Montclair has a new campaign to make the streets safer. “Drive with Care in Montclair” wants all users of the road feel safe whether they are traveling by foot, bike, car, or other means.
Sparked by an idea of Second Ward Councilor Robin Schlager, the campaign is funded by Partners for Health Foundation and administered through the Township Council’s advisory committee on Pedestrian Safety. The Committee will hold a strategic planning meeting to solicit public feedback on Wednesday, October 8 at 7 pm at the Fire HQ, 1 Pine Street.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, much of the threat to people walking and cycling safely comes from motorists’ speed. The faster a vehicle is traveling, the more likely crash injuries to a person on foot or bicycle will be serious, if not fatal.
When people walking or cycling are hit by a car:
- • at 20 mph, the risk of death is 5 percent, and most injuries are minor
- • at 30 mph, the risk of death is 45 percent, and most injuries are serious
- • at 40 mph, 85 percent of pedestrians are killed.
The Montclair Police Department reported 205 pedestrians injured by motor vehicles over the past five years, including five who died as a result of such collisions. A modest decrease in vehicle speed can mean a dramatic increase in survival rates in pedestrian-vehicle crashes.
A Township Pedestrian Safety Committee has been formed to develop strategies to reduce pedestrian and cyclist crashes. It is comprised of many partners working on various facets of traffic safety, including NJ Safe Routes to School, Partners for Health Foundation, Montclair Police Traffic Bureau, Montclair Engineering Bureau and Bike&Walk Montclair. For more information, please email: drivewithcare@montclairnjusa.org
“The Montclair Police Department reported 205 pedestrians injured by motor vehicles over the past five years, including five who died as a result of such collisions. A modest decrease in vehicle speed can mean a dramatic increase in survival rates in pedestrian-vehicle crashes.”
Then how about actually enforcing the speed limits? I mean really – it’s super simple! I’ve never once seen a police officer in town doing just that anywhere but on Bloomfield Ave. Am I alone in this? Do you ever see police enforcing speed limits?
Have you ever tried going anywhere CLOSE to 25 MPH on any of Montclair’ s streets with that as the posted speed limit, especially those that go north and south (Grove and Upper Mountain obviously not included, where the speed limit is 35) The cars quickly and angrily start to pile up inches behind you. People get angry; they’re not used to going near 25, because it’s never enforced. I’ve gotten highbeamed, honked at, passed on the wrong side of the road a handful of times – I even had one lunatic get out at a light to start fighting with me because he thought I was driving slow on purpose to piss him off.
Throw an officer anywhere Park St, North Mountain, South Mountain, Valley Road (especially north of Lorraine where there are a ton of pedestrian crossings to the bus stops, train, and pool), or Undercliff and I promise you the average speeds are closer to 40 MPH. You could make the town safer and probably knock off half our debt in a year just by enforcing the speed limit on these streets alone.
Oh, and some markers for the crosswalks in the street like EVERY single other town has wouldn’t hurt. Couldn’t hurt to MAYBE slow down the cars doing 40 in a 25 before they plow over you crossing the street.
Uh, so yeah, glad they’re holding these meetings!
Why make the speed limit in all Montclair 25 mph, no exception. We would have to petition the county to change the county roads, which I believe are Valley and Grove (perhaps Upper Mountain). But hopefully a uniform speed limit throughout the town will help make everyone drive at a more reasonable speed. We have both the auto and pedestrian density throughout our town to justify this overall speed reduction.
“Then how about actually enforcing the speed limits? I mean really – it’s super simple! I’ve never once seen a police officer in town doing just that anywhere but on Bloomfield Ave. Am I alone in this? Do you ever see police enforcing speed limits?”
Easy there Zid, the problem is not enforcement. The problem is the fact that such enforcement comes with no teeth. Get caught speeding pay a few hundred bucks, really not a big deal and certainly does not go a long way to modify behavior.
Fines should start at $5,000 per violation.
