To:  Governor Phil Murphy
       Francis O'Connor - NJ Department of Transportation Commissioner
       Pet Buttigieg - U.S. Secretary of Transportation

I am writing this petition to address a critical issue that affects countless individuals in New Jersey - the alarming lack of safety on the Garden State Parkway.  As a concerned citizen, this issue is deeply personal to me because I have witnessed firsthand the dangerous driving behaviors and near-miss accidents that occur far too frequently on this major roadway.

The Garden State Parkway serves as a vital transportation artery, connecting numerous communities and facilitating travel for millions of people each year. However, it has become increasingly evident that urgent action is needed to improve its safety standards. The current state of affairs puts innocent lives at risk every day.

Allow me to share my personal story: Last month, while driving along the Garden State Parkway during rush hour, I narrowly avoided a catastrophic accident when another driver recklessly swerved into my lane without signaling or checking their blind spot. This incident left me shaken and made me realize just how vulnerable we all are when using this highway.

I'm part of a social networking app called Nextdoor which allows residents within all communities to communicate with each other.  There have been several comments within Nextdoor regarding real life experiences on the GSP.  I'd like to share with you some of the comments that have been made.

• I had to call the police today and report a car that was literally trying to menace me into an accident. I tried everything to get away from this car- including pulled over - and they pulled over behind me. Once I realized this person was trying to do me harm - it became the fast and the furious.
• The new speed limit is at least 90mph!!
• This past week heading from Barnegat to Toms River I watched a loaded 80,000 pound dump truck ahead of me darting in and out of the lanes, including the extreme left, and tailgating all the way.
• It's bullying on the road. It's not just you. No rules, no manners, no regard for speed...
• All I know is NJ better not consider raising the limit like some states are considering raising to 75. If they do, these nuts will  easily be doing over 100.
• I take the back roads as much as possible. It can take me extra time or mileage, but I'd rather arrive in one piece.
• What happened to the Troopers?  They use to be all over the GSP. Every mile you would see a car pulled over by them.  Now if your doing 70 the cars ride your bumper, cut you off from the right or left.  They simply don't care!
• My husband was driving in the right lane south from exit 63. A car started tailgating him and decided to speed around him to his exit.  As he came back into our lane, he cut us off purposely. My husband had to swerve onto the shoulder to keep from hitting him.
• I had someone throw a full cup of coffee out their window and it hit my windshield and blinded me for the time it took me to pull over and clean it off.
• They ride up to my bumper at 75 mph, dog me until I change lanes instead of getting hit from behind, and then inevitably next to me comes someone racing between cars changing lanes to get ahead.
• So yesterday I was on the GSP in the fast lane. The other two lanes had busses and dump trucks. Idiot comes flying down the shoulder and rocks go flying up. Yep my windshield now has a nice crack in it. And I’m sure I have a few pings in the paint. Thanks to that person driving the white Toyota Corolla with NY plates.

To ensure our collective safety and prevent further tragedies from occurring, I urge relevant authorities to take immediate action by implementing the following measures:

1. Increased Law Enforcement Presence: We request an increased presence of NJ State Troopers along the entire length of the Garden State Parkway. This will deter reckless driving behaviors such as speeding, tailgating, improper lane changes, and distracted driving.

2. Enhanced Driver Education Programs: It is crucial to invest in comprehensive driver education programs that emphasize safe driving practices specific to highway conditions like those found not only on the Garden State Parkway. These programs should be mandatory for all new drivers and periodically updated for existing license holders.

3. Public Awareness Campaigns: Launch a comprehensive public awareness campaign to educate drivers about safe driving practices on the Garden State Parkway. This campaign should emphasize the importance of following traffic laws, using turn signals, maintaining safe distances between vehicles, and avoiding distractions while driving.

One additional suggestion to help catch the aggressive drivers and perhaps even decrease the amount of aggressiveness out there is to utilize the latest technology.  I've included a video which shows how drones are being used to catch aggressive drivers.   If we can use drones to spot sharks in the waters, surely we can use the technology to prevent life threatening issues on the GSP.

By signing this petition, I stand with fellow concerned citizens in urging immediate action to make the Garden State Parkway a safer place for all drivers. Together, we can prevent accidents and save lives.

Jim S
Barnegat & Matawan New Jersey