On August 14, 2009, the State of New Jersey instituted a “Pedestrian Decoy Program.” The New Jersey initiative aims to spread awareness of traffic laws by enforcing the rules regarding pedestrians and motorists on New Jersey streets. Officers posing as everyday pedestrians engage in creating typical situations which would require motorists to stop or yield. When drivers do not, they are instantly pulled over by waiting traffic officers and given citations. The program was initiated by state and local authorities who were concerned over the growing number of pedestrian deaths in New Jersey.
The program does not just teach drivers to obey the rules of the road, it also forces them to consider the necessity of yielding to pedestrians regardless of whether or not pedestrians are following the rules of the road; doing so may save countless lives. The Director of New Jersey’s Division of Highway Traffic Safety has stated that the number of fatal car crashes involving pedestrians is “too high” and “unacceptable”.
Since the program’s inception in 2006, the number of fatal pedestrian auto accidents has significantly decreased. In 2006, 164 of the 771 fatal auto crashes in New Jersey involved pedestrians (21.2%). However, the following year, only 150 of 774 fatal auto accidents resulted in pedestrian death (19.3).
Pedestrian accidents in New Jersey and across our nation can be among the most severe of all traffic accidents. As there is no shield or protection from the weight and size of automobiles, these accidents very often result in catastrophic injury or death.
If you or someone you love has been involved in a traffic accident, contact the experienced New Jersey pedestrian accident attorneys at Blume Forte today for a consultation at no cost to you.
Source report: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/nj_traffic_safety_officials_st.html