FLORENCE: Cops work to educate, promote safe driving

By Amy Batista, Special Writer
   FLORENCE — Mayor Craig Wilkie proclaimed yesterday, Oct. 10, as Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day, on behalf of the Police Department.
   ”This is a national initiative and we are happy to contribute what we can to promote awareness and address those who don’t take it quite seriously enough,” said Chief Alvin Scully, of the Florence Township Police Department, on Oct. 9.
   According to Florence’s proclamation, across the nation traffic crashes caused 32,310 fatalities in 2011 and were said to be the leading cause of death for young people between 15 to 34.”
   ”Trying to minimize traffic fatalities is significant to everyone, especially those in the law enforcement and highway engineering fields,” the chief stated. “Vehicle crashes occur due to a number of reasons such as intoxication, distraction, and poor decision making — to name a few.”
   Safe driving behavior — including — buckling up; obeying posed speed limits; stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks and using crosswalks when walking; avoiding aggressive driving behaviors; never driving impaired; wearing proper safety gear when riding a motorcycle or bicycle; and focusing solely on driving by avoiding distractions can dramatically reduce the numbers of traffic-related injuries and deaths, according to Florence’s proclamation.
   ”I call upon everyone to put these life-saving behaviors into practice to improve safety in roadways in our community and throughout the state,” Mayor Wilkie said at last week’s council meeting Oct. 3.
   According to Chief Scully, Florence has experienced a slight decrease in the number of serious and fatal crashes within the last five years. He attributed that to advances in traffic engineering, implementation of those advances, and aggressive enforcement of our officers.
   ”Last year, there were 627 fatalities in New Jersey and more than 32,000 motor vehicle fatalities nationwide,” he said. “The number for the state is actually up from 556 fatalities in 2010. The public feels that road safety is a key concern but I truly think that most are unaware of the number of people who are killed in crashes both statewide and nationally.”
   As for Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day, Chief Scully said ahead of the event, “We are putting a few extra patrols on the road who will be aggressively seeking out traffic violations and issuing summonses for those violations. It is, of course, a weekday and we will be targeting our heavily traveled areas as well as those areas where we have pedestrian traffic.”
   In other news, the council last week unanimously approved the introduction of two ordinances, one to authorize the acceptance of donated land, and another to buy a single-family dwelling.
   Both properties will be considered for final passage after public hearings set for 8 p.m. Oct. 17 in the Municipal Complex, 711 Broad St.
   The donated property is located on the corner of Florence Columbus and Old York roads, and is a 6.5-acre parcel.
   ”It’s a triangular piece that backs up to the Turnpike that is being donated by S.N. Golden Estates Corporation,” said Assistant Municipal Administrator Thomas Sahol.
   ”We are looking to go to settlement in November after the ordinance is approved,” Mr. Sahol said.
   The council unanimously approved the first reading authorizing the township to purchase a single-family dwelling at 203 West Second Street, which is adjacent to the former Duffy School, for $175,000.
   Township Administrator Richard Brook said, “In order to get the most out of the Duffy site — as the township tries to develop it for senior affordable housing — it was decided to acquire this property. Blending the Duffy School site and this property together allows more room to create a better overall design for the entire project.
   ”If at all possible, the current goal is to rehabilitate the structure for senior affordable housing,” Mr. Brook stated.
   ”It will give the municipality the ability to get the use that it needs under the Affordable Housing laws,” Mr. Brook said. “It will also make it a more coherent, nicer appearing property for the residents that who live in that area.”