Are lawmakers doing enough to protect pedestrians from New Jersey motorists in congested downtown areas? A recent article suggests more needs to be done.
In this particular case, two male pedestrians were struck in Bayonne, New Jersey on a recent Monday evening around 11:15 p.m. The men were struck while trying to cross the four-lane intersection of Route 440 and 32nd Street. The highway is a busy route to commuters and residents in Bayonne and Jersey City, as well as surrounding residents in New York City and Newark. Yet at that particular intersection, there is a shopping center on the other side of Route 440.
The story profiled the comments of several local residents, all who expressed sympathy but not surprise over the fatal tragedy. Comments generally expressed concern about the scary prospect of crossing a highway with speeding motorists, as well as the short 38-second walk signal for crossing the four lanes. In this instance, the car that struck the two men was allegedly traveling over 100 miles per hour. The posted speed limit is only 40 miles per hour.
A law firm that focuses on personal injury and wrongful death claims might be able to bring some sense of justice to the surviving family members, but more needs to be done. Many residents agree and have signed a petition calling on local lawmakers to build pedestrian bridges over the busy highway.
According to local data, the two men have brought the pedestrian fatality count this year in Hudson County up to 16. Another sobering statistic is that New Jersey ranks 14th in the nation for pedestrian fatalities. Across the state, 402 pedestrians were killed between 2009 and 2011, and another 13,000 were injured.
Source: nj.com, “After tragedy, Bayonne residents urge officials to build pedestrian bridge over Route 440,” Jonathan Lin, Nov. 4, 2015