New Jersey Red-light Running Fatalities On The Rise
New Jersey has seen a rise of 87.5 percent in fatal traffic accidents involving a red-light runner from 2008 to 2010. In April alone, three fatalities resulted from a reckless driver running a red light in Freehold Township, East Brunswick, and Pohatcong.
"There is a major problem on New Jersey's roadways and it needs to be addressed," said David Kelly, President and Executive Director of the National Coalition for Safer Roads. "The solution starts with tackling the root of the problem – driver behavior. Safety cameras do just that by making drivers more aware on the roadway as they approach intersections where many fatal crashes occur."
Nationwide, fatal crashes involving a red-light runner are decreasing while New Jersey fatalities continue to rise. From 2006 – 2010 there were sixty-six fatalities from red-light running crashes alone.
These shocking statistics don't just impact drivers on the roadways; New Jersey's cyclists and pedestrians who share the roads are at risk as well. In Newark alone, an estimated five hundred pedestrians are struck by a car every year.
A poll conducted in 2011 found that seventy-seven percent of New Jersey residents support the use of red-light safety cameras at busy intersections. Communities throughout the state that currently have safety camera programs in place have seen a decrease in accidents. The New Jersey Department of Transportation released data that showed crashes decreased forty-five percent at intersections with cameras and the overall cost of these crashes was reduced by an estimated $14,000 per crash.
The numbers are an indication that there is a huge issue on New Jersey's roadways when it comes to red-light running. This needs to be addressed to ensure optimal safety for cyclists, drivers, and pedestrians sharing New Jersey's roadways.