At Least 92 Crashes, 55 DUI Busts On This Ocean County Road, In Just One Year; New Enforcement Coming

New enforcement is coming to an Ocean County road that had at least 92 crashes and 55 DUI busts from 2015 to the present.

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato has announced details of his "Summer 2016 Safety/Enforcement Initiative" to address rising fatalities, 55 alcohol/narcotics motor vehicle arrests, numerous serious accidents and moving motor vehicle violations that have occurred recently on Route 528. 

"Ocean County Law Enforcement must be proactive in our efforts to keep motorists safe," said Coronato.

A review of crash/arrest/traffic enforcement statistics, a rise in 2015 fatalities for Route 528 and a huge influx of additional summer commuters on this road led to calls for a prudent coordinated traffic safety response, he said. 

"As in the case of CR539 last summer, I have called upon all departments having jurisdiction in the area to do their part in alleviating these concerns and resolving potential safety issues," he said.  

This safety/enforcement initiative on Route 528 between Mantoloking and Plumsted encompasses five municipal jurisdictions covering 26 miles of road in Ocean County from mileposts 14 to 40.    

The road crosses through the towns of Mantoloking, Brick, Lakewood, Jackson and Plumsted.  Additionally, Ocean County Law Enforcement will partner with the New Jersey State Police and the police departments of Bordentown, Chesterfield and North Hanover to focus increased enforcement efforts on CR 528 from mileposts zero to 14 in Burlington County. 

The chart below highlights the number of crashes on 2015 at these hot spots:

1. 26, mileposts 30.64 to 31.14, Cedar Bridge Avenue, Lakewood 
2. 18, mileposts 31.94 to 32.44. Cedar Bridge Avenue, Lakewood
3. 9, mileposts 26.2 to 26.7, East Veterans Highway, Jackson 
4. 8, mileposts 26.91 to 27.41, East Veterans Highway, Jackson 
5. 7, mileposts 34.46 to 34.96, Cedar Bridge Avenue, Brick 
6. 5, mileposts 16.06 to 16.56, Lakewood Road, Plumsted
7. 5, mileposts 21.64 to 22.14, West Veterans Highway
8. 5, mileposts 36.33 to 36.83, Mantoloking Road, Brick 
9. 4, mileposts 17.66 to 18.16, West Veterans Highway, Jackson
10. 3, mileposts 37.61 to 38.11, Mantoloking Road, Brick 
11. 1, mileposts 12.8 to 13.3, Lakewood Road, Plumsted
12. 1, mileposts 35.62 to 36.12, Cedar Bridge Avenue, Brick 

The planned response is the result of extensive meetings led by Coronato with local police chiefs, county officers/officials, State Police, the N.J. Office of Highway Traffic Safety and the Ocean County Road/Engineering Departments .

The crafted initiative is a coordinated multi-jurisdictional/agency effort supported by the Chiefs of Police and Department Heads from the following jurisdictions/agencies:

The education element will include signage, media postings, radio public service announcements, awareness posters and coordinated social media postings by all the partnering agencies.

As evident by recent localized media releases on enforcement, Coronato has directed all participating police chiefs to be proactive in keeping media informed of enforcement efforts, crash stats and initiative developments.