Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Steps Up Route 539 Traffic Enforcement Again

It's been almost a year since the last fatal accident on Route 539 in Ocean County and Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato wants to keep it that way.

So he is continuing his stepped up enforcement effort on Route 539 this summer, from Friday, Aug. 12 through Sunday, Aug. 28.

“Last year’s initiative concluded with over 600 vehicle stops and zero fatalities for the 32 day effort," he said. "The great news is that we have continued to see zero fatalities to date. We want to not only celebrate that success, but use the detail to educate drivers of the wonderful end result of driving responsibly."

Coronato began his safety enforcement initiative last summer, after 11 fatal crashes and many serious accidents occurred on Route 539 from 2013 to July 31, 2015.

Last year’s Route 539 effort highlighted safety issues for drivers on the roadway and led to coordinated efforts by police and the county engineering and road departments, he said.

“The many partners involved in last year’s effort want to build on that success with this visible reminder that the responsibility of driving safety never ends," he said. "Though the coordinated enforcement element will conclude the end of August, policing agencies along County Road 539 will continue to make County Road Route 539 patrols a priority. Now that the partnership logistics and plans have been worked out, the coordinated enforcement element can be quickly reinstituted in the event of increased reports of accidents or dangerous driving behaviors.”

The enhanced details will operate in seven towns and 38 miles of Route 539 in Southern Ocean County. The towns include Tuckerton, Little Egg Harbor, Stafford, Barnegat, Lacey, Manchester, Plumsted and Jackson.

The two-lane highway runs southeast to northwest through Ocean County and is frequently used by local seniors, commuters traveling to the Trenton area, tourists looking to vacation along the Jersey Shore and a large amount of commercial trucks, he said.

The partnership is the result of extensive meetings between Coronato with local police chiefs, county officers/officials, New Jersey State Police and the Ocean County Road/Engineering Departments to address the two-lane roadway's safety issues, he said.

Enforcement detail members will be looking out for improper passing, excessive speed, driving while under the influence, aggressive driving, improper turning, failing to yield, inattentive driving, disregard of traffic signal, following too close and various commercial carrier violations such as overweight, equipment maintenance and brake pressure, Coronato said.

Prosecutor's Office personnel assigned to the detail will use unmarked police vehicles to report any aggressive and erratic behavior to unmarked units. All police departments are encourage to use patrol vehicles with automated license plate readers. Variable message signs will also be placed on the roadway, he said.

The county Engineering Department has already completed many safety improvements, including rumble strips, raised pavement markets, all-weather reflective striping, radar-activated LED signs to highlight sharp curves, and high friction road surfaces, Coronato said.

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