The Street Smart NJ campaign is a collaborative effort between public, private and non-profit organizations and comes at a significant time. New Jersey is ranked 15th in the nation in pedestrian fatalities in 2015, according to a recent report from The Governor’s Highway Safety Association. Street Smart NJ program aims to change that.
Street Smart NJ is a public awareness and behavioral change pedestrian safety campaign. Since its creation in 2013, more than 140 communities have participated in Street Smart NJ. Street Smart NJ emphasizes educating drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists through mass media, as well as targeted enforcement. Police officers focus on engaging and educating, rather than simply issuing citations. Street Smart NJ complements but doesn’t replace, other state and local efforts to build safer streets and sidewalks, enforce laws and train better roadway users. The campaign is coordinated by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) and is supported by federal and state funds, with additional funding/in-kind contributions from local partners, including the state’s eight Transportation Management Associations.
KMM will be implementing programs across Middlesex County. To learn more or to implement the program in your community, email programs@kmm.org or visit BeStreetSmartNJ.
In Middlesex County:
New Brunswick– In March 2020, New Brunswick Police, along with officials from Middlesex County and KMM, distributed safety tip cards to motorists and pedestrians around the intersection at Easton Avenue and Somerset Street. This part of the city sees heavy vehicle and pedestrian activity due to the close proximity to RWJ Barnabas, Rutgers University, and the Northeast corridor train station.
Milltown – The Borough of Milltown, led by Councilwoman Doriann Kerber conducted a Street Smart NJ pedestrian safety education campaign aimed at reducing pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes in and around Milltown during the month of May 2018. This was a joint educational outreach from the Milltown Police Department and DPW Department to partner with others on this safety campaign.
East Brunswick- In December 2017, Mayor Brad Cohen of East Brunswick along with KMM conducted a Street Smart pedestrian safety campaign aimed at increasing awareness and education in busy shopping centers. A 2016 report by NHTSA showed there are more than 500 deaths every year in parking lots d that number increases during the holiday shopping season beginning around Black Friday.
Woodbridge – In 2016, NJTPA selected Woodbridge Township as one of eight initial focus communities for Street Smart. In 2019, Woodbridge Township again participated in the educational campaign selecting Main Street and Eleanor Place near the railroad overpass, as the focus intersection. Main Street is a county road that runs through the downtown shopping district of the municipality. This portion of Woodbridge is very walkable due to the many shops, restaurants, schools, and NJ Transit North Jersey Coastline station.
Metuchen– Along with Woodbridge Township, the Borough of Metuchen was named one of eight initial focus communities for Street Smart in 2016. Metuchen is a donut community surrounded by the Township of Edison, with state highway NJ-27, running directly through the borough. Since the initial Street Smart campaign, the borough was successful in reducing the speed limit on municipal and county roadways from 35 to 25 mph.
