The Lakewood Police Department on Sunday held the first of several “Cops in Crosswalks” operation, in an effort to crackdown on vehicles who violated the “Stopping/Yielding for persons in the crosswalk” law.
In the course of four hours on Sunday afternoon, three officers stopped 52 vehicles who were violating the law in the area of Clifton Avenue and Third Street.
Although this was an educational detail, some summonses were issued and one vehicle was impounded for Expired Registration and not having valid insurance.
The crackdown, which was done in conjunction with the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety, was part of a larger Pedestrian Safety Campaign, which will also include radar enforcement campaigns.
“We are focusing this operation around education, and aiming to teach residents about pedestrian rights and laws to prevent pedestrian involved crashes this month, and beyond,” Lakewood Police Captain Greg Staffordsmith said in a statement.
“Additionally we have Lakewood Township officers conducting radar enforcement campaigns to further reassure that distracted and unsafe driving has no place in the township,” he added.
The Department has also collaborated with Safe Streets NJ and has on hand educational brochures for the public. These brochures will remind drivers of the need to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Citing officers provided these brochures to drivers who were stopped.
Violators were stopped and given a citation or verbal warning. Citing officers took into account the violator’s speed and the proximity of the pedestrian to the violator’s vehicle.
Between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2021, there were 31,587 Pedestrian/Bicyclist involved crashes in the State of New Jersey. 2,894 were fatalities.
In Lakewood Township, there were 574 Pedestrian/Bicyclist involved crashes with 32 of them being fatal.
For the coming months, the “Cops in Crosswalks” operation, will take place at dozens of locations throughout the township. Residents of Lakewood Township should feel safe crossing our streets with their families. It is our goal that this initiative will educate drivers and residents alike.
Could you imagine how many it would be of crackdown was on obeying stop signs ?!
*if
We could pay off the school district’s debt if they did that !
Please! Prospect and Summer/Capital!
Not sure why parents let, but there are kids crossing there every day to go to Toras Aharon.
Really need a crackdown on corners hugging parkers. So dangerous up & down Forest Avenue.
would be more beneficial if they started ticketed cars parked at corners. You can’t even see pedestrians in crosswalks if you have parked cars obstructing the drivers view of the beginning of the crosswalk!
It’s about time!
Can someone please explain this law to me.
I have seen someone leisurely walk across route 9, not at a traffic light, but there were crosswalk lines. He was getting annoyed at the cars not stopping for him, and he was pointing to the crosswalk symbols as he crossed.
Just to understand this law, a semi highway road which is 40 to 50 miles per hour, the cars are supposed to just come to a stop anytime a pedestrian puts his foot in the road?
Ever heard of the sign “YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS” ?
Pedestrians safety comes first
Sure I have heard of it, that why I think pedestrians should cross by lights! My question is why is that safe to allow them to cross and any intersection in the middle of a busy highway.
Even J-walking on Route 9 where higher speed limits prevail? Meaning just slam on your brakes to accomodate a Jay-walker??
Please go to this link to understand.
https://www.nj.gov/oag/hts/pedestrian.html#:~:text=The%20driver%20of%20a%20vehicle,is%20being%20regulated%20by%20police
It might be a good idea for officers to not block the crosswalk when stopping vehicles for crosswalk violations.
Same thought: Cops blocking the crosswalk while ticketing someonr for a crosswalk violation, lol
First enforce the laws that make sense & then enforce the laws that don’t make so much sense. This is an easy way to bring in revenue but doesn’t help the main problems our town streets are dealing with. Running stop signs & redlights, speeding, illegal passing, illegal parking at street corners. That’s real policing.
they are not issuing fines. they are warning and educating. that’s real policing.
Why is a crosswalk necessary when there is a traffic light on Second Street and Fourth Street?
Recently I slowed down and stopped for someone crossing at a crosswalk on forest ave. The lunatic behind me honked ne and then proceeded to pass me on the left! I saw what was about to potentially happen. Only because I slammed on my horn scaring the daylights out of the pedestrian did he stop walking. The lunatic kept going. Must’ve been late for lunch with the wife. This law might just end up getting someone killed c’v.