Signs posted inside the Freehold Raceway Mall, Freehold Township, alert motorists about a local initiative to crack down on drivers who run red lights. FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – Recently unveiled at the Freehold Raceway Mall was not another new store, but a sign that local law enforcement agencies believe will help save lives.
The sign is the culmination of efforts by the Freehold Township, Manalapan and Marlboro police departments, along with the state attorney general, Division of Highway Safety and CBS Outdoor Mall Division.
Signs that have been placed around the mall are meant to educate the public on a new initiative to crack down on motorists who run red lights.
During a Jan. 25 press conference held at the mall, New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety Director Pam Fischer called red-light running “truly a national safety problem.”
Fischer said that every year red-light running results in 200,000 crashes nationally and $14 million in damages.
“Safety is clearly taking a back seat to convenience,” Fischer added.
The bright red and white signs appear at five locations throughout the mall: four in front of exits inside the mall and one set prominently outside the main entrance.
Posting these signs at the mall was a strategic decision and represents the focus of the program, according to those who attended the press conference.
The mall is accessible from Route 9, Route 537 and Route 33, placing it at a major crossroads.
According to the Office of the Attorney General, those three roads, along with others, are included in the red light initiative. Officers will be stationed at target intersections and will be prepared to issue tickets to any driver who runs a red light.
Another reason for unveiling this program at the mall represents the other side of the initiative: education, specifically for new, teenage drivers.
Fischer emphasized the importance of including young drivers, stating that “automobile crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers.”
This educational effort continues beyond the mall and into the homes of students. Brochures outlining the initiative and statistics regarding intersection crashes were sent to the parents of all Freehold Regional High School District students.
The New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety granted each of the three police departments $17,000 to run this program for 2008 with the possibility of extension at the end of the year.