Shifting the Mindset on Roadway Safety:
Time to Share the Road and the Responsibility

New Jersey can lay claim to quite a few superlatives. The first organized baseball game was played in Hoboken. We have more diners than any other state. The world’s tallest water tower stands in Union. And we’re the most densely populated state in the country. That last claim to fame is also one of the biggest challenges we have when it comes to roadway safety.

According to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, New Jersey has approximately 1,263 people per square mile, compared to the national average of about 94 people per square mile. Considering New Jersey is also the fourth smallest state by land area, this makes for one very compressed and crowded hive of activity in which vehicles, pedestrians, and other roadway users often find themselves in conflict – with increasingly tragic consequences.

So, how can we prevent more fatalities and injuries on our roadways? It’s going to take a collective mindset shift to move the dial. The first step in reducing crashes is increasing accountability. The ‘it’s not me, it’s them’, ‘move out of my way’ and ‘me first’ mentalities simply have no place on our roadways.

“We all share these roads, so we all have to share the responsibility for keeping each other safe,” NJDOT Commissioner Francis O’Connor said. “Every roadway user, whether driving a car, riding a motorcycle, cycling, or walking, has a role to play in preventing crashes. If more people use caution, focus on the road, and slow down, fewer people will lose their lives due to careless or distracted driving.”

The good news? Change is possible. Habits can be broken. There are actions each of us can take today that will help make safety a way of life, a movement of mutual respect. If after reading this, one driver decides to put their phone on ‘do not disturb’ when they get behind the wheel, or if one pedestrian decides to keep their eyes up, ear buds out, and phone down while walking – then the movement has begun.