Did you know you can pay away speeding tickets ? That is one reason they have no teeth. I was once in traffic court for my own ticket and found myself surrounded by rich housewives who were shelling out big dollars to avoid points. Some of those women shouldn’t be on the road but since they pay away points they won’t lose their licenses.
hrhppg: how does that work? “Pay away speeding tickets?” Do you just give the court people some money and they invalidate the ticket? Who gets the money? Inquiring minds want to know.
Haha, of course it works.
The fine just needs to actually serve as a deterrent, again minimum 5K, scaling up to something like $50k if you are doing so 45 in a 25 or something like 60 in a 35.
The fine just needs to actually serve as a deterrent, again minimum 5K, scaling up to something like $50k if you are doing so 45 in a 25 or something like 60 in a 35.
It also “just needs” to be constitutional. Excessive fines, which is what you are proposing, are unconstitutional under the eighth amendment.
All for it – just remember to enforce the lazy jackasses who cross in the middle of Valley Road in Upper Montclair, sometimes with children, because they’re too lazy to go to the light and crosswalk at Bellevue or Lorraine.
OK, 90% of Montclair’s streets are single lane.
If this campaign is successful in getting just a small number of people to slow down to the speed limit, doesn’t that slow everyone behind them down?
It seems like low-hanging fruit – low cost/low lead-times.
Certainly a lot less expensive then dedicating limited police resources on our 100 miles of roadway.
Three quick things:
In partial defense of the MPD, I frequently see them enforcing the speed limit on Harrison and South Mountain Avenues. I admit I’d like to see them out more before and after school hours, because the number of cars that stop for kids at crosswalks is depressingly small.
On the ticket issue referenced by other commenters, State law allows some violations to be pleaded down to a lesser violation that carries no points but requires a higher fine. A driver can only do this once, and even that much is at the discretion of the municipal prosecutor.
Finally, and most importantly, there really are steps a skilled traffic engineer can take to make intersections safer for pedestrians. I had the privilege of working in Philadelphia for a guy who was something of a legend in the world of traffic engineers — yes, I confess to being a geek about this — for, among other things, figuring out that all-way stop intersections are far safer than traffic signals for pedestrians and drivers, and that traffic signals should generally be limited to heavy-traffic arterial streets. We also had success with “continental crosswalks” (thick diagonal lines, rather than just two parallel lines), using glass beads in the crosswalk paint to make the crosswalks more visible, and widening the no-parking distance from crosswalks to make sure pedestrians are visible. All of these steps could easily be performed in Montclair, and I congratulate Councilor Schlager for keeping up with this promise she made during the 2012 campaign.
(Usual disclosure: These are my opinions only and have nothing to do with my current role as an attorney for the State.)
I know this will be contrary . But…none of you drive 25 mph because that was a speed limit created from 1920 cars. The speed limits are all to low…hwy should be 80. All backed up on the standard quoted as the official way to set speed limits and yellow light times..the 85% rule. What would be fair is to raise the speed limits to reality and then strictly enforce them. Reality would also enforce tailgating and distracted driving…including getting the cops off their cell phones. Reality is this isn’t some feel good nirvana Seattle suburb were people should be jogging on the sides of major through streets., some pushing babies in jogging strollers….there are sidewalks and parks for that folks. And start ticking jaywalkers that just expect traffic to stop for them. Reality is making it real first.
ehh if chance of death goes from 5% to 85% between 20 and 40 I dont think the fine is excessive, again it needs to be a deterrent
Welcome back Jeff. Good points.
No Frank, not good points. I don’t care if you have 1,000 traffic cops and 2,000 speed traps in Montclair daily, it does not matter because honestly speeding is worth the risk of the slap on the wrist fine. Start with the penalties first.
“Sparked by an idea of Second Ward Councilor Robin Schlager, the campaign is funded by Partners for Health Foundation and administered through the Township Council’s advisory committee on Pedestrian Safety.” What about Bike & Walk Montclair (which has been doing all of this, for years)?!
“What about Bike & Walk Montclair?”
…is that the same organization that promotes itself with the bumper stickers?
That was genius!
The Police can’t be everywhere at once and, if they started issuing massive numbers of speeding tickets, including for minor violations of the posted limits, there’d be masses of people decrying the “abuse”and telling them to catch real criminals.
It would mostly create more animosity toward the local PD.
