New pedestrian laws in effect
By ROBERT LINNEHAN
The Cherry Hill Sun
4/11/2010

State representatives and local authorities ushered a new law into the state to help improve the safety for pedestrians throughout New Jersey. Effective April 1, motorists must fully stop – not yield – at designated crosswalks for pedestrians who are attempting to cross the roadway.

Pam Fischer, director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, introduced the new law in front of the Cherry Hill West High School last Wednesday. It’s an update of a more than 50-year-old statute which said that motorists must yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk. Most motorists don’t understand the nebulous definition of “yield,” she said, and now must fully stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk.

Motorists violating the new law face a $200 fine, plus court costs, and two points on their license. They can also be subject to 15 days of community service and insurance surcharges, the director said. Hopefully this new law will help reduce injuries and fatalities for pedestrians throughout the state.

“While the numbers are once again moving in the right direction, even one life lost is one too many,” Fischer said. “Until we achieve zero fatalities, we must educate both pedestrians and motorists about the importance of remaining alert at all times, and taking personal responsibility for their actions.”

Pedestrians crossing roadways that aren’t in a designated crosswalk are also subjected to a $54 fine if they don’t give motorists the right of way, Fischer said.

According to Mayor Bernie Platt this new law will be a top priority within Cherry Hill, putting motorists and pedestrians on notice.

“Here in Cherry Hill, we have hundreds of miles of roadway. Many of these streets and highways carry high-volume traffic; most are lined with residences, businesses, schools, or parks. And several have been the scene of horrible accidents involving pedestrians and vehicles that resulted in serious injuries or fatalities,” Platt said.

Putting a face to the new law were Joel Feldman and Dianne L. Anderson, whose daughter Casey Feldman was struck and killed by a distracted motorist last July when she was crossing a street in Ocean City.

The outgoing and loving girl was crossing the street to get to her job on the boardwalk in the beach community, Dianne said, when a distracted motorist blew through a crosswalk and killed her. The driver was reaching for a cup of iced tea he had placed in the passenger side cup holder, she said, and took his eyes off the road for just a few moments.

The driver was only fined $200 and charged $30 in court costs for the fatality, Dianne said.

Hopefully this new law will help reduce fatalities in the state, Joel said, and educate motorists about the dangers of distracted driving. He presented Platt with a red wrist band, a band that he said the couple distributes to drivers throughout New Jersey to remind them of their daughter. Hopefully drivers look at the band when they get into the motor vehicles, he said, and are reminded of Casey and the dangers of distracted driving.

“Hopefully, as a result of this new law and this awareness, we won’t be writing or reading anymore pedestrian fatality stories in our newspapers,” he said.

It only takes a second with a driver’s eyes off the road for a tragedy to occur, Joel said.

In 2009 pedestrian fatalities in the state increased to 157 after a three-year decline. As of March 26 of this year, Fischer said 28 pedestrians have been killed in motor vehicle-related crashes, as compared to 48 for the same time period last year.