The City of Newark kicked off a month-long pedestrian safety campaign Wednesday.
The Newark Public Safety Department’s Police Division and Essex County Sheriff’s Office are partnering with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) on the Street Smart campaign.
“Everyone has a role to play in making our city’s streets safer,” said Mayor Ras Baraka, a member of the NJTPA Board of Trustees. “If you’re behind the wheel slow down and stop for people who are walking. If you’re crossing the street, use crosswalks and wait until you have the walk signal. And we need everyone to avoid distractions.”
Newark police officers were out at the intersection of Raymond Boulevard and Mulberry Street educating motorists and pedestrians about the state’s laws and their responsibilities yesterday. They will also be conducting an enforcement campaign at that intersection.
“The Newark Police Division’s participation in Street Smart Newark underscores our commitment to ensuring that pedestrians are even safer while crossing our streets,” Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said. “With a rising number of people walking while distracted by texting, talking and engaging on social media, it’s critical that increased public safety measures are provided to limit pedestrian roadway injuries.”
The Essex County Sheriff’s Office received a $50,000 grant to conduct enforcement in Newark and other parts of the county in 2018 and applied for additional funding for fiscal year 2019.
“Safety for all travelers is our highest priority in Essex County,” said Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, who represents the County on the NJTPA Board. “We’ve made important infrastructure improvements in Newark, but it is the behavior of people driving and walking that is the most critical factor in reducing crashes and fatalities. I hope you will all keep safety in mind when travelling.”