file photo by Boyd Loving
A Growing Danger for Walkers
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey’s streets have become some of the most dangerous in the nation for pedestrians, with walker fatalities hitting a 36-year high in 2024. According to New Jersey State Police, 221 pedestrians were killed in crashes last year—a staggering 29% increase from 2023.
While pedestrian deaths are rising nationwide, New Jersey’s numbers stand out. In most states, walkers account for 15-20% of traffic fatalities. In New Jersey, that figure doubles to nearly one in three. Between 2018 and 2022, more than 2,900 fatal crashes occurred, and 915 of them involved pedestrians, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
As officials scramble for solutions, a pressing question looms: What’s fueling this deadly trend, and how can it be reversed?
Why Are Pedestrian Deaths Skyrocketing?
Several key factors are contributing to the crisis:
1. Reckless Driving & Distracted Motorists
Many fatalities occur when drivers speed through crosswalks, ignore traffic signals, or get distracted by their phones. New Jersey’s dense urban environment and high-speed roadways make it even more dangerous for pedestrians.
2. Substance Use Among Walkers and Drivers
Startling new data reveals that nearly 50% of pedestrians killed in New Jersey last year had alcohol or drugs in their system—including marijuana, now legal in the state.
This raises complex concerns:
- Are impaired pedestrians unknowingly stepping into harm’s way?
- Are intoxicated drivers behind the wheel?
- Or is it a mix of both?
With nightlife hubs like Hoboken and Atlantic City buzzing late into the night, the role of substance use in pedestrian fatalities is a growing concern.
3. Poorly Designed Roads & Lack of Safe Crossings
New Jersey’s infrastructure was never built with pedestrian safety in mind. Unlike states where urban growth was gradual, New Jersey’s rapid expansion left limited space for sidewalks, safe crosswalks, and pedestrian-friendly roadways.
🚨 Danger Zones:
- Route 130 – The deadliest road for pedestrians, year after year
- Route 1 & Route 9 – Highways cutting through busy areas with few safe crossings
- Newark, Jersey City, and Paterson – Urban hotspots where speeding, jaywalking, and reckless driving create a dangerous mix
The State’s Plan to Curb Pedestrian Deaths
Recognizing the crisis, Governor Phil Murphy has launched an ambitious “Vision Zero” initiative, aiming to eliminate pedestrian fatalities by 2040.
Key strategies include:
✅ Lowering speed limits in high-risk areas
✅ Installing pedestrian-friendly traffic signals
✅ Expanding sidewalks and bike lanes
✅ Increasing penalties for drivers who fail to yield
✅ Public awareness campaigns on road safety
While these measures hold promise, critics argue that progress is too slow, and pedestrians remain at immediate risk while major infrastructure changes take years to implement.
What Can Pedestrians & Drivers Do Now?
Until large-scale reforms take effect, both walkers and motorists must take extra precautions to prevent accidents.
👣 Pedestrian Safety Tips:
✔ Use crosswalks whenever possible
✔ Stay alert—avoid texting or wearing headphones while crossing
✔ Wear bright or reflective clothing at night
✔ Make eye contact with drivers before crossing
🚗 Driver Safety Tips:
✔ Always yield to pedestrians at crosswalks
✔ Follow posted speed limits—especially in pedestrian-heavy areas
✔ Put the phone down—distracted driving kills
✔ Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol
A Deadly Crisis That Won’t Fade Overnight
New Jersey’s pedestrian safety problem won’t be fixed overnight. With poor infrastructure, reckless driving, and substance use all in play, the state faces an uphill battle in reducing fatalities.
However, with statewide initiatives, stronger traffic enforcement, and increased awareness, there’s hope that New Jersey can turn the tide and make its streets safer for everyone.
Drivers have been more insane with their antics on the road lately—– tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, blowing through stop signs, using wrong lanes. Not sure how many are under the influence or are just arrogant drivers, not caring about others on the road. Have also seen stupid pedestrians jaywalking or just crossing in front of oncoming traffic while busy on their cellphones. Don’t know what the answers are. Sometimes you just can’t fix stupid.
Giving pedestrians the right of way started the problem! Pedestrians don’t use crosswalks or just walk out in traffic, like a vehicle is supposed to stop on a dime. Many are on their phones and don’t even bother to look up.
No, making them think they have the right of way at all times and places is the problem.
They ignore don’t walk signs at controlled intersections and then give you a dirty look when you start to take a turn where YOU have the right of way.
They look you in the eye and wait until you are too close to stop before they step off the curb and into a marked crosswalk and then they give you a dirty look.
They jump out between parked vehicles mid-block when you are too close to stop and then they give you a dirty look.
But I don’t see entitled pedestrians being targets of enforcement.
The bottom line is anyone crossing the street should look both the ways common sense. And what about all these pedestrians walking out in between cars crossing the street,
That looking both ways was a thing maybe 30 years ago. If you waited for it being clear these days, you would never cross.
I’ll come to your funeral.
…and I’ll bring a friend.
Don’t drive, fly, or walk. Stay safe.
Train?
the drive to the airport is the most dangerous part of the trip
ask any insurance actuary
Cell phone usage is the main reason. Speeding is a close second. Everyday I see people looking at their phones when driving. Drive the speed limit and you are guaranteed to have someone tailgating you. No such thing as yielding. For many this means they have the right of way and go faster. I frequently see people roll through stop signs to the point where it unclear if they are even going to stop. As for pedestrians lots of poor decisions there also. The other day I saw a mother wheeling a baby stroller in the street despite there being a sidewalk.
Look before walking in the road. How hard is it.
stop speeding through town women. Yea I see more women speeding than men like 3 to 1 probably cause the cops give them a break and then pull us over the working class going like 2 mph over speed limit while lying about the radar. Yea happened to me and my brother and ofcourse the court took his money and gave him points. BS. I’m on the border of Ridgewood and Ho-ho-kus. I see middle aged women driving cars they probably didnt earn going like 40-45 into town from 17 on Franklin turnpike on the regular. Stop speeding into town. speed limits 25 over there. And stop for pedestrians at ALL Crosswalks. Fake cops. Fake leadership around here too. Just a bunch of sad people the yes sir yes mame crowd. The guys part of the go along get along gang.
It should have been the grammar police!
Both men and women are equal opportunity offenders on the road. It’s not just women. Sounds like you just want to take driving privileges away from women in general. Each to his/her own opinion.
settle down.
You might need to up your meds.
Nah its cause I walk the sidewalks everyday rain sleet snow and I see it happen everyday. If I ever do I drive slowly locally because I respect my neighbors and stop for all people at crosswalks. Start being more accountable and slow down when entering town.
If yall walked as much as me around town, you’d start picking up on these statistics like I have…its not about male or female. I just wanted to point out that women are speeding into town going 15-20 mph over in Hohokus on Franklin Turnpike and its dangerous over there cause there is a crosswalk and there are businesses on one side of the road and its pretty narrow. One of these days an accident is gonna happen.
I was waiting for Ridgewood’s Vehicular Manslaughter Social Club to weigh in on this topic and I was not disappointed.
Let’s lower the speed limit to 10mph.
Yeah. That will fix it.
Look at all the good the idiotic 25mph speed limit did …. Deaths are UP