LONGPORT – The Longport Police Department will be participating in the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety 2023 Summer Shore Pedestrian Awareness education/enforcement campaign that runs through Aug. 14.
The borough Police Department received a $5,250 grant for its Summer Shore Pedestrian Awareness campaign.
The personal, physical, and environmental benefits of walking can lead to healthier, quieter, cleaner, and safer streets, improve local economies and enhance social and community engagement, leading to more vibrant, resilient and livable spaces, a release stated.
When drivers maintain safe speeds and practice other safe driving behaviors, safer walking environments are created. The enforcement component involves targeted police patrols at high-risk crash locations. Distracted driving, impairment and speed are just a few of the infractions that will be enforced.
In 2020, there were 6,516 pedestrians killed in the U.S. That’s 18 pedestrians a day and 125 pedestrians a week. On average, a pedestrian was killed every 81 minutes and injured every 10 minutes in traffic crashes in 2020. In 2021, 7,388 pedestrians were killed – a 13% increase from 2020 – and more than 60,000 pedestrians were injured nationwide. New Jersey experiences a disproportionate number of pedestrian injury crashes and fatalities compared to the nation as a whole.
For more information regarding pedestrian laws, see https://njbikeped.org/pedestrian-laws/
