Although the fatalities of pedestrians and bicyclists were down in New Jersey, Bergen was one of the was top three counties suffering fifteen fatalities last year. Kate Slevin, of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, noted that many of those hit and killed throughout the State were senior citizens.
Many of those hit and killed throughout the state were senior citizens, said Slevin, who noted pedestrians 65 years and older were more than twice as likely to die in a traffic accident. Nationally, people over 65 years of age suffer from a pedestrian fatality rate of 2.93 per 100,000. In New Jersey, the rate is 3.72.
There are many variables that make the Bergen area more dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists. Obvious areas where drivers should use caution is on winding roads and those without sidewalks: this combination can be extremely dangerous, especially during the dusk hours when folks may be taking an evening constitutional.
Rapid changes in traffic patterns can be an added danger to senior citizens who can easily recall a time when local roads were not clogged – and folks did not talk on the phone while driving. NJ now requires drivers to use a hands-free cell phone, but this does not address the problem. The distraction comes from speaking on the phone which is completely different from speaking to people in the car. A passenger has a vital interest in seeing that the driver performs well and can adjust their conversation according to changes in the traffic pattern, and can even be an extra set of eyes and ears on the road. A person on the other end of a cell phone is unaware of the driver’s circumstances, and is a distraction. Residents are encouraged to use caution and restrict cell phone use while driving- a momentary distraction can cost someone their life.
The Tri-State Transportation Committee says there were 162 pedestrians and bicyclists fatalities last year. That’s lower than the 178 in 2006, but still higher than the 145 killed back in 1997. Preliminary year-end statistics show traffic fatalities in total are at a 20-year low. The 2007 statewide total of 718 is 56 less than 2006, which equates to a seven-percent decrease. The New Jersey State Police continue to advise local law enforcement to maintain vigilance on drunk driving; although the numbers are down, it remains a leading cause of traffic fatalities.