Because you don’t see them, doesn’t mean they don’t see you. There are limits as to when and where they can be at any one time. Give them some credit.
Most of us violate the posted limits, even if only inadvertently.
Doing 35 in a 25 is easy, especially on a newly paved road surface, because there’s little noise from the road surface and you don’t always have the sensory feedback to get a constant sense of speed, W/O glancing at the speedometer.
Your driving speed can creep up on you, despite well-intentioned efforts to drive safely.
Who wants to deal with a $5000 fine for something like that? I’d guess most Baristanet readers would find such fines a financial burden as well.
OTOH, significantly increasing fines, and insurance rates for serial violators, wouldn’t be a terrible idea, IMO.
One thing I mostly don’t get is pedestrians (including women pushing strollers) in the traffic lanes, when there are sidewalks on both sides of the street. I’m a bit surprised more such pedestrians aren’t hit.
Anyhow, some form of extended rumble strips (say, for >10mph over a posted limit) might help to provide appropriate negative feedback to speeders.
I wonder, would people laud or criticize the millions, in traffic studies, needed to employ better enforcement methods?
A version of this “crack-down” story happens a few times a year.
And my response has ALWAYS been the same: increase the cost of a ticket to $200-$300 and folks would get the message that Montclair is NOT the town to speed in.
Growing up, we always knew what towns were more lax than others with tickets (speeding & parking), and we’d drive accordingly. Those other towns? DRIVE FAST- WHO CARES?
Sadly, I thought a death would make folks come around. But after several, it hasn’t so—
HIDE YA KIDS, HIDE YA WIFE!!!
“No Frank, not good points.”
—of course stayhyphy doesn’t think they are good points. They are rational and fact based, and don’t engage in phony hyperbole…
re: Bike & Walk Montclair?
“…is that the same organization that promotes itself with the bumper stickers? That was genius!”
You noticed! (That) they have stickers. (And magnets, that are attracted to metal.) [Which can be stuck places.] Which promote. The (volunteer) organization. Which promotes safety. By reminding us to share the roads. Each user population has both rights & responsibilities.
Yeah, yeah, yeah….I still think it is genius!
There are many places where “everyone knows” you don’t speed. Fairview Ave in Cedar Grove, Mountain Avenue in North Caldwell, several streets in Essex Fells, etc.
Perhaps a Montclair “special” using officers at the change of shift (around 7 am, around 3pm) would have a lasting impact on speeding, failure to yield, jaywalking, etc. Twice a week, for an hour when you least expect it…
The cops don’t need to be everywhere at once, the penalties need to be harsh. It is not hyperbole JC. No one is slowing down for a few hundred bucks. 5k or 10k and you can be sure that “speed won’t be creeping up” on folks.
Teens and 20 yr olds tend to experiment with the lead foot no matter the community or situation. It’s a matter of wild oat sowing. That being said, the people whom I’ve observed most frequently flying down north and south mountain avenue or speeding through crosswalks on Harrison ave or on Grove or Walnut street, are almost invariably from out of town. And it’s not just men, it’s middle age ladies, contractors etc..
I always disliked the use of the 20/30/40 mph stat as it implies speed was the primary factor.
More importantly, it focuses on mitigating catastrophic accidents over accident avoidance. I think this is bad policy for this committee to start with.
Getting into an accident following a 30 mph speed limit, 50% of pedestrians will still die and the majority will have serious injuries.
So even if 100% of the drivers follow a reasonable speed limit, it still results in a catastrophic result.
No one is slowing down for a few hundred bucks. 5k or 10k and you can be sure that “speed won’t be creeping up” on folks.
You can also be sure that the first time it’s challenged in court, the fines will be overturned. Problem solved!
You may “think” they’re not excessive, but that just indicates your level of thinking.
