By Ruth Luse, Packet Publications
A state law that took effect April 1, 2010 recently became a hot topic on a well-known New Jersey radio talk show.
Callers from all over the state told tales about traffic tickets they had received from police for violations of the state statute that require drivers to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians under certain conditions.
”Our officers have recently been active enforcing this law in Hopewell Borough because of complaints that we have received about motorists not stopping for pedestrians, particularly on Broad Street,” said Hopewell Township police Chief George Meyer.
Hopewell Township police have been providing police coverage to Hopewell Borough via interlocal agreements since the early 1980s.
”We enforce New Jersey’s motor vehicle laws every day,” said Hightstown Borough police Chief James Eufemia Thursday. “I have seen motorists stopping and yielding to pedestrians throughout town. It seems that drivers are more aware, and are taking extra time to look out for pedestrians crossing the street.”
In Pennington Borough — which also has a considerable amount of pedestrian traffic in its downtown area — borough police, are enforcing the law and will continue to do so in the manner they always have, according to Police Director William Meytrott.
According to Chief Meyer, the law says:
— Motorists must stop and remain stopped for pedestrians crossing a street in a crosswalk.
— Motorists must yield to a pedestrian crossing a street at an intersection where there is no crosswalk.
— However they (motorists) do not have to stop if the intersection is controlled by a traffic light (or a police officer directing traffic). That means that if a motorist has a green light and a pedestrian is crossing against the green the motorist does not have to stop or yield (in that example, the pedestrian is at fault for crossing illegally). If the pedestrian is crossing with the green a turning vehicle does need to yield to the pedestrian.
— A pedestrian should not suddenly step out in front of an approaching car where the driver would not have time to safely stop for the pedestrian.
— Pedestrians crossing a street at a location other than in a crosswalk, or at an intersection where there is no crosswalk, must yield to traffic.
According to the statute, failure to stop could result is a $200 (court costs additional) fine, a two-point license penalty, 15 days community service, and insurance surcharges.
Of each fine imposed and collected, “$100 shall be forwarded to the state treasurer who shall annually deposit the money into the “Pedestrian Safety Enforcement and Education Fund,” created by section 1 of PL 2005, c 84 (C.39:4-36.2)
HOWEVER, pedestrians also have responsibilities for their own safety.
They must obey pedestrian signals and use crosswalks at signalized intersections. If they are found in violation of the law, they face fines of $54 (court costs additional).
Pedestrians should:
— Always cross at corners, within marked crosswalks where available.
— If crossing in other locations, yield the right of way to vehicles.
— Look left, right and left again before crossing. Watch for turning cars.
— Always walk facing traffic.
— Obey traffic signals, especially “Walk/Don’t Walk.”
— Remain alert! Don’t assume cars are going to stop.
— Wear reflective clothing when walking at night.
— Stay sober. Walking while impaired greatly increases chances of being struck.
“New Jersey experiences a disproportionate number of pedestrian injury crashes and fatalities compared to the nation as a whole,” the statute says. To combat the problem, the Division of Highway Traffic Safety assists local and county agencies in the development of comprehensive pedestrian safety programs involving education, enforcement and engineering.
”The education component of the pedestrian program involves getting the pedestrian safety message to all members of the community, with a special emphasis on three high-risk groups: children, senior citizens and non-English speaking residents.
”The enforcement component involves targeted police patrols at high pedestrian-crash locations in the community. During these patrols warnings and summonses are issued to motorists and pedestrians whose actions put pedestrians at risk. Stop for pedestrian and jaywalking laws are emphasized.”
For more details on this law, see: www.state.nj.us/lps/hts/pedestrian.html.