NJ cyclist, pedestrian deaths at new highs

Activist urge pursuit of federal safety funding

By: Colleen Wilson
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... While traffic deaths in New Jersey reached a 14-year high last year, [2021] deaths among cyclists and pedestrians were the highest they've been in more than 20 years, according to state police data.
..... Of the 699 traffic deaths in 2021 in the garden State, 367 were drivers: 86 were vehicle passengers; 26 were cyclists ; and 220 were pedestrians. The number of cyclists and pedestrians killed represents 35% of all traffic fatalities last year. [2021]
..... The three-decade high follows a dangerous and deadly trend on the nation's roadways: Between 2010 and 2019, the number of pedestrian fatalities across the nation increased by 46%, from 4,302 in 2010 to an estimated 7,301 in 2019. according to the Guvnors Highway Safety Association data.
..... In New Jersey, 876 people were killed on the state's roads from 2015 through 2019, according to state police data complied by the Street Smart NJ campaign. Pedestrians made up 176 of New Jersey's 558 traffic deaths in 2019, or 31.5%, nearly twice that year's national rate of 17.3%.
..... Analysis of state police data from 2021 shows:
* The last time deaths among drivers exceeded 367 was in 2007.
* The last time deaths among vehicle passengers exceeded 86 was in 2018.
* The last tie deaths among cyclists exceeded 86 was in 1990.
* the last time deaths among pedestrians exceeded 220 was in 1988.
..... Nationally, pedestrian and cyclist deaths - which were 7,342 and 98, respectively , in 2021 - were last this high in 1981 and 1975, respectively, according to estimates form the National Highway traffic Safety Administration.
..... The New Jersey Department of Transportation attributed spikes in traffic fatalities to increased speed seen nationally since the start of the pandemic. larger vehicles and increased distraction, among both drivers and walkers, spokesman Stephen Schapiro said in a statement.
..... "Federal data shows speeding-related deaths went up 23% from 2019 to 2020, even as the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in less traffic on the roadways," Schapiro said. "Another factor that should be considered is the proliferation of cellphone use and other mobile devices in the past 30 years that has led to an increase in distracted behavior, which includes both driving and walking."
..... Despite last year's [2021] spike, the overall number of traffic fatalities in New Jersey has dropped substantially in the last 50 yeas. Safety has most improved, however, for drivers and passengers of vehicles, and less so for those outside of vehicles, including pedestrians and cyclists.
..... In 1972, the first year state police data on traffic fatalities is available on their website, there were 628 driver deaths, 318 vehicle passenger deaths, 23 cyclist deaths and 345 pedestrian deaths.
..... When compared with 2021 figures, the number of deaths among drives and vehicle passengers has improved significantly, down 42% and 73%, respectively, since 1972. The number of cyclist deaths is up 13% and pedestrian deaths went down 36%.
..... Going back to 1972, there wasn't as much advocacy for bike/ped modes of transportation. Today [08/26/2022] it's far more visible, because so many more people are using bicycle and ped proportionates than they were then," Schapiro said.
..... Murphy's office said his administration "is committed to protecting the safety and health of all road users, including bicyclists and pedestrians," and is working "to make public and active transportation alternatives safer, more accessible, and more affordable."
..... Sonia Szczesna, director of active transpiration for the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, said the state take the lead on tacking these issues and positioning local and county governments for state and federal resources. This is especially critical, she said, given the unprecedented support form the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act that is making $ 5 billion to 46 billion available to prevent roadway fatalities.
..... "People's lives are at stake, and these tragedies are preventable, and we really need to get into the mode of implementing projects on a large scale, especially ones hat are protecting people walking and biking," Szczesna said. "The state has an opportunity to make sure all these communities get the federal money, and if we don't have a statewide coordinated effort in helping municipalities, communities, counties apply for these projects we're going to leave money on the table."

'Vision Zero' slow to take hold statewide

..... Of New Jersey;s 21 counties, Camden County has the most pedestrian deaths, at 25 in 2021, Essex County was second, with 32. Hudson, Essex and Cape May counties each had three people die while riding bikes last year. [2021]
..... Dan Keashen, a spokesman for Camden County, said the county is working with the stat4e Transportation Department and municipalities, namely the city of Camden, to identify roads and intersections to target for improvements. Keashen said that next month [09/2022] the Harrison Avenue and State Street intersection in Camden will get better lighting and signs, new paint sidewalk renovations and a lower speed limit.
..... "It does take ... funds to get things like bike lanes and sidewalks and get them implemented," Keashen said. "Being, really, one of the oldest counties in the state and first established, we also have some antiquated roadway systems that don't have sidewalk options, so we're going back and correcting that."
..... Only two municipalities - Hoboken and Jersey City -In New Jersey have adopted "Vision Zero" plans. Vision Zero is a national movement to encourage local leaders to study and identify ways to improve safety for those walking, cycling and driving. Middlesex County, Camden County, Trenton, Princeton and West Orange are in the early stages of developing Vision Zero task forces to develop plans.
..... Hoboken launched its Vision Zero initiative in January 2019. Before that, it made improvements to 25 intersections around the city, including adding traffic-calming measures such as curb extensions and high-visibility crosswalks and re-striping 9 miles of bike lanes. there have been zero traffic deaths in the city since January 2017.
..... New Jersey state Senator Patrick Diegnan and assemblyman Robert Karbinchak introduced a bill last month [07/2022] that would cerate a statewide Vision Zero task force, made up of stat transportation leaded, two elected officials and several members of the public, including someone who was inured in a traffic crash or has a family member to one. the 21-member group would develop a plan to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities and suggest changes to state, county and municipal law to improve safety, others who are involved in advocating for traffic safety initiatives, began working on traffic safety improvements after a resident form their district died after being hit by a tractor-trailer while riding his bike.
..... It' is really frightening. We're got to address it, because the numbers I think are going to continue to climb," said Diegnan, who with Karbinchak also helped write a new law mandating that drivers maintain 4 feet of road space from pedestrians and cyclists. "I have no idea why it is, but it definitely is plague-like. It;s really spreading."

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