Why Have New Jersey Pedestrian Accident Deaths Increased so Dramatically this Year?
Fatality rates in pedestrian accidents in New Jersey have increased alarmingly, and the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety has moved in quickly to act.
Several communities in the state that have recorded an unacceptable increase in pedestrian accident deaths, are seeing enforcement activities to enforce the rules and prevent such accidents. Earlier this month, 17 police agencies in Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Camden, Cumberland and Gloucester Counties have received funding for the program that will run through September 13th. The program involves plainclothes officers stationed at crosswalks looking for motorists who fail to yield. Motorists who disregard the rights of pedestrians at a crosswalk could face tickets from uniformed officers, who will be just a short distance away. A motorist could be fined $100 besides court costs.
Across the state, pedestrian accident fatalities have increased after a couple of years when there were lower fatalities. In 2006, the Division of Highway Traffic Safety initiated the pedestrian decoy program, aimed at lowering the number of deaths in these accidents by making motorists aware of their duties. That year, there were 164 pedestrian accident deaths. In 2007, that number dropped to 150, dropping to a further 138 in 2008. However, this year began with a high number of pedestrian accident deaths right from the start, and these numbers continue to rise. So far this year, there have been 103 pedestrian deaths out of a total of 344 car accidents. Between January and August last year, the number of pedestrian deaths were dramatically lower at 79.
It’s been difficult to understand what has caused the sudden spike in pedestrian fatalities. However, in New Jersey, we have unique challenges in keeping pedestrians safer. We have far too many people packed into a smaller geographical area, and there are too many cars and pedestrians jostling for limited space. There are also increasing numbers of New Jerseyans who are choosing to walk everywhere, rather than using their cars. As a Bergen County pedestrian accident lawyer, I firmly believe that walking on New Jersey streets should not have to be a death-defying stunt for our pedestrians. The fact is that a lot of these accidents can be prevented if motorists would just exercise some patience near a crosswalk.
