Clogged highways as migration to the Shore begins

The holiday flight to the Shore commenced this afternoon with families streaming to the beaches to beat the onset of the summer swelter.

Traffic, however, was not cooperating with plans for a quick escape.

In Pennsylvania, a tractor-trailer was on fire about 5 p.m. on the Blue Route in Radnor Township forcing state police to shut down all southbound lanes from the Mid-County Interchange and creating major delays.

Just over the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in Camden, a three vehicle accident at 4:23 p.m. backed up traffic on I-676 and left several people with injuries, according to troopers at the Bellmawr barracks. Along Route 42 in Gloucester Township, Camden County, a car crashed into the woods earlier in afternoon in the approach to the Atlantic City Expressway. A few miles down the highway in the southbound lanes of Rte. 42 a three car collision was reported about 2:45 p.m. closing the fast lane and causing major delays. In Berkeley Township, Ocean County, three people were reported to be injured shortly after 3 p.m. in an accident on U.S. 9

And it's still early.

"It hasn't really started in earnest yet, and won't until the evening rush hour," said Lt. Steve Jones, spokesman for the New Jersey State Police.

Troopers recognize 6 p.m. as the official start of the Memorial Day weekend, consider the end of the holiday as occurring at 6 a.m. Tuesday, and this year they're doubly prepared for whatever fate throws at them.

Last year, eight people died in Garden State traffic accidents. Five of those deaths struck motorcyclists and three of the fatalities occurred in South Jersey.

"Today marks the beginning of the '101 Days of Summer,' so we have several traffic initiatives going on to increase highway safety," Jones said.

Some of those initiatives, such as the Move Over Law, may be new to some drivers.

"If you see someone with emergency or amber lights on, the law requires you to move over and give that car a free lane," Jones said. "Or if the flow of traffic won't permit it, slow down below the speed limit and be prepared to stop."

Troopers also will be out battling distracted driving, enforcing cellphone laws and looking for drowsy driving.

"Sometimes that drowsy driving can look like drunk driving, and be just as deadly," Jones said. "We'll have lots of extra troopers out there keeping things safe, responding to accidents as they happen and helping stranded motorists whose cars break down."