Road Deaths Prompt Local Safety Effort

Shrewsbury has been lucky. It’s been years since the borough has had a fatality on its roads, despite seeing its fair share of accidents as well as tens of thousands of cars drive down Route 35 each and every day.

Some of the borough’s safety success can rightly be attributed to the , which has done its best to . Still, there’s the case to be made for awareness, and to this end, the borough is hoping to remind drivers and pedestrians alike that while some accidents are unavoidable, plenty of what can go wrong can be resolved by being prepared, careful, and cautious.

On Oct. 10, Shrewsbury is joining with towns across the country for Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day, an effort to highlight driving safety. Passed at its council meeting Monday night, the resolution entreats drivers to buckle up, obey speed limits, stop for pedestrians, avoid aggressive driving, never drive impaired, wear proper safety gear when riding a motorcycle or bike, and focus solely on the act of driving while avoiding distractions.

To make drivers aware of the day, the borough plans on erecting a temporary electronic sign pointing out the effort.

  According to the resolution, traffic fatalities claimed nearly 32,788 lives in 2010, including 556 in New Jersey. Among those state residents killed in accidents in 2010, 72 were motorcyclists, 13 were bicyclists, and 141 were pedestrians.

Councilman Tom Menapace said Shrewsbury’s police plan on increasing enforcement, specifically when it comes to driving under the influence.

“It’s a nice document, but at the end of the day departments across the country will have to put up the manpower to support it,” he said.