North Plainfield Joins State Safety Campaign to Reduce Pedestrian-Motor Vehicle Crashes

North Plainfield, NJ – The Borough of North Plainfield is kicking off its Street Smart NJ pedestrian safety campaign with a press conference at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, November 1 outside of Borough Hall.

Street Smart NJ is a statewide public education, awareness, and behavioral change campaign developed by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) to promote safe travel behavior through education and enforcement of pedestrian laws. The campaign comes in response to New Jersey’s designation as a “focus” state by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. New Jersey ranks sixth in the U.S. in pedestrian fatalities at a rate of 24 percent – nearly double the national average 14 percent. Street Smart was first piloted in four northern and central New Jersey communities – Newark, Jersey City, Hackettstown and Woodbridge – in November 2013 and on Long Beach Island in July 2014.

Motor vehicle crashes claimed the lives of 4,735 pedestrians in the U.S. in 2013, one being a hit-and-run victim in North Plainfield. Thirteen of the top 39 crash-prone intersections in Somerset County are located in the Borough, four of which beset the same roadway: Somerset Street. Overall, motor vehicle crashes were responsible for 26 pedestrian injuries and three pedestrian fatalities in North Plainfield from 2012 to 2014. This translates to about nine pedestrian injuries and one pedestrian fatality every year.

To combat this issue, local police will be enforcing pedestrian laws throughout the month of November, and working with partners – including RideWise TMA and the North Plainfield School District – to educate motorists and pedestrians about the costs and benefits of obeying the law. During this time, people will see street signs, posters, and banners in high visibility locations around the community. Street Teams of pedestrian safety advocates and volunteers will be passing out tip cards and other educational materials at target intersections. The campaign and its partners will also be sending e-blasts in an effort to raise awareness of these efforts.

Officers will also address speeding and distracted driving and walking, which often contribute to crashes involving pedestrians. The campaign encourages pedestrians and motorists to “Check Your Vital Signs” to improve safety on the road. Motorists are urged to obey the speed limit and stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. Pedestrians are advised to use crosswalks and wait for the walk signal where applicable. A new “Heads Up, Phone Down” message has been added to combat distracted driving and walking.

Businesses, organizations and individuals interested in helping to promote the Street Smart NJ message in North Plainfield, should contact Kristen Harding at 908-704-1011 or kristen@ridewise.org. To learn more about the campaign, visit bestreetsmartnj.org. The campaign is also on Facebook (StreetSmartNJ) and Twitter (@njstreetsmart).