NJDOT Reminds Motorists to Drive Safe This Holiday Season

Published on December 23, 2018

New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti is asking drivers to make this holiday season a safe one on the highways, and encouraging motorists to utilize any of the NJDOT services to assist motorists through the holiday.

With many people traveling our highways during this busy holiday season, we ask that safety be your number one priority, Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti said. Please move over for our first responders and others working on the highway. It's important to remember to observe speed limits, buckle up, put the phone down, Move Over, and drive sober.

Safety Service Patrol

NJDOT's Safety Service Patrol (SSP), will be working through the holiday weekend to help keep traffic flowing smoothly. The SSP assists motorists whose vehicles have become disabled as a result of a crash, a mechanical failure or other cause, and provides safety for emergency responders.

The SSP is a year-round service that provides free assistance such as changing a flat tire, pushing a disabled vehicle off to the shoulder, pulling a vehicle trapped in mud or snow back onto the road, providing a small amount of gasoline and making minor repairs. The service is provided free of charge.

Motorists on New Jersey roadways statewide may dial the following telephone numbers for assistance:

• #77 to report aggressive drivers
• #95 to report disabled vehicles and accidents on the New Jersey Turnpike
• #GSP to report disabled vehicles on the Garden State Parkway
• #ACE to report disabled vehicles on the Atlantic City Expressway

Real-time traffic information

Motorists can get the latest traffic information by calling 511 to reach NJDOT's interactive telephone line, by going to www.511nj.org, or subscribing to any of the highway-specific Twitter accounts through 511nj. Motorists are encouraged to check for real-time traffic information before leaving and for NJDOT news follow us on Twitter @NJDOT_info or on the NJDOT Facebook page.

Safe Phone Zones

NJDOT urges drivers to curb distracted driving by using Safe Phone Zones sponsored by GEICO. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, texting and driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving. As part of the solution, through a sponsorship with GEICO, NJDOT has designated 14 Rest Area and Scenic Overlook facilities as Safe Phone Zones, where drivers can safely and conveniently use their mobile devices for calling, texting, posting and accessing apps.