Local police will be enforcing pedestrian laws throughout Burlington County and working with several partners to educate motorists and pedestrians.
Burlington County undersheriff Bryan Norcross has announced Burlington County will be participating in the “Street Smart NJ” pedestrian safety campaign aimed at reducing pedestrian-motor vehicle accidents in New Jersey.
“The Street Smart NJ campaign is a collaborative effort between public, private and non-profit organizations,” Norcross said. “Local police will be enforcing pedestrian laws throughout Burlington County and working with several partners to educate motorists and pedestrians.”
Burlington County Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio also commented on the program, saying he wanted to commend the sheriff’s department for bringing this initiative to Burlington County.
“New Jersey is currently ranked sixth in the nation in pedestrian fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,” Garganio said.
According to Norcross, street signs, posters, tip cards and other educational materials will be posted throughout the community. Additionally, street teams — groups of professionals and volunteers — will be distributing safety tips at busy intersections.
“In addition, we’ll be interacting with motorists to make sure they know and obey the law to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk,” Norcross said. “We’ll also be reminding pedestrians to use crosswalks and cross at intersections rather than jaywalk.”
According to Norcross, officers will also address speeding and distracted driving, which often contribute to crashes involving pedestrians.
The statewide Street Smart NJ campaign is managed by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) and began in 2013. The campaign urges pedestrians and motorists to “Check Your Vital Signs” to improve safety on the road.
Businesses, organizations and individuals interested in helping to promote the Street Smart NJ message in Burlington County should contact the sheriff’s department at (609) 265–5127. To learn more about the campaign, visit bestreetsmartnj.org. The campaign is also on Facebook (StreetSmartNJ) and Twitter (@njstreetsmart).
