The New York State Thruway Authority and State Police Troop T announced that Monday, March 17, 2008, will kickoff “OPERATION: DriveAliveNY”. This targeted educational and enforcement campaign, funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with a grant from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC), is aimed at increasing driver awareness by practicing defensive driving skills to help reduce the number of accidents along the System and promoting highway safety.

“The Authority takes pride in operating one of the safest highways in the nation and is committed to retaining its excellent safety record,” said Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael R. Fleischer. “The goal of OPERATION: DriveAliveNY is to remind motorists that using common sense, minimizing distractions and acting responsibly while traveling goes a long way towards improving driver safety and saving lives. Additionally, the dedicated Members of State Police Troop T will be providing increased enforcement efforts during this initiative to ensure drivers are obeying the traffic laws.” 

In light of a series of unrelated accidents that occurred in the past several years near the Rockland and Orange County border along the Thruway, the Authority is participating in OPERATION: DriveAliveNY, a three-month targeted educational and enforcement campaign to begin this Spring along a 35-mile section of roadway between Interchanges 14A (Garden State Parkway) and Interchange 17 (Newburgh/I-84). 

“OPERATION: DriveAliveNY is a continuation of several initiatives that have taken place in which the State Police and the Thruway Authority have partnered to leverage its unique resources to address traffic safety issues,” said Troop T Major Robert C. Meyer.  “During this campaign and as always, I strongly encourage all motorists utilizing the New York State Thruway to operate their vehicles safely and responsibly. The goal is to maximize safety on the Thruway; those motorists who choose to violate the vehicle and traffic law should expect to be stopped and ticketed by a New York State Trooper.”

“Our mission is to assist other agencies targeting high risk highway safety behaviors in an attempt to reduce the number of needless injuries and fatalities on our roadways,” said Commissioner David J. Swarts of the Department of Motor Vehicles and Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.  “I commend the Thruway Authority on this latest effort to meet the challenge of providing safer highways throughout New York and support its efforts to enforce the laws that will lead to fewer deaths and injuries.”

On the New York State Thruway approximately 50 percent of all accidents along the System are attributed to the following issues – speeding, following too closely, and unsafe lane usage. In 2006, motor vehicle accidents on the Thruway caused by the aforementioned driving behaviors accounted for 4,717 vehicles accidents System-wide, of which, 13 of these accidents were fatal accidents.  However, due to the Authority’s commitment to operating one of the safest highways in the nation, the rate of fatalities on the Thruway remains significantly below the national average as calculated by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  For example, in 2006, there were 37 fatal accidents resulting in 47 deaths on the Thruway, reflecting a fatality rate of 0.45 per 100 million vehicle miles (MVM) traveled, as compared to the national fatality rate of 1.42 per 100 MVM traveled.

Through OPERATION: DriveAliveNY the Authority in cooperation with Troop T will strive to raise driver safety awareness by promoting driver education and defensive driving behavior.  The Authority will disseminate educational materials to Thruway patrons at toll plazas, travel plazas and in E-ZPass statements to customers in the targeted area. In addition the Authority will broadcast safe driver messages on its Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) and Highway Advisory Radio (HAR).

To further aid in this important initiative, Troop T will undertake additional enforcement efforts between Interchanges 14A and 17 aimed at drivers who exhibit signs of unsafe driving behavior such as excessive speeding, tailgating and unsafe lane usage, which could contribute to accidents.

During OPERATION: DriveAliveNY the Authority and Troop T will gather and analyze data on driver behavior, enforcement activity, accident rates, types of accidents, and types of vehicles involved.  This data will help measure the number of accidents caused by excessive speed, following too closely and unsafe lane usage.

To help reduce the risk of accidents and increase driver safety on the roadways, the Authority and Troop T offer these simple driving tips:

Obey the posted speed limit and adjust speed according to road and weather conditions.
Keep at least three seconds between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you; don’t tailgate.
Check your blind spot and always signal before changing lanes.
Be aware of your surroundings; remain alert at all times.
Use common courtesy and avoid actions which can provoke aggression in other drivers (e.g., offensive gestures, failure to signal, etc.).
Plan trips carefully and allow for travel time in case of unexpected delays.
Never make illegal U-turns.
Never stop or park in the travel lanes or medians; never walk along the highway.
Above all, use common sense at all times while driving and when dealing with a roadside emergency.

(YW-98 / YW-112)