Hackettstown Pedestrian Safety Campaign Takes Another Step Forward

Hackettstown officials will reveal Wednesday the new pedestrian signage for Main Street and Mountain Avenue as part of the town's pedestrian safety initiative.

Mayor Maria DiGiovanni, a member of the North Jersey Transportation Authority, Sgt. Darren Tynan and other local officials will gather Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. at the corner of Main and Moore streets.

Officials will discuss how Hackettstown is launching the first statewide pedestrian safety education campaign and will reveal the new pedestrian signage, which was provided by Mars Chocolate North America, one of the town's pedestrian safety partners. Other campaign partners will also be announced Wednesday.

Hackettstown is one of five municipalities selected to participate in the statewide pedestrian safety education campaign pilot program to address the high rate of pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes in New Jersey, which is double the national average, Tynan said.

Between 2009 and 2011, 402 pedestrians were killed and more than 13,000 injured statewide, Tynan said. During that same time period in Hackettstown, 26 pedestrians were struck by motor vehicles resulting in one death and 25 injuries, Tynan said.

The pedestrian safety education campaign is branded “Be Street Smart” and urges pedestrians and motorists to “Check Your Vital Signs” to improve your safety on the road. The vital signs for motorists are “obey posted speed limits” and “stop for pedestrians in crosswalks” and “use crosswalks” and “wait for the walk signal” for pedestrians.

Hackettstown police issued 48 warnings to drivers who failed to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks and handed out 17 tickets for cell phone and moving violations during the first phase of the campaign on Sept. 18. Police then issued a total of 31 tickets in the second phase a week later.