NJDOT
sponsors Safety Conscious Planning Forum
New Brunswick – NJDOT
Commissioner Jack Lettiere kicked off
the Safety Conscious Planning forum
today in New Brunswick. The forum,
attended by federal, state and local
transportation officials is a proactive
approach for the prevention of motor
vehicle crashes and unsafe roadway conditions.
(See
photo)
“We need to put safety
as the first priority in roadway planning,”
said Commissioner Jack Lettiere.
“Governor McGreevey's Safety First program
along with other programs are making
great strides in reducing accidents
but we need to make sure these programs
continue for the long term.”
The other participating
agencies include the National Highway
Transportation Safety Administration
(NHTSA), the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA), statewide Metropolitan Planning
Organizations, county planning boards
and law enforcement agencies.
“With help from our Safe
Corridors, Safety First Teams, Crash
Prevention programs and others, we have
reduced traffic fatalities by 3% and
pedestrian fatalities by 18% in the
past year,” said Lettiere. “NJDOT
has taken a lead initiative as part
of a National Strategic Plan to reduce
even more deaths. This forum
signifies our devotion to safety and
the patient attention it needs from
all of us.”
In November 2002, Governor
McGreevey announced his “Safety First”
initiative, which combined $20 million
in highway improvements over five years,
with stricter police enforcement, increased
fines for unsafe equipment and hazardous
driving, and enhanced driver education
for all motorists.
More recently, NJDOT has
formed the Highway Safety Task Force,
the Transportation Safety Resource Center
at Rutgers University and the Task Force
on Reducing Auto Risks through Technology
.
