New Jersey Safe Passing Law


Happy 2024! A new year brings with it new possibilities, like the opportunity to reduce crash fatalities on our roadways. According to the 2023 NJ State Police Fatal Crash Statistics  172 pedestrians and 23 cyclists were killed on New Jersey’s roadways last year. That means 195 families were left with at least one empty seat at their holiday gatherings due to these preventable deaths.

The New Jersey Safe Passing law, also called Oscar’s Law after Oscar Zanoni, a 44 year old Metuchen resident that was fatally killed by a tractor trailer on Rt. 27 in Edison, went into effect on March 1, 2022. The law aims to prevent injuries and fatalities caused by motor vehicle crashes with bicyclists, pedestrians, and other road users. This year, we are asking all motorists to help keep everyone safe by following these common sense rules:

 

  • Drivers must move over a lane (if there’s one to move into) while following all current no-passing and no speeding laws.
  • On a single-lane road, drivers must provide a distance of at least 4 feet to safely pass a vulnerable road user.
  • If 4 feet is not possible, drivers must slow to 25 mph and be prepared to stop until they can pass safely without endangering those sharing the road.

 

Drivers who are caught violating the law will receive a $100 fine (causing bodily injury results in a $500 fine and 2 motor vehicle points).

You can hear the story of how the NJ Safe Passing law was implemented, by checking out our Mobility Matters podcast interview with Metuchen Borough Council President, Jason Delia.

Together we can make 2024 the safest year ever for pedestrians, cyclists, and all road users!

 

Additional resource and information about the NJ Safe Passing Law can be found at the following links:

NJ Statute 39:4-92.4

NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety

NJ Bicycle Pedestrian Resource Center at Rutgers University

NJ Bike Walk Coalition

Metuchen Man’s Death Spurs Pedestrian Safety Legislation

 

New Brunswick Ciclovia Did it Again!

Our super nurse volunteers (courtesy Diana Starace, Safe Kids  Middlesex County)
Our super nurse volunteers                                                       (courtesy Diana Starace, Safe Kids Middlesex County)

KMM and Safe Kids Middlesex County (based at the Level 1 Trauma Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital) teamed up again to distribute free bicycle helmets and challenge kid’s bike safety skills at New Brunswick Ciclovia.

The third city-wide open streets event of this year took place on Sunday, October 12th. Four volunteers from the nursing program at New Jersey City University helped us fit helmets on heads, explain the importance of helmet use to kids and parents, and guide children through a short skill course.

Riding the course (courtesy Veronica Torres)
Riding the course (courtesy Veronica Torres)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to all the families that came out on this beautiful day!