file photo by Boyd Loving
Road Warrior: 2014 safer on the road but deadlier on foot
JANUARY 12, 2015, 9:37 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015, 8:40 AM
BY JOHN CICHOWSKI
RECORD COLUMNIST |
THE RECORD
Despite all the potholes, unlit roadways and cellphone abuse that made driving a sour experience for many New Jerseyans last year, 2014 offered at least one sweet conclusion: The death count for drivers and passengers fell to its lowest level in several decades — 380 fatalities, according to preliminary state police figures. Even bicycling deaths dipped at bit to 13.
But for those traveling New Jersey roadways on foot, 2014 marked the deadliest time in 18 years. Crashes killed 172 pedestrians last year, a figure that exceeded the previous year’s pedestrian tally by more than 30 percent and accounted for more than 30 percent of all the road deaths recorded in 2014.
file photo Boyd Loving
The most hazardous county by far was Bergen with 24 pedestrian fatalities, including an on-duty special police officer killed two days after Christmas in Cliffside Park — the second fatal crash to take an officer’s life in the county last year. The county’s pedestrian death count was so large that it doubled its driver death count, a highly unusual occurrence. Walking deaths were even greater than the combined pedestrian death counts in Camden (the second-deadliest county at 18) and Passaic (five).
New Jersey’s pedestrian figure was high enough to make the state’s traffic safety chief shake his head with worry.
file photo Boyd Loving
“Very discouraging — the worst year since 1996,” said Gary Poedubicky, acting director of the state attorney general’s Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “The numbers are much too high … something we’ll have to address as soon as possible.”
Look at the way people drive in these towns it is surprising it is not more.
It’s not just the way people drive. It’s also the way people walk. I had a woman and her daughter walk right out in front of me the other day in the middle of the block with no warning and no cross walk. I almost hit both of them and I was paying attention and moving at the speed limit. She didn’t even hesitate, kept walking, and gave me a look like I was at fault. I wanted to accelerate and hit her just for the heck of it. We all know that the pedestrian has the right of way but stepping out into the street, even at a cross walk is risky. You have to pay attention and assume that the driver does not see you.
what do you mean, These Towns”????
look at the pictures above…..where were THEY taken?
Do you ever leave Ridgewood, all neighboring towns seem to have the same problem.