New Jersey Pedestrian Safety Law Goes into Effect
A new pedestrian law that went into effect on the 1st April, promises to reduce accident fatalities in New Jersey. With New Jersey accounting for some of the highest numbers of pedestrian accident fatalities in the country, I hope the law will help minimize those rates.
In 2008, 27% of all traffic accident fatalities in New Jersey were pedestrians. Last year, there was a substantial drop in the number of traffic accident fatalities in New Jersey, as in the rest of the country, but the number of pedestrian deaths has actually increased. According to the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, since 2004, there have been approximately 150 pedestrian deaths annually on New Jersey streets. In 2009, 159 pedestrians died in accidents in our state.
The new law will require that motorists nearing a crosswalk stop as soon as a pedestrian enters the crosswalk. Motorists who violate the new law, will face a strict $200 fine, and will receive two points on their driver's license. The earlier law required that motorists yield to pedestrians. The word “yield” seems to have been too ambiguous for motorists in New Jersey, and this has contributed to a high number of pedestrian accident fatalities in our state.
I'm willing to bet many motorists in New Jersey are unaware of the law. In order to deal with this, law enforcement officers will be increasing enforcement over the next few weeks. Initially, motorists will be given a warning card explaining the new laws to them.
Of course, the new law does not mean that pedestrians can be blasé about their safety. I would advise all pedestrians in New Jersey to be alert at all times to their surroundings, avoid distractions like talking on the cell phone or listening to the iPod. Any activity that takes your attention away from the road can be a risk to your safety.
Scott Grossman is a New Jersey car accident lawyer, representing injured victims of car and auto accidents including pedestrian accidents, in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic and Ocean Counties, and across the state of New Jersey.