Route 130 to Get More Police Patrols

As part of a plan to make South Jersey more pedestrian-friendly, state officials have launched “Operation 130 Safe Passage” along a 22 ½ mile stretch of Route 130 in Burlington County.

The program is being funded with a $225,000 grant from the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety.

“This grant will primarily be used to fund high visibility police details that will crack down on drivers engaging in unsafe behaviors that threaten the safety of pedestrians. These include but are not limited to speeding, distracted and aggressive drivers and those motorists who do not stop for pedestrians in intersections,” said State Attorney General Jeff Chiesa.

The highway has been the scene of 13 pedestrian fatalities from 2007-2011 and more than 40 pedestrians were injured in motor vehicle crashes during that same period of time.

“We know that the most effective enforcement is done during high-volume, high-visibility times, like rush hours. This targeted enforcement effort lets motorists know that there is a police presence on the road and that consistent presence is what changes motoring behavior,” said Division of Highway Traffic Safety Acting Director Gary Poedubicky.