AASHTO Journal - New Jersey DOT Aids Statewide Public Safety Campaign

The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness or NJOHSP, in partnership New Jersey Department of Transportation and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, kicked off a recent “See Something, Say Something” public safety campaign via variable message signs on major interstates across the state.

[Above photo by the NJOHSP]

The campaign seeks to remind motorists driving on major interstates to “remain vigilant” and report potential infrastructure threats and suspicious activity related to terrorism or other criminal activity.

The campaign will run from September through mid-February and include nearly 200 digital messages promoting NJOHSP’s suspicious activity reporting number during the morning and afternoon rush hours seven days per week across the New Jersey turnpikes and highways, including I-78, I-195 and I-280, as well as Route 440.

“See Something, Say Something” messages will also be displayed on 511nj.org, specifically in the “Severity Alert” section and as a widget in the “Safety Message” section.

“The goal of the campaign over the next few months is to remind residents and visitors, who may be traversing New Jersey’s highways for vacation, holiday shopping and other festivities, of the importance of being aware of their surroundings and of reporting suspicious activity,” explained NJOHSP Director Laurie Doran in a statement.

“The public is one of our first and best lines of defense in the fight against terrorism,” Doran added. “Our ‘See Something, Say Something’ initiative bolsters New Jersey’s security efforts and plays a key role in helping to identify threats and to prevent attacks.”

“Safety and security are everyone’s responsibility,” noted Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, commissioner of the New Jersey DOT and chair of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

“Using variable message signs on the New Jersey Turnpike and our interstate highways will help remind millions of motorists if they ‘See Something, Say Something’ when driving through our state,” she added.