157 pedestrians were killed on New Jersey’s streets in 2009, an increase of 14.6 percent over 2008 levels, according to a Tri-State Transportation Campaign analysis of State Police data. Even as the state has made progress on reducing overall traffic fatalities, pedestrian fatalities remain stubbornly stagnant, hovering at around 150 per year since the early 1990s.
The result is that pedestrian deaths now comprise nearly 27 percent of the state’s total traffic fatality count, up from around 21 percent for much of the previous two decades. Nationally, pedestrian fatalities account for about 11 percent of total traffic deaths.
In a statement, TSTC cautioned against potential cuts to pedestrian programs — like the five-year, $74 million initiative begun by Gov. Corzine in 2006 — in the upcoming transportation capital plan. A new NJDOT “complete streets” policy and new laws that mandate stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks and stricter requirements for convicted drunk drivers will undoubtedly save lives, but sound capital investment in pedestrian projects must remain a priority if NJ is to reverse this deadly trend.
“With more than 1-in-4 of the state’s traffic deaths people killed while walking down the block or crossing the street, it’s clear that New Jersey needs to make pedestrian safety a top priority,” said TSTC executive director Kate Slevin.
In the state’s urban counties, pedestrians make up an even greater share of traffic deaths. 55% of Hudson County’s traffic fatalities were pedestrians. Half of Essex County’s fatalities were killed while walking. In Bergen County, too, pedestrians comprised nearly half of total fatalities.
Image: TSTC graphic using NJ State Police data.
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