In response to news stories about skyrocketing New Jersey pedestrian fatality numbers, state transportation commissioner Jack Lettiere said he would like to find a way to devote more resources to pedestrian safety. "Even though we spend a considerable amount of money on safety measures, obviously, it’s not enough," Lettiere told the Star-Ledger. "We’ve got to work to reduce the pedestrian fatalities. ... I'm not happy about these numbers at all."

Last year, municipalities requested $41.8 million in state aid for pedestrian safety projects. The state issued about $6 million for pedestrian programs and another $6 million for bicycle paths and walkways.

Other reactions were mixed. The Bergen Record called for a change in the official "cars first" ethos, and bemoaned the fact that few in New Jersey realize that state law requires that drivers give walkers right-of-way in crosswalks. The paper urged a major state education effort, with billboards and media spots, new signs at crosswalks, eliminating right-on-red in busy towns and proliferation of traffic calming street designs. Bergen County led New Jersey with 25 pedestrian deaths in 2002.

But an assistant Middlesex County prosecutor interviewed by the Ledger blamed the victims. "Pedestrians get killed for all different reasons and most of the time the pedestrians contribute to the cause or are at fault," said Nick Sewitch. While some pedestrian deaths in Middlesex last year occurred when pedestrians tried to cross highways, one of the biggest problems with pedestrian and general road safety in NJ and the nation is a law enforcement system that, like Sewitch, denies safety problems and winks at dangerous driving behavior.

A spreadsheet error caused us to understate the scale of the increase in pedestrian fatalities in our first report (MTR #407, March 17) on the issue. Adding two more pedestrian fatalities recently identified by the state, the increase is 37.3%, 184 in 2002 against 134 in 2001. The Star-Ledger pointed out that without the jump in pedestrian deaths, traffic fatalities in the state would have fallen last year. As it is, overall traffic deaths rose in NJ 5.2%, totaling 786. 

MTR search facility and back issues:

Search our database of all past issues of Mobilizing the Region since Fall, 1994.

Go to index of all Mobilizing the Region back issues