Global Navigation
Office of The Attorney General
The State of New Jersey Office of The Attorney General (Dept. of Law & Public Safety) The State of New Jersey NJ Home Services A to Z Departments/Agencies OAG Frequently Asked Questions
Services A to Z Departments/Agencies OAG Frequently Asked Questions
OAG Home
OAG Contact
Back to News Releases
OAG Home Attorney General's Biography
Attorney General's Biography
spacer spacer spacer
 
spacer spacer spacer
spacer spacer spacer
For Immediate Release:
For Further Information:
spacer spacer spacer

September 9, 2010

Office of The Attorney General
- Paula T. Dow, Attorney General
Division of Highway Traffic Safety
- Pam Fischer, Director

Media Inquiries-
Maureen Sczpanski
609-984-2529
Citizen Inquiries-
609-292-4925

spacer
spacer spacer spacer
spacer

As Students Return to Classrooms, Officials Reinforce Importance of School Zone Safety
New Public Awareness Materials Will Help Parents Learn
the Critical Role They Play in Ensuring their Children’s Safety

spacer
spacer spacer spacer
spacer
Click Image to View Video
View the Video: English I Spanish
spacer
spacer spacer spacer
spacer

Trenton – New public awareness and education materials, designed to reinforce the life-saving importance of school zone safety, are now available to help parents learn more about the role they play in ensuring their children get to and from school safely, Division of Highway Traffic Safety (DHTS) Director Pam Fischer announced today.

“Traffic in and around school zones can create significant hazards not only for students, but crossing guards, and school and law enforcement officials,” Fischer stated. “It’s critical for parents to recognize the dangers associated with our transportation system, particularly when it comes to the mix of vehicles and pedestrians, and make sure they set the best example for their children whether they are driving or walking them to school.”

A new, 10-minute video entitled, “School Zone – Danger Zone,” urges parents to take an active role in discussing with their children traffic safety issues that can occur in school zones. Produced by the Municipal Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund (MEL) with support from DHTS, the video highlights the importance of parents knowing and adhering to school drop off procedures, obeying (both children and parents) the instructions of school crossing guards and other officials, and serving as positive role models when behind the wheel.

Children younger than ten years of age are still developing the auditory localization skills needed to hear and anticipate on-coming traffic, making them more vulnerable when walking or bicycling. In New Jersey, from 2007 to 2009, 19 children between the ages of five and 15 lost their lives and nearly 2,000 were injured, in pedestrian/motor vehicle-related crashes. While the majority of those injured and killed were boys (64%), both boys and girls are at risk.

“The recent change to New Jersey’s pedestrian safety law, which requires motorists to stop and stay stopped for pedestrians in a marked crosswalk, can help children understand that crosswalks are safety zones,” Fischer explained, noting that “the safe walking habits they develop at an early age can last a lifetime.”

The video also provides information on the function of crossing guards, and the importance of always following their direction, as well as that provided by other school and law enforcement personnel who may be assisting children as they move in and through school zones.

“In the past decade, crashes involving school crossing guards increased nearly 65%. This is a disturbing statistic, and one that should prompt parents to pause and think about their own driving behaviors,” Fischer stated. “For instance, ask yourself, “am I driving too fast as I enter or exit the school zone?” If the answer is yes, consider this: a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling 20 mph, has a 95% chance of survival, as compared to 55% and 15%, respectively, when the vehicle is traveling 30 or 40 mph.”

“The MEL produced this program because far too many crossing guards have been injured or killed in recent years here in New Jersey,” said David N. Grubb, of the New Jersey Municipal Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund. “All of us must work as a team to calm traffic around our schools and protect the children and the crossing guards. We appreciate the help from the State Division of Highway Traffic Safety, the State Association of Chiefs of Police, the New Jersey League of Municipalities, Munich Reinsurance of Princeton, the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey, J. A. Montgomery Risk Control, and member towns who supported us in developing this program.”

The State Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is also partnering with the Division of Highway Traffic Safety to let parents know about the availability of the new video.

“The New Jersey PTA has information on its website regarding safety around our schools while parents are dropping off their children, and we have also included this in our newsletter,” said State Parent Teacher Association President Judy Hyde. “In addition, we will be providing the school zone safety video to our County PTA's for distribution to their members. The NJ PTA is an advocate for the safety of all children and is pleased to be partnering with the Division of Highway Traffic Safety on this project. We urge all parents to make school zone safety a priority.”

View the Video: English I Spanish

Parents are urged to print out this tip sheet and use it to facilitate a discussion about traffic safety with everyone in the family.

###

spacer
spacer spacer spacer
spacer
 
 
Contact OAG About OAG
OAG News OAG Frequently Asked Questions
OAG Library Employment
OAG Grants Proposed Rules
OAG History OAG Services A-Z
OAG Agencies / Programs / Units
Other News Pages Otras Noticias en Español Division of NJ State Police Division of Law News Governor's Office News Division of Highway Traffic Safety News Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Juvenile Justice Commission News Division on Civil Rights News Division of Consumer Affairs News Division of Criminal Justice News Election Law Enforcement Commission Division of Gaming Enforcement News
NJ State Police News Governor's Office News Division of Highway Traffic Safety News Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Juvenile Justice Commission News Division on Civil Rights News Division of Consumer Affairs News Division of Criminal Justice News Election Law Enforcement Commission Division of Elections News Division of Gaming Enforcement News Office of Government Integrity News

free PDF plugin

NJ State Police News Governor's Office News Division of Highway Traffic Safety News Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Juvenile Justice Commission News Division on Civil Rights News Division of Consumer Affairs News Division of Criminal Justice News Election Law Enforcement Commission Division of Elections News Division of Gaming Enforcement News Office of Government Integrity News
 
   
Contact Us | Privacy Notice | Legal Statement | Accessibility Statement
NJ Home Logo
Departmental: OAG Home | Contact OAG | About OAG | OAG News | OAG FAQs
Statewide: NJ Home | Services A to Z | Departments/Agencies | FAQs
Copyright © State of New Jersey
This page is maintained by OAG Communications. Comments/Questions: email or call 609-292-4925
OAG Home OAG Home NJ State Police News Governor's Office News Division of Highway Traffic Safety News Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Juvenile Justice Commission News Division on Civil Rights News Division of Consumer Affairs News Division of Criminal Justice News Election Law Enforcement Commission Division of Elections News Division of Gaming Enforcement News Office of Government Integrity News