According to court records, the number of tickets issued in New Jersey for safety violations has been steadily increasing since 2009.
In that timeframe, there was a 13.7% increase in tickets for poorly maintained lights, tickets for worn tires went up by 10%, and almost 39% more tickets were issued for broken or chipped windshields. The rise in citations may be a result of less stringent inspection requirements.
Vehicles No Longer Required to Undergo Safety Inspections
In 2010, the Christie administration ended the mandate for vehicles to undergo routine safety inspections as part of a cost-saving effort. Federal law still requires vehicles to go through emissions testing as part of a nationwide anti-pollution effort. Vehicles must have their emissions tested when they reach five years old, then every two years afterward. Emissions tests, however, do not examine cars for any other potential safety violations, and inspectors cannot fail a car for any other type of safety violation.
An issue such as worn out brakes or tires won’t necessarily show symptoms until they fail, which can result in serious car accidents. Drivers can commit safety violations unknowingly, or choose to ignore them without the threat of a failed inspection. In 2009, 20,466 tickets were issued to drivers who did not make repairs after failing an inspection; by 2014, that number had decreased by 48% to 10,582.
In addition to faulty lights, worn tires, and cracked windshields, citations for other safety violations have also increased. Tickets for faulty mirrors and backup lights rose eight percent since 2009, while obstructed windshield tickets went up four percent. The number of tickets for improperly displayed license plates increased by 23%. However, there were significantly fewer citations for faulty brakes, driving with no brakes, broken horns, and defective mufflers in 2014 than in 2009.
Increase in Citations not Reflected in Accident Numbers
While the increase in citations does indicate a growing number of unsafe vehicles on the road, so far there has not been an increase in traffic fatalities as a result. The number of New Jersey fatal car accidents averaged 582 per year going back to 2008, and reached an all-time low of 542 in 2013. 2013 also saw a decrease in the overall number of car accidents, down six percent from 2008. Traffic injuries and fatalities that are attributed to mechanical failure, however, stayed relatively consistent, decreasing by about one percent between 2009 and 2013.
Police are hopeful that the increase in citations will motivate drivers to fix safety violations, similar to the effect that the Ticket or Click It campaign had on improving seat belt safety. The Motor Vehicle Commission currently conducts mobile roadside inspections with the help of local law enforcement. In 2014, 14,640 vehicles were inspected and 69% passed. Without the statewide inspection requirement, however, there are many vehicles on the road that could potentially experience a mechanical failure and cause serious injuries.
