Attorney Tom Vesper says speeding, dangerous intersections and drivers ignoring traffic signals remain serious concerns as countywide enforcement efforts target preventable crashes.
ATLANTIC COUNTY, N.J. — With Atlantic County police intensifying efforts to combat dangerous driving, longtime local attorney Tom Vesper is urging motorists to slow down, pay attention at intersections and take simple precautions that could prevent serious injuries.
Vesper, a member of the Atlantic County Highway Safety Task Force, said speeding and careless driving remain significant concerns on local roadways.
During an appearance Thursday, Oct. 8, on The Don Williams Show on News Talk 1400 and 92.3 WOND, Vesper described a recent near-collision in which another driver apparently tried to beat a traffic signal.
He also questioned whether enough is being done to discourage speeding in residential neighborhoods.
The warnings come as Atlantic County law enforcement agencies continue a coordinated campaign targeting dangerous driving behaviors.
Between April and August 2026, officers participating in the county's CARE for Fatal Crashes initiative conducted 10 enforcement and outreach operations, resulting in 978 traffic stops, 657 summonses, seven vehicles being towed and two arrests for driving under the influence.
The program involves all 18 municipal police departments in Atlantic County and focuses on speeding, distracted driving, unsafe passing of school buses and other violations associated with serious crashes.
The initiative was launched after Atlantic County recorded 58 fatal crashes in 2024, its highest total in a decade.
‘Speed Kills’
Vesper was on his way to a meeting of the Atlantic County Highway Safety Task Force when he called into Williams' morning radio program.
Williams asked whether Vesper still believed in the familiar traffic safety warning that speed kills.
"Absolutely. Oh, absolutely," Vesper responded.
Williams expressed concern that motorists appear to be driving increasingly fast on the Atlantic City Expressway and Route 30, particularly during commuting hours.
Vesper advised motorists not to engage with aggressive drivers.
"Yeah, let them just let them pass," Vesper said. "You go your safe speed and you let the speeders just go by."
Williams questioned whether police should be issuing more speeding tickets.
Vesper acknowledged that law enforcement resources are limited.
"There's only so many of them out there," he said.
But the attorney also expressed concern about motorists who disregard speed restrictions even when warning signs are present.
Speeding Through Margate Neighborhoods
Vesper pointed to Margate as an example of the challenges facing local police departments.
He said electronic signs that display a motorist's speed can be useful reminders but may have little effect on drivers determined to ignore traffic laws.
"Those signs ... don't mean anything to people that just, they're in a rush," Vesper said.
He expressed particular concern about motorists speeding through stop signs on residential streets.
"They think, well, nobody's driving on the street that they can see," Vesper said. "So they're just going to speed through stop signs."
"And it's very, very, very dangerous."
Vesper suggested that staffing limitations may complicate enforcement, particularly during the summer when Shore communities experience increased traffic.
However, he did not provide police staffing figures or specific enforcement statistics for Margate.
A Near-Collision on Shore Road
Vesper also described a recent frightening experience at an intersection along Shore Road.
He said he was waiting to make a left turn when the traffic signal changed to green.
As he began moving into the intersection, another vehicle approached at what Vesper estimated was approximately 50 mph in a 35-mph zone.
"He probably saw the yellow light and thought he could make it," Vesper said.
The other vehicle narrowly missed striking his driver's side.
"He missed by inches," Vesper said.
The incident reinforced a lesson he believes every motorist should remember: A green light does not guarantee that approaching drivers will stop.
"That taught me a lesson," Vesper said. "You got to look very, very cautiously."
"You might have the green light, but you better be careful."
Vesper urged drivers to check for approaching vehicles before proceeding through intersections, even when they have the right of way.
Countywide Enforcement Targets Dangerous Driving
Atlantic County authorities have been working to address many of the behaviors Vesper discussed.
The CARE for Fatal Crashes initiative was launched in 2025 through a partnership involving the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, municipal police departments and regional highway safety officials.
The effort combines targeted traffic enforcement with public education.
Its initial operation in 2025 resulted in 111 motor vehicle stops and 71 summonses.
