Sheriff Forms Traffic Safety Task Force

CREST HAVEN — Cape May County’s top cop wants to improve traffic safety in this community.
Sheriff Gary Schaffer Friday, Feb. 13 announced the formation of the Cape May County Sheriff’s Traffic Safety Task Force. The first meeting of this task force will be Wednesday, March 11.
“As the new Cape May County Sheriff, it is my desire to reduce traffic crashes and promote safe travel for both motorists and non-motorists using our roadways. To that end I will be submitting a grant to the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety for the Fiscal Year 2010. In the meantime, the South Jersey Traffic Safety Alliance has agreed to help us get up and running this year,” Schaffer said.
This county continues to have the lowest seat belt use in the Alliance’s four county region, which includes Atlantic (91 percent), Cape May (87 percent), Cumberland (92 percent) and Salem (93 percent) counties. Last year in Cape May County twenty individuals died in motor vehicle collisions and 102 teen drivers (16-18) were injured in motor vehicle collisions.
“With those statistics in mind, I would like to energize some of the Alliance’s programs here in Cape May County. They include the Buckle Up Stencil Program, the monthly child seat check and emergency stickers, the Three Weeks Before Program, Someone Loves Me So I Buckle Up program, GDL Infraction Notification Program and the Think Safety summer bicycle and pedestrian safety campaign,” said Schaffer.
Members of the task force will include law enforcement personnel from every municipality, Office of Emergency Management, Chamber of Commerce and Tourism members, the business community, educators and citizens from throughout the county.
“The input and perspective, as well as their link to residents and visitors are vital to the success of the program. The more inclusive the task force the greater our outreach and educational efforts, the more impact we will have and the more lives we can save,” Schaffer said.