By Anthony V. Coppola, Staff Writer
Fatal accidents in Millstone increased while occurrences in Robbinsville dropped, according to the 2006 New Jersey State Police fatal motor vehicle crash report.
Plumsted and Allentown remained fatal accident free, according to the statistics, which are updated every six months and finalized at the conclusion of the succeeding year. In 2005, five fatal accidents were reported in the four municipalities, all of them occurring in Robbinsville.
The 2006 figures show six fatal accidents with three each in Millstone and Robbinsville. Millstone, which is patrolled by state police, had incidents occur on Route 33, Route 524 and Millstone Road in the township. Failure to yield right of way, pedestrian violation, and drunken driving were the contributing factors in the three fatalities to two drivers and one pedestrian.
According to the 2006 statistics, 31 percent of the fatalities statewide were alcohol related and 14 percent of the drivers were legally intoxicated. In total, 708 fatal crashes occurred leading to 770 deaths in the state. Those figures were up from 691 and 748 respectively in 2005.
Pedestrian deaths totaled 166 people in 2006.
In Robbinsville, the three incidents occurred on the Turnpike, Route 130 and Interstate 195. Two passengers and one driver were the victims of what the report labeled other driver action and driver inattention. In 2005, three of the five accidents occurred on the Turnpike, one on Route 130 and one on Route 641.
”Eighty-five percent of all crashes are due to driver behavior,” said Pam Fischer, director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “Motorists must take personal responsibility for their actions behind the wheel to ensure their own safety and the safety of others on the road.”
Robbinsville Detective Bryan Boccanfuso said while most fatal accidents occur on state highways, the department does take measures to minimize incidents on other roads.
”We’re out there doing yearly campaigns such as Click It or Ticket and You Drink, You Drive, You Lose,” Detective Boccanfuso said. “We also utilize radar enforcement as a deterrent.”
According to Detective Boccanfuso, the department focuses its radar enforcement on Routes 33, 130, 195, 526, 539, and 641.
Early statistics from 2007 show traffic fatalities were at an all-time low, according to a state police press release. State Police Col. Rick Fuentes said he viewed the 7 percent decrease as an encouraging sign.
Col. Fuentes recommends seat belt use, obeying speed limits, driving sober and without distractions, not following too closely, courteous driving, and maintaining a safe vehicle as ways motorists can help prevent accidents.
”At 718 deaths, the tally is still far too high, but at least the numbers are moving in the right direction,” Col. Fuentes said. “The bottom line is that although accidents will never be eliminated, good driving choices will have a positive impact on the number of crashes resulting in fatalities. The significant reduction we experienced in 2007 could evaporate this year if motorists do not make good choices on a daily basis.”
