Safety report card says NJ needs speed cameras to reduce highway traffic deaths

Safety report card says NJ needs speed cameras to reduce highway traffic deaths

An annual report that ranks every state by whether or not or not sure security legal guidelines are on the books, from teen driver training requirements to drunk driving, has added a brand new benchmark – automated rushing enforcement.

The 2023 Roadmap to Security report revealed yearly by Highway and Automobile Safety Advocates states whether or not they have legal guidelines that permit pace and crimson mild cameras and whether or not they’re used. The report will likely be broadcast and mentioned throughout a live-streamed occasion on Tuesday morning.

Including automated digicam enforcement provisions gave New Jersey a slightly worse ranking than the January report as a result of it doesn’t have the seven security legal guidelines required by the group.

New Jersey was amongst 36 states with yellow or “alert rankings for legal guidelines the state says are lacking.” Final 12 months, New Jersey was one in every of 31 states on the “yellow” listing.

New Jersey legislation prohibits the usage of pace cameras. The report mentioned 23 states have legal guidelines permitting automated inspection, and that some type of video surveillance is in use in 19 states. A pilot program utilizing crimson mild cameras at sure intersections in New Jersey led to December 2014.

Advocates are “an alliance of client, medical, public well being, legislation enforcement, security teams and insurance coverage firms and brokers working to enhance highway security,” in keeping with its web site.

“We’ve got lengthy supported the usage of automated enforcement techniques,” mentioned Tara Gill, Advocates’ senior director of advocacy and state laws. “There is a super quantity of analysis exhibiting that they are efficient and slower pace and associated crashes, deaths and accidents.”

Gill cited the rise in deadly crashes and the rise of rushing for the reason that coronavirus pandemic as causes so as to add automated pace management to its guidelines.

Speed ​​is one of the three issues USDOT has identified “As the largest contributor to the rise in deaths over the previous few years,” he mentioned.

Velocity ​​has been among the many prime 4 components in deadly crashes for the previous seven years. According to the State Police’s annual fatal accident analysis. Numerous security teams, together with the Governor’s Freeway Security Affiliation and the AAA, have known as for increasing automated pace enforcement.

Each the Federal Freeway Administration and the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration they are preparing a program to fund the pilot auto and other speed enforcement grants in communities. In keeping with USDOT, this joint program is scheduled to be prepared in 2024.

Driver advocates mentioned drivers had been cautious of safety cameras, together with some who had been lured in with faux subpoenas throughout the state’s crimson mild digicam program.

“This so-called freeway security advocacy group, began by for-profit insurers, continues the political sport of utilizing ranking standards to advance its personal agenda, which has been brazenly resisted or rejected partially or in entire by the vast majority of states,” mentioned Steve Carrellas. , director of state coverage for the Nationwide Drivers Affiliation.

State’s crimson mild digicam program Ended on December 16, 2014 When crimson mild cameras at 73 intersections in 24 counties had been formally shut down on the finish of a 5-year pilot program. Cities signed a contract with one of many two crimson mild digicam firms.

The State Division of Transportation would analyze the information and produce a report recommending that the digicam program be continued, terminated, or modified. A ultimate report and advice to the state legislature had been by no means revealed.

This system went into decline in June 2012. Of the 85 red light cameras in New Jersey, 63 were untested. guarantee correct timing of amber lights in accordance with the legislation establishing the pilot program. This system has been suspended in 21 counties till the yellow mild period is accepted.

In December 2012, contractor Automated Visitors Options needed to refund a complete of US$4.2 million to 500,000 drivers who bought tickets at 18 red-light camera-controlled intersections the place yellow mild instances weren’t accepted.

In August 2014, State Court orders towns to discard 17,000 camera-generated tickets as a result of a digicam firm did not subpoena drivers till a 90-day deadline to take action.

Different criticisms of this system embody cameras incorrectly giving tickets to drivers who make a authorized proper flip at a crimson mild, which drivers declare are inflated statistics.

“With the addition of automated inspection, they’re now pushing one other know-how that’s universally despised by drivers, unsuccessful and ineffective – however worthwhile for insurers,” Carrellas mentioned. “Any low or failing state grade on this ‘blackmail’ criterion must be thought-about a badge of honor.”

Followers mentioned the cameras had a constructive impact by lowering red-light passing and the ensuing extreme “T-bone” bumps.

Gill mentioned the Advocates’ suggestions have a two-step data-driven guidelines for implementing cameras, which incorporates correctly set yellow mild instances and pace limits, and posting these limits, primarily based on Federal Freeway Administration suggestions and apply.

Along with auto-enforcement legal guidelines, the state additionally doesn’t have a primary-enforcement rear seat belt legislation. A subpoena can now be issued provided that the automobile is stopped for one more violation. New Jersey additionally wants a legislation that requires youngsters to sit down within the again seat till they’re 12 years outdated after they develop out of the booster seat.

Whereas the state was one of many first to enact a graded driver’s license legislation for younger drivers, it nonetheless lacks three legal guidelines that meet advocates’ suggestions mandating evening driving, transporting different passengers, and 70 hours of supervised driving.

The state has a 11pm-5am teen curfew and laws limiting teenagers to having a non-family occupant in a automobile.

Two payments mandating 50-hour work are pending in state legislature who did not clear the committees. In October, AAA and Lawyers sent a joint letter to the state legislature He needs the state senate and legislature to go payments. They signed a letter from 15 teams calling for the repeal of two payments that may forestall the state from disclosing the knowledge of New Jersey driver’s license holders to different states in search of to subject pace digicam or crimson mild digicam tickets.

In different classes, New Jersey ranks properly (‘inexperienced’ ranking) for legal guidelines outlawing textual content messaging whereas driving and restrictions in opposition to younger drivers utilizing hand-held units, and legal guidelines banning open containers of alcohol and mandating ignition locks for all DUI offenders. .

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Larry Higgs may be reached at: lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.

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