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75 Martine Avenue, Fanwood, NJ 07023 - 908/322-7773 FAX - 908-322-2200 or 908-889-6359 Safety Wings | Tony Parenti , Editor MEETING NOTICES: Board Of Directors: The next meeting is at the call of the President. Next Regular Business Meeting: The Next Regular Business Meeting is on WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2005, 10:00 AM at The Somerville Elks Club, Route 28 (Union Avenue) Bridgewater, NJ. As reported in the last newsletter, TMDE Calibration Labs, Inc., will present their company’s services at this meeting.  SAME IF YOU DRIVE OR PUSH IN INDIANA: Two women taking turns steering a broken-down vehicle face drunk driving charges after their car crashed into a parked car. While one of the women was pushing the disabled car, the other steered from the passenger seat. The two were moving the car into a parking lot. Both women had blood-alcohol levels of 0.17 percent, more than twice the limit in Indiana. Authorities said the women were operating the vehicle while intoxicated — even though the car's engine wasn't working. A prosecutor acknowledged the charges could be difficult to prosecute in court. "The statute and case law supports (a DUI charge) ... but it will be interesting to see," said Deputy Prosecutor Adam Burroughs, who authorized the charges. Burroughs said that the office had prosecuted drunken drivers who were stopped in restaurant drive-through lanes or who were on private property. IMPORTANT ADDITION TO TITLE 39 DEFINITIONS: "Motorized scooter" means a miniature motor vehicle and includes, but is not limited to, pocket bikes, super pocket bikes, scooters, mini-scooters, sport scooters, mini choppers, mini motorcycles, motorized skateboards and other vehicles with motors not manufactured in compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and which have no permanent Federal Safety Certification stickers affixed to the vehicle by the original manufacturer. This term shall not include: electric personal assisted mobility devices, motorized bicycles or low-speed vehicles; or motorized wheelchairs, mobility scooters or similar mobility assisting devices used by persons with physical disabilities, or persons whose ambulatory mobility has been impaired by age or illness. "Motorized skateboard" means a skateboard that is propelled otherwise than by muscular power. "Motorized wheelchair"/i> means any motor-driven wheelchair utilized to increase the independent mobility, in the activities of daily living, of an individual who has limited or no ambulation abilities, and includes mobility scooters manufactured specifically for such purposes and designed primarily for indoor use. The statute to write for Motorized Scooter violations is 39:4-14.12  GOOD BUT NO GOOD: “Keep Kids Alive – Drive 25” signs have been popping up in residential areas. Although these signs deliver a GOOD message they are NO GOOD because they do not conform to the National Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and therefore cannot be placed as a traffic sign in the public right of way. The signs, however, may be placed on private property. CRITICAL RESPONSE TO AN ACTIVE SHOOTER SEMINAR: Tragedies such as the 1999 Columbine shooting have highlighted a need for law enforcement to rethink policies regarding Active Shooters. This one day seminar includes two-hours of classroom instruction to provide a brief history of evolving response and tactical considerations. The balance of the class will include practical applications of tactical movement and building clearing involving an active shooter. The instructors are active members of the Union County Emergency Response Team/SWAT training staff and team members. The Union County Police Chiefs Association is sponsoring the course and the fee is $100.00. Applications are included in this newsletter.  As of Week 30, 2005, there were 356 fatalities recorded on NJ roads compared to 339 during the same period in 2004, AN INCREASE OF 17 BODIES.
As of this report, there were 205 driver deaths, 61 passengers, 64 pedestrians, 50 motorcycle drivers, 01 Motorcycle passengers, and 05 pedacyclists. There were 356 fatalities in 332 cashes. UPGRADING PROVISIONAL DRIVER LICENSE TO BASIC: All holders of a Provisional Driver License whose licensing period is NOT extended by MVC beyond the standard 12 months MUST upgrade to a Basic Driver License after the end of those 12 months. Motorists who are eligible for but do NOT upgrade to a Basic Driver License at the end of those 12 months will remain subject to MVC's Provisional Driver License regulations and could be cited by law enforcement officers for violating Provisional Driver License regulations. 
TRUCK SIZE & WEIGHT TO REMAIN THE SAME: Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (the NJPTOA is a participating member) there will not be an increase in truck size and weight throughout the Nation. The House and Senate finally passed the Conference Report reauthorizing TEA-21 highway and transit programs. This brings an end to a battle over truck size and weight limits on the Nation's Interstate Highways. President Bush is expected to sign the Highway Bill Conference Report immediately, freeing up billions of dollars for highway and transit programs. At least fifteen separate amendments to allow bigger, more dangerous trucks were floated during House, Senate and Conference Committee consideration of the Highway Bill, including proposals to increase truck size and weight and to exempt certain states or industries from the federal limits. In the end CABT defeated every amendment that it opposed. 
RESULTS OF FLORIDA HELMET REPEAL LAW: Florida eliminated the legal requirement that all motorcycle riders wear helmets on July 1, 2000. Their law now requires helmet use only by riders under the age of 21, or older riders who do not carry at least $10,000 of medical insurance. Helmet use dropped substantially following the law change and motorcyclist fatalities increased by 81 percent comparing 2001-2003 to 1997-1999, compared to +48 percent nationally. There was a 40 percent increase in the number of injured motorcyclists who were admitted to hospitals with head injuries increasing by 82 percent. Time series analysis showed a statistically significant increase in fatalities while controlling for changes in motorcycle registrations. Similar data also showed significant increases for Kentucky, Louisiana and Texas. Florida crash reports also indicate that helmet use declined markedly among riders under age 21, who were still covered by the law. Fatalities in this age group nearly tripled in the three years after the law change. Comparing the 30 months before and after the law change, there was an increase of 55 percent in the average annual number of motorcyclists killed (181 to 280, respectively). Registrations increased an average 33.7 percent in this time period. SEEKING PERMISSION TO DRINK & DRIVE : Volvo has asked the Swedish government to waive the strict drunken driving laws to allow its test drivers to booze on the job. The automaker wants to test a new technology designed to make the car take control of steering when a driver's reaction time is slowed because of intoxication or fatigue. If they grant the request it would be the first exception to Sweden's drunken driving laws, which are among the worlds toughest. In Sweden, just one beer or glass of wine can land a driver in jail for up to six months. SUPPORT OUR TROOPS |