Lawmaker Who Wrote New Road Rage Law Cites Deadly Accident as Example of Severe Problem on New Jersey Roadways
(TRENTON) – Following a Sunday morning multi-car accident on the Garden State Parkway that claimed the life of a Teaneck woman, Assemblyman Wayne P. DeAngelo (D-Mercer) today called on motorists to curb their road rage behind the wheel or face tough penalties for potentially deadly driving behavior.
DeAngelo, the prime sponsor of the Jessica Rogers Act that was signed into law in April to upgrade penalties for road rage incidents, called the accident on the Garden State Parkway (GSP) a tragic reminder that vehicles can turn into a deadly weapon when driven recklessly.
“New Jersey’s roadways are more congested during the summer months with families traveling to see loved ones and to their vacation destination. The warm weather doesn’t give anyone permission to drive ‘like a bat out of hell’ and risk the lives of their passengers or others on the road. Drivers who experience road rage need to pull over and let someone else take over at the wheel so that everyone arrives at their destination safely,” said DeAngelo.
According to news reports, the two sport utilities vehicles involved in the GSP accident were seen driving erratically, tailgating, and changing lanes numerous times while driving in excess of the 65 mph speed limit. A passenger was fatally thrown from one of the vehicles as a result of the collision.
DeAngelo urged motorists who witness aggressive driving and road rage to use the New Jersey State Police’s #77 system to report incidents by providing the location, description of the situation and other information to help law enforcement respond.