Pedestrian safety stressed by Lawrence advisory panel

   The Lawrence Township Public Safety Advisory Committee in conjunction with the Lawrence Township Police Department has issued a statement about back to school and pedestrian safety. Below are portions of that statement:
   Often pedestrian safety is taken for granted until an unfortunate mishap occurs. It is a topic that affects all walks of life, but in particular children and the elderly. With this in mind now is a good time to review some of the common factors often forgotten during people’s busy lives.
   According to the latest statistics provided by the New Jersey State Police, a total of 166 New Jersey pedestrians were killed in traffic collisions in 2006. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2006, 39 percent of pedestrian accidents that resulted in death occurred between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Many cases involve children on their way home from school. Seventy-nine percent of all crashes involving pedestrians occur at non-intersections. NHTSA adds that a fatal pedestrian traffic crash occurs every 110 minutes in the United States and a pedestrian is injured every nine minutes.
   We can make children safer by ensuring they follow some basic rules.
   • Cross only at a corner or in a marked crosswalk.
   • Follow the directions of traffic signals or signs.
   • Look left, right, left again and listen for traffic before crossing the street.
   • Remain alert! Don’t assume that cars see you or they are going to stop.
   • Walk only on sidewalks. In areas with no sidewalks, walk as far off the roadway as possible. Remember to walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic.
   • Wear bright and/or reflective clothing at night or in bad weather conditions.
   • Never cross in-between parked cars.
   • Use the buddy system. Walk and cross with others when possible.
   • Children should play in safe areas, not on driveways or sidewalks near the road.
   Motorists can make children safer by following the laws of the road such as:
   • Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
   • Obey the speed limits.
   • Do not block or park in crosswalks.
   • Watch for pedestrians when turning right on a red traffic signal.
   • Keep your windshield clean for maximum visibility.
   • Do not pass a vehicle stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross.
   • Leave a few minutes earlier to prevent rushing, which can distract drivers.
   • Motorists must also use caution around stopped school buses, because this is another area of danger for young pedestrians. It is illegal to pass a school bus picking up or dropping off students. Be prepared to stop on their signal. Wait and obey their direction to turn or resume driving. Even when the bus turns off its flashing lights, drivers must remember that children may still be near the bus and their visibility may be blocked by its size. Children don’t always think ahead, so you must drive with care.
   All newly licensed drivers regardless of their age are required to obtain a provisional driver’s license for a period of one year prior to obtaining a basic driver’s license. Many of these newly licensed drivers will be driving to school for the first time this school year. These drivers who have been issued a provisional driver’s license and their parents are reminded of the laws associated with this classification of driving privileges:
   • Provisional drivers under 21 shall operate a vehicle with only one additional passenger in the vehicle besides those persons with whom the license holder resides.
   • Provisional drivers under 21 shall not drive during the hours of 12:01 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless an actual emergency as determined by the local police exists or they are engaged in employment or a religion related activity and the employer or religious authority provides written verification of such in a manner provided for by the director of Motor Vehicles.
   • The provisional driver shall not use any interactive wireless communication device; this includes talking or listening as well as operating the keys, buttons or other controls.
   • Provisional drivers shall also ensure that all persons in the vehicle are secured in a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt or child restraint system.
   Crossing guards are an important extension of public safety. These trained professionals are posted at busy intersections near our schools and make sure children cross the street safely. Crossing guards are equipped with high visibility safety vests, hand held stop signs and traffic safety cones to make sure the intersections are even safer. Obey their directions, it’s the law.
       Citizens who observe pedestrian safety concerns or just have questions regarding the topic should contact the Lawrence Township Police Department at 609-896-1111.
   Meetings of the Public Safety Advisory committee are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Meetings are held in the Manager’s Conference Room located in Town Hall and are open to the public.