NEW JERSEY — The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police announced a statewide “Goal Zero” enforcement and awareness initiative scheduled for Friday, Jan. 16, targeting the busy start of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend.
The effort will run from 3 to 7 p.m. and is designed to focus on what officials called the high-risk Friday afternoon “getaway” period, when traffic volume typically increases.
Law enforcement agencies across New Jersey will boost visibility and enforcement, focusing on crash-causing behavior including speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving and intersection violations, the association said.
NJSACOP officials pointed to a decline in fatal crashes last year as evidence coordinated enforcement and public education can make a difference.
“This is phenomenal news,” said Montville Police Chief Andrew Caggiano, NJSACOP president. “That kind of downward trend is exactly what the Goal Zero initiative was designed to spark. It shows that when law enforcement, safety partners and the public work together, lives are saved.”
Chiefs said 2025 saw a reduction of more than 16% in fatal traffic crashes statewide. They said that drop represented 104 fewer fatal crashes and 107 fewer deaths.
“That means 107 neighbors, friends, coworkers, and family members are starting 2026 because of the coordinated enforcement and education efforts taking place across our state,” Chief Caggiano added. “Those lives saved are the true measure of success.”
NJSACOP Traffic Safety Committee Chairman Chief William Parenti (Ret.) said the initiative is intended as an ongoing strategy rather than a one-day event.
“Goal Zero is about more than a single enforcement period or awareness event,” said Chief Parenti. “Safety doesn’t have an off-season. While the public may notice extra patrols around New Year’s or the Super Bowl, the reality is that life-altering crashes happen on ordinary Tuesdays and heavy-traffic Thursdays. Goal Zero is about making every trip safe, regardless of the date on the calendar.”
The association said Goal Zero aligns with New Jersey’s broader Target Zero vision, aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries through enforcement, engineering, education and community engagement.
“As the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend approaches, we urge all drivers to plan ahead, slow down, buckle up, drive sober, and stay alert, especially during peak travel times, said Michael J. Rizol Jr., director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety.
“We can continue our progress toward zero fatalities,” Rizol said. “But only if we stay focused, stay vigilant, and keep safety a priority on every road, every day.”
