell phone use only if they were pulled over for another violation. (2)

Last Monday, the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee in a 4-to-1 vote approved a bill increasing the penalties for cell phone use while driving. Under the proposed Law, penalties would be imposed on a graduating scale: the first offense would carry a fine of $200; a second offense within 10 years, $400; and the third offense, $600, plus suspension of a driver’s license for 90 days. (3) Current penalties carry a $100 fine.

A Belle Mead bicyclist was injured recently after hitting the front end of an SUV while making a left-hand turn on a township road. The woman’s injuries were not life-threatening but, to add insult to those injuries, she was issued a summons for failure to keep right and causing the accident. (1)

Not all bicyclists involved in roadway accidents are that lucky however. Last month, an unidentified man lost control of his bike and flipped over the handlebars while riding on a Teaneck road. He suffered serious head injuries in the accident. Following the incident police began an investigation to determine whether or not the accident was the result of the man being struck by a motor vehicle. (2)

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As soon as the snow stops falling and the weather starts warming up, motorcycles become more prevalent among the traffic. Motorcycle registrations are increasing every year, putting more and more motorcyclists on the roads. In New Jersey between 2003 and 2007, 377 motorcyclists died. In New Jersey, every year there are 70 or more fatalities and 2,000 injuries involving motorcyclists. (1)

In East Brunswick on July 11, a motorcyclist with a passenger collided with a BMW, reports nj.com. (2) The passenger was injured and the motorcyclist was killed. Similarly, the Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray was recently involved in a motorcycle accident when he was riding his motorcycle and was struck by a box truck. Gray had no life-threatening injuries and was wearing protective gear when he was struck. (3)

Sadly, motorcycle accidents are becoming more frequent in New Jersey and proper safety procedures may help in the event of an accident.

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Summer holidays and vacations see more and more people turning to water activities as a respite from the rising temperatures. While area waterways provide much pleasure for the local community, they can be very dangerous if safety is not foremost in everyone’s mind.

An article on nj.com reported on Thursday, July 1, a canoe carrying four teenagers and traveling downstream in the Delaware River toward the Milford Bridge overturned in the river rapids and began filling with water. All four teens were rescued and brought to shore.

“Very fortunately, they were all wearing their life vests,” Holland Township police Chief David VanGilson commented. (1)

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The AAA Foundation for Safety has credited New Jersey stating, “New Jersey’s combination of licensing policies for young drivers is a model for the nation.” Recent changes to this law, however, have sparked controversy among young drivers, parents and lawmakers within this State.

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Year-over-year, there has been a decrease in the total number of crashes causing injury in the State of New Jersey. However, despite this decrease, polls show more and more NJ motorists are using phones to text messages while they are driving. Although NJ has instituted cell phone laws that prohibit the use of cell phones while driving, cell phone usage among drivers continues to increase and may negatively impact the safety of our roadways.

New Jersey’s cell phone law, which went into effect on March 1, 2008, prohibits texting and talking on hand-held phones while driving. Motorists violating the law face a $100 fine plus court costs and fees. Despite the institution of the law, the number of total injured in accidents involving hand-held cell phones dropped only slightly from 565 in 2007 to 549 in 2008 while the number of total injured as a result of these crashes increased (765 in 2007 to 795 in 2008) with fatalities rising to 7 in 2008 up from 2 in 2007.

Pam Fischer, Director of the State’s Division of Highway Traffic Safety was quoted as saying, “We’re enforcing this law. Law enforcement is out there. They are writing tickets every day but there are a lot more people out there violating the law than there are police officers writing tickets.”

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