OCEAN COUNTY – Police will be out in the seven towns that share Route 70, in an attempt to bring down the number of crashes.

The detail will be on July 20 and Aug. 1, as well as unnamed dates in between.

In 2016, there were 548 motor vehicle crashes on Route 70, according to a press release from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. Additionally, 10 percent of all of the fatal crashes in Ocean County happened on this road. This percentage climbed to 19 percent in 2017, according to police records.

Police see many of the same issues that lead to crashes, so they will be on the lookout for: Driving While Under the Influence, aggressive drivers, improper turning, failing to yield, failing to keep right, improper passing, inattentive driving, disregard of traffic signal, excessive speed, following too close, pedestrian violations and various commercial carrier violations such as overweight, equipment maintenance and brake pressure. An automated license plate reader will also be in effect.

Other departments will be looking at the engineering of the roads as well. The following departments will be involved:

Brick Police Department

Brielle Police Department

Lakehurst Police Department

Lakewood Police Department

Manchester Police Department

Toms River Police Department

Wall Township Police Department

Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office

NJ State Police Troop “C” – Tactical Patrol Unit

NJ State Police – D.U.I. Enforcement Patrol

Ocean County Road Department

Ocean County Engineering Department

An important part of this enforcement detail is education, Prosecutor Joseph Coronato said.

“The Policing Partnership details have managed to raise significant awareness among the motoring public regarding roadway safety issues, but more important it has led to coordinated efforts by Ocean County Law Enforcement to take important steps toward making commuting local roadways safer,” he said.