The Borough of Hawthorne launched a year-long Street Smart NJ campaign, bringing to 314 the number of Street Smart NJ partners across New Jersey, including the 10th in Passaic County.
“StreetSmart NJ is a statewide initiative aimed at reducing pedestrian injuries and fatalities through education, community outreach, and targeted enforcement,” Mayor John V. Lane said. “This effort encourages both drivers and pedestrians to follow the rules of the road, stay alert, and make safe choices to help create safer streets for everyone.”
The campaign will concentrate on several intersections that are near railroad tracks, parking, and local businesses that have experienced a number of pedestrian and vehicle crashes:
- Diamond Bridge Avenue and Grand Avenue
- Diamond Bridge and Lafayette Avenue
- Lafayette Avenue and Warburton Avenue
EZ Ride, the Transportation Management Association (TMA) serving Passaic County, will manage the local campaign and work with the municipality, schools, and community partners to educate and distribute safety information.
“Street Smart NJ gives us an opportunity to focus on the everyday actions that can prevent serious crashes and save lives,” EZ Ride President and CEO Krishna Murthy said at a news conference on September 22 at the Louis Bay 2nd Public Library on Lafayette Avenue. “By working with Hawthorne to reinforce safe driving, walking and bicycling behaviors, we can help make safety part of every trip and ensure that everyone who uses our roads can do so safely.”
Pedestrian safety is a concern nationwide, but it is particularly important in New Jersey. On average, one pedestrian is killed every two days in New Jersey, and twelve are injured daily.
Street Smart NJ, created by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) in 2013, is a statewide public awareness and behavioral change campaign that emphasizes educating drivers and pedestrians through mass media outreach, grassroots engagement, and targeted enforcement that brings together public, private, and non-profit organizations. The campaign reminds people that everyone has a role in making streets safer. Street Smart NJ is one of many initiatives working to reach zero pedestrian fatalities, and more than 300 communities and organizations have participated in the program.
Passaic County Commissioner and NJTPA Board of Trustee Michael Ramaglia joined a number of officials at last week’s press conference to unveil the campaign, including Lane, Acting Police Chief Joseph Carr, Suzanne Paletta of the Hawthorne Senior Center, Hawthorne Sgt. Anthony DeLallo, School Superintendent Matthew Mignanelli, and Senior Director of Sustainability Programs Lisa Lee of EZ Ride, the Transportation Management Association (TMA) serving Passaic County. View the campaign kickoff press conference below:
Street Smart uses public education and enforcement to promote safety travel behavior by people driving as well as walking. It was coordinated in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety (NJDHTS). Other critical partners and advocates include the state’s eight TMAs and organizations like BIANJ, AAA, Safe Kids NJ, and others. The campaign complements, but doesn’t replace, other state and local efforts to build safer streets and sidewalks, enforce laws, and train better road users.
Communities and organizations are invited to use the strategies and materials on Street Smart NJ’s website to create their own campaigns. There are several tools available to communities interested in launching a campaign including a Campaign Planning Checklist and a How to Guide. Communities can also download campaign materials, such as logos, posters, tip cards, and other resources to support pedestrian and bicycle safety initiatives. The Social Media Tools page on the Street Smart site offers sample social media posts that communities can share with their constituencies.
To learn more about the Street Smart NJ brand, message, and our work, contact Will Yarzab, Street Smart NJ coordinator, at [email protected]