Ocean County launched a new traffic safety program today that will assist the economically disadvantaged by providing them with child safety seats, bicycle safety helmets, and reflective belts and arm bands.
“From the motorist to the pedestrian, this new program focuses on education and information and helping those residents who need it most obtain the things necessary to keep themselves and their families safe in traffic,” said Freeholder John P. Kelly, who serves as director of law and public safety. “I want to commend the members of the Ocean County Partnerships in Safety Committee for helping to develop this new program along with the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety.”
Under the program, called Diversity in Traffic Safety Education Program, low-income families may request child car seats and booster seats, or bicycle helmets and reflective belts, armbands or headbands through the Diversity in Traffic Safety Committee.
“The committee has reached out to many community organizations and agencies and to law enforcement, letting them know this program has been created and is now available to the residents they see that may need this kind of assistance,” Kelly said. “The county will continue to work to get additional organizations involved.”
Efforts have been made to reach out to communities throughout the county that are highly diversified. During the last nine months the Ocean County Partnership in Safety Program has met with representatives from communities and agencies that represent African-Americans, Hispanics, the Jewish community, Puerto Ricans, Asians and others in order to promote the Diversity in Traffic Safety Program.
“Traffic safety is an important message to get out to all of our residents,” Kelly said. “This program is just another example of the continuing effort to get that message out.”
With funding from a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the county has purchased 1,080 bicycle helmets, 600 children’s booster seats, 100 children’s car seats, 3,000 reflective safety belts, 2,500 reflective arm bands and 2,500 reflective headbands.
To apply for the items, residents may call Roden Lightbody, chairman of the Ocean County Partnerships in Safety Committee, at (732) 929-2130.
“We will provide residents with the names of organizations and agencies that are participating in the program,” Lightbody said. “Residents will need to meet certain guidelines to qualify for the items.”
Joining Freeholder Kelly during a recent press conference at the Ocean County Administration Building were N.J. Division of Highway Traffic Safety Roberto Director Rodriguez, Ocean County Prosecutor Thomas Kelaher, Ocean County Engineer Ronald Lotrecchio, in addition to representatives from law enforcement agencies, a number of community-based organizations, including the Puerto Rican Congress and Action Board, and the Lakewood chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
“As Ocean County’s population continues to grow and becomes more diverse, it’s important that we make all of our residents aware of the need to be safe on our roadways,” Kelly said. “This program is yet another step in helping get the message out.”