Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities [Source] Translate

The meeting began with a roll call confirming a quorum for the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee, noting the absence of Assemblyman McGuckin and Assemblyman Clifton, while Assemblyman McClellan was expected to arrive shortly. The Chairman welcomed members and outlined the agenda, which included discussing the Target Zero Commission's report aimed at eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries on New Jersey roads by 2040. Leanne Von Hagen and Gregory Whiteman from the Rutgers Voorhees Transportation Center presented key recommendations from the report, emphasizing the need to modernize the motor vehicle code for enhanced safety. They proposed updates to Title 39 for clearer definitions and improved pedestrian protections, establishing consistent statewide standards for sidewalk maintenance, aligning transportation funding with public health outcomes, and addressing emerging technologies like autonomous vehicles. Specific legislative actions discussed included: - Modernizing the motor vehicle code. - Strengthening sidewalk policies. - Funding for active transportation to improve public health. - Revising implied consent laws to include drug recognition expert examinations for impaired driving. - Lowering the blood alcohol content limit to .05% and enhancing penalties for repeat offenders. - Banning utility task vehicles on public roadways. - Expanding advanced automatic crash notifications. The presenters highlighted the need to reinstate vehicle safety inspections, focusing on critical systems like brakes and tires, as many older vehicles may not be mechanically safe. Committee members discussed the implications of these recommendations, including the potential use of AI to identify high-crash areas and improve EMS response times. The meeting also addressed challenges in measuring impairment from substances like cannabis, noting the loophole allowing drivers to refuse DRE assessments. Recommendations included allowing municipalities to lower speed limits without costly studies and emphasizing holistic traffic studies. AAA representative Lauren Paterno highlighted initiatives such as the "slow down move over" law and educational programs on roadway safety for K-12 students. Sangeeta Badlani from Families for Safe Streets New Jersey shared personal experiences related to traffic fatalities and proposed several recommendations, including streamlining enforcement of distracted driving laws, establishing dedicated funds for prevention, and mandating road safety education for children. Corey Hannigan from the Tri-State Transportation Campaign emphasized the urgency of passing legislative recommendations tied to the Target Zero Action Plan, discussing key actions such as equipping school buses with devices to ticket drivers who illegally pass, allowing automated speed enforcement in school zones, and requiring repeat speed offenders to install speed limiters. The meeting also covered school bus safety, with a participant sharing a personal story about a child injured while boarding a bus. The need for data on school bus accidents and transparency in the state's high injury network was emphasized. Concerns about automated speed cameras and their effectiveness were discussed, along with the importance of educating drivers about school bus laws. Eric DeGessereau from the New Jersey Motor Truck Association spoke about safety measures in the trucking industry, advocating for increased commercial inspections and addressing driver distraction. The meeting underscored the importance of vehicle safety regulations, improved infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians, and ongoing dialogue among stakeholders in the transportation sector. Deborah Kagan, Executive Director of the New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition, discussed several legislative actions, including a bus obstruction monitoring system, a micromobility rebate program for e-bikes, the establishment of an Office for Sustainable Mobility, and vehicle miles traveled reduction targets. She emphasized the need for effective implementation of these actions to achieve safer streets and reduced fatalities. The meeting adjourned shortly after her remarks.