The program expanded during 2026, with nearly 1,000 stops reported during the April-through-August enforcement period.
County officials have said the operations are designed to focus on locations and behaviors associated with serious and fatal crashes.
In announcing the initiative, Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds emphasized the importance of coordination among police departments.
"We are going to work smarter, not just harder, to protect the people who live, work and visit Atlantic County," Reynolds said when the program was introduced.
The Atlantic County Sheriff's Office also maintains a traffic enforcement unit that targets speeding, pedestrian violations, impaired driving and other hazardous behaviors.
Authorities have indicated that coordinated enforcement efforts will continue during the fall.
Why Even Minor Crashes Can Cause Serious Injuries
As an attorney who has represented people injured in motor vehicle crashes, Vesper also addressed what he considers a common misconception about collisions.
He said motorists should not assume that a crash cannot cause serious injuries simply because the vehicles sustained relatively little damage.
"A lot of people think, well, if there's only a little bit of damage to the car, then whoever's in the car can't be seriously hurt," Vesper said.
"That's ... BS."
Vesper said a sudden rear-end collision can cause significant neck movement even at relatively low speeds.
"Imagine if you're sitting in a chair, and somebody kicks your chair," he said.
"Now, is it 35 miles an hour? No, it may be just five-mile-per-hour impact."
"But if you're sitting in a chair, and somebody wallops you from behind, your neck is going to snap back."
Medical research supports the possibility of neck injuries in lower-speed rear-end collisions, although the likelihood and severity depend on multiple factors, including the force of impact, occupant position, vehicle design and individual circumstances.
Vesper's comments reflect his experience handling injury cases and should not be interpreted as suggesting that every minor collision causes serious injuries.
Three Safety Precautions Every Driver Should Remember
Vesper used Thursday's interview to emphasize three basic precautions he believes motorists should take before driving.
First, drivers and passengers should wear seat belts, and children should be secured in properly installed safety seats.
Second, motorists should make sure their vehicles are visible to other drivers.
"Make sure your headlights, if they don't come on automatically, running lights should be on," Vesper said.
"They make you more visible, and they do increase the safety factor so that other cars don't hit you."
Third, Vesper urged drivers to check the positioning of their head restraints.
He warned that a restraint positioned too low may fail to protect the head and neck during a rear-end collision.
"The middle of the back of your skull, the very, very back of your skull, should touch the headrest, not the middle of your neck," Vesper said.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends positioning head restraints high enough to support the back of the head and keeping them close to the occupant's head.
Proper adjustment can help reduce the risk of whiplash injuries.
Vesper said these simple precautions can make a meaningful difference.
"You can make yourself a lot safer in your own vehicle," he said, "by remembering the three things: the seat belt, the running lights or headlights, and the positioning of your headrests."
A Continuing Challenge for Atlantic County
Although New Jersey experienced a statewide decline in traffic fatalities in 2025, Atlantic County's recent history demonstrates why local officials remain concerned.
The county's 58 fatal crashes in 2024 prompted a coordinated response from law enforcement agencies and highway safety organizations.
The state Attorney General's Office reported that statewide traffic fatalities declined approximately 15% in 2025, from 684 deaths in 2024 to 582.
Atlantic County was among the counties that experienced a decline.
Nevertheless, officials continue to emphasize that speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving and failure to obey traffic signals remain preventable causes of crashes.
For Vesper, the message is straightforward.
Drivers should obey speed limits, avoid confrontations with aggressive motorists and remain alert even when they have the right of way.
And he hopes motorists never experience the consequences of ignoring those precautions.
"I hope you and all the listeners out there never need to call me with any kind of an injury," Vesper said.
Attorney Tom Vesper appeared Thursday, Oct. 8, on The Don Williams Show, heard Monday through Friday from 6 to 10 a.m. on News Talk 1400 and 92.3 WOND.
About the Author
Scott Stephens
Scott has been an on-air personality, producer and newscaster for 30+ years. He has been a mainstay in the South Jersey Community and on the air across many different area stations. Scott can currently be heard on Kool 98.3 and News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND.
