CITY OF PATERSON TO KICK OFF STREET SMART NJ CAMPAIGN

Paterson is kicking off its Street Smart NJ campaign to raise awareness about pedestrian safety in the City of Paterson and Passaic County. Street Smart NJ aims to reduce the number of pedestrian-vehicle crashes in New Jersey by combining public education and law enforcement efforts.

WHAT: Press conference kicking off the Paterson Street Smart NJ pedestrian safety campaign, which aims to reduce pedestrian-vehicle crashes.

• The Mayor, City Officials, and Paterson Police are partnering with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) and EZ Ride on a pedestrian safety campaign.
• Officials from the City of Paterson, Paterson Police Department, Passaic County, and EZ Ride which is the local Transportation Management Association will speak about their involvement in the campaign and efforts to make the streets of Paterson safer.

WHY:  New Jersey’s pedestrian fatality rate is nearly double the national average

• 564 people were killed in NJ crashes in 2018, including 173 pedestrians, according to the most recent data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That translates to about one pedestrian killed every two days in New Jersey.
• Pedestrians comprised 30 percent of all crash fatalities in 2018, nearly double the national average of 16 percent (NHTSA).
• New Jersey ranked 18^th among states in pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 people (NHTSA).
• There were 952 motor vehicle crashes involving pedestrians in Paterson from 2015-2019.These crashes resulted in 202 moderate injuries, 27 incapacitating injuries, and 14 fatalities during this time.

WHEN: Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at 11AM

WHO:

• Mayor Andre Sayegh

• Passaic County Freeholder John Bartlett
• Director Jerry Speziale, Lt. Douglas Romary, and Sgt. Lazaro Mazza, Paterson Traffic Police
• Dr. Steven Rose, President PCCC
• Councilman Luis Velez
• Deputy Director Lisa Lee, EZ Ride
• Members of the City Council

WHERE:         1 College Blvd.

Paterson, NJ