{"id":6105,"date":"2026-08-20T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petrilloandgoldberg.com\/?p=6105"},"modified":"2026-08-06T23:41:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T23:41:20","slug":"freehold-suv-accident-demonstrates-importance-of-spring-driving-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petrilloandgoldberg.com\/es\/2026\/08\/freehold-suv-accident-demonstrates-importance-of-spring-driving-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Un accidente de un SUV en Freehold pone de manifiesto la importancia de la seguridad al volante en primavera"},"content":{"rendered":"

A mother and her two young sons were injured by an SUV driver<\/a> as they left a Freehold preschool in mid-February, 2026. All three family members suffered injuries. The driver was later arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, according to the injured mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The incident underscores the importance of several driving-related safety factors. Staying sober behind the wheel, driving carefully near schools, and paying attention to the risks unique to spring driving can all help you stay safe and keep others safe as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some of the most common safety risks in New Jersey springtime driving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch Out for Pedestrians<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Warm days bring people outside to enjoy the sunshine. From kids running full speed out of school playgrounds to elderly neighbors taking a stroll, spring means more pedestrians on the roads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pedestrian deaths and injuries<\/a> increase during warmer months. This increase often begins in March or April and lasts until October. As people step outside to enjoy warmer weather, drivers must be alert to share the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drivers can protect themselves and others by slowing down and watching for pedestrians. Be especially alert in school zones, residential areas, and shopping and recreational districts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring Means Bikes – Of All Kinds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pedestrians aren\u2019t the only ones who head outside to enjoy warm spring weather. Bicycle and motorcycle enthusiasts also dust off their favorite rides and look forward to hitting the road. Electric bikes (e-bikes)<\/a> y electric scooters<\/a> are also popular, especially with younger riders.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In New Jersey, bicycles and motorcycles have the legal right to use the roads. Like other vehicles, bikes and motorcycles must follow road rules. Drivers who don\u2019t slow down and watch for these vehicles run the risk of causing an accident<\/a> – and being held liable for negligence.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be Prepared for Construction Season<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Flowers aren\u2019t the only thing blooming in New Jersey\u2019s spring weather. As the days get longer, warmer, and sunnier, construction cones, barriers, and barrels also start to pop up on the state\u2019s roads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you developed the habit of driving more slowly on winter\u2019s snow and ice, stick with this habit as construction season begins. Give yourself the time you need to get to your destination. Use the state Department of Transportation website or local government sites to keep track of big construction projects that are happening on your usual routes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When driving through work zones, slow down. Increase your following distance. If the vehicle in front of you stops suddenly, you\u2019ll be ready to slow down without risking a crash. Avoid distractions when traveling through work zones. Even a few seconds of distraction can cause serious injuries<\/a> when you\u2019re traveling near heavy equipment and construction workers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep an Eye on the Weather<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Spring weather can change quickly, especially in New Jersey. Check the weather forecast before you head out. If storms are predicted, keep the radio on and turned low so you\u2019ll hear any sudden emergency broadcast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If an emergency weather alert happens, pull off the road and seek shelter. Find a safe place to park until conditions improve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t count out winter just yet! Ice and snow can occur even into April. Keep your winter travel kit in your car. Reduce your speed and increase your following distance on icy, wet, or slippery roads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, don\u2019t assume that just because the days are longer, you\u2019re in the clear. The angle of the sun during early spring and in fall can blind drivers, especially if you\u2019re headed into the sunrise or sunset. Keep sunglasses in your car, drive more slowly, and consider altering your route. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Never Drive Intoxicated<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Conducci\u00f3n bajo los efectos del alcohol o las drogas<\/a> are now the number-one cause of death in New Jersey vehicle collisions, according to a recent State Police report. As the recent Freehold incident shows, drunk driving can lead to serious injuries and other major consequences. A person who chooses to drive while drunk or high can face both criminal charges and civil liability if they cause an accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drunk and drugged driving crashes are preventable. When you\u2019re planning spring cookouts, St. Patrick\u2019s Day festivities, and other events, plan ahead. Know what your sober route home is, whether it\u2019s with a designated driver, on public transit, using a rideshare service, or walking. Limit your drinks while you\u2019re out, so you don\u2019t cause serious harm to yourself or others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you or someone you love is injured this spring, don\u2019t wait. Speak to an experienced New Jersey car accident attorney<\/a>. The team at Petrillo & Goldberg is here to help.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Una madre y sus dos hijos peque\u00f1os resultaron heridos por el conductor de un todoterreno cuando sal\u00edan de una guarder\u00eda de Freehold a mediados de febrero de 2026. Los tres miembros de la familia sufrieron lesiones. Seg\u00fan la madre herida, el conductor fue detenido posteriormente y acusado de conducir bajo los efectos del alcohol. El incidente pone de relieve la importancia de varios factores de seguridad relacionados con la conducci\u00f3n. Mantener\u2026<\/p>","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6108,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[693,692],"class_list":["post-6105","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-automobile-accidents","tag-spring-driving-safety","tag-suv-accident"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petrilloandgoldberg.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6105","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petrilloandgoldberg.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petrilloandgoldberg.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petrilloandgoldberg.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petrilloandgoldberg.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6105"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.petrilloandgoldberg.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6105\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6106,"href":"https:\/\/www.petrilloandgoldberg.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6105\/revisions\/6106"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petrilloandgoldberg.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6108"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petrilloandgoldberg.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petrilloandgoldberg.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6105"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petrilloandgoldberg.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}