Fatal Jitney Crash In NJ Leads To Legislative Action

Last month, an 8-month-old baby was tragically killed by a falling lamppost in West New York, N.J. Authorities say the lamppost was knocked over because it was his hit by a jitney driver who was using his cell phone at the time.

This Monday morning, the Assembly Transportation Committee will hold a public hearing in Hoboken to discuss jitney safety.

A jitney is a type of public transportation that is a combination of a private taxi and a public bus. Drivers are supposed to be licensed, but some are not.

The panel will hear testimony Monday from invited guests and the public on jitney safety. The committee will also consider a bill to increase insurance requirements on operators of autobuses and require drivers of autobuses to have a commercial driver license.

The hearing is slated for 10 a.m. at the Stevens Institute of Technology’s Howe Center at 1 Castle Point Terrace in Hoboken. It will be held in the Bissenger Room on the 4^th Floor.