I think we have a number of issues concerning this but I have a personal story that bothers me to this day. Our police have to do more than just drive around town. My story……about 2 months ago I was walking up Bloomfield Ave and stood at the corner where it crosses Valley. We have had deaths at this corner before. I waited for the light to change as was another person across the street from me. A police SUV pulled in next to the police station. The SUV had Supervisor on it, the day was Saturday around 2:55 or so. The man in the white shirt got out of his vehicle and looked at the intersection. The light changed as I watched the traffic because I don’t trust drivers any more. We both proceeded into the intersection when not 1 but 2 cars turned the corner trying to beat the oncoming traffic. Myself and the other person crossing in my direction were about 5 feet into the crosswalk. The first car was bad enough but the second one was worse. Those cars didn’t even care whether anyone was in the crosswalk. The police officer didn’t either as he just turned and walked into the police station. We have had deaths at this corner before and myself and the other person knew to watch. So…….why didn’t the police officer do anything? There have been many times when I see the same thing in town and the police are watching but do nothing. Why? If we want to stop people from being killed or injured shouldn’t we do something about it? This is a driver issue and a police issue and not just during the times during crack downs.
As someone who walks around Montclair – pedestrians are just as obligated to follow traffic patterns as motorists. So when people decided to cross the street -anywhere- instead of using the designated crosswalk, they are putting themselves in danger. Crosswalks should definitely have the flashing crossing sign, as used on Bloomfield Avenue, which alert motorists that they *need* to stop for crossing pedestrians.
I do believe we need more clearly marked bike lanes – but cyclists are also just as responsible to follow the laws of the road – so cycling in the center of the lane – not the brightest idea. I’ve had that happen numerous times on Upper Mountain Road.
Good point about pedestrians. I will stand at a crosswalk and wait to time my crossing so as not to unnecessarily startle drivers or inconvenience others or to avoid causing a dangerous situation, but I note that others are less empathetic and are less self aware as they like to make a point to time their crossings purposely so as to seemingly test drivers, and they do so without looking. Some people consciously walk in a slow manner and look straight as if testing fate. Then, you have the third class of pedestrians who believe they have right of way when crossing during a green light from behind double parked trucks. Then you have the fourth and last group who desperately require instruction in civic virtue and can be found walking four abreast down the middle of narrow streets, despite the presence of sidewalks on either side and cars trying to drive down the street.
“You can also be sure that the first time it’s challenged in court, the fines will be overturned. Problem solved!”
The penalty needs to deter, no? That is the very simple point that you can’t seem to understand. Instead of debate the correct number or the definition of “excessive” how about you just recognize that the current penalties are excessively low.
As an alternative instead of monetary penalty we can suspend licences with greater frequency. Does that work for you?
We cannot have a discussion about enforcement until we fix the penalty, just trying to direct the conversation / focus to the appropriate place.
Spent a week in LBI over the summer where 35 mph was strictly enforced on main drag and slower on side streets. I have to admit it was tough for us the first day or two but once we got into the groove it really was very nice. It’s a vacation spot so lots of pedestrians and bikes all over the place but the slower speed limit made it possible. Seeing kids around my son’s age (9) bike riding with friends without parents hovering because it was a slower safer environment felt like blast from the past. It use to be like that when I was a kid on the blocks I grew up on in NJ – sure you still had to be careful but drivers all drove slower back then when driving in residential neighborhoods. Cops don’t need to be everywhere all at once – just enforce the speed limit strictly when it is violated – word will get around.
My favorite driving idiots are those who think that if the car in front of them is slowing down to a stop, it must mean they are turning left, so they ZOOM BY on the right, only to SKID to a stop or worse, just miss the pedestrian in the crosswalk.
Yes, Mr. Black BMW on Grove Sunday about 1pm, I’m talking about you. Which is why, on Grove, when I yield to a pedestrian in the crosswalk, I move to right a bit, so NO ONE can “pass” and risk hitting the person.
But hey- the speed limit on Grove is 50mph, so what do I expect.
The penalty needs to deter, no? That is the very simple point that you can’t seem to understand.
I understand that perfectly well. However, the examples that you give were and are unconstitutional. Which means they are not a “solution.” What about that do you not understand?
We cannot have a discussion about enforcement until we fix the penalty, just trying to direct the conversation / focus to the appropriate place.
Really? Because JeffJacobson offered some suggestions that had little to do with enforcement or penalties, and are more likely to work. People drive at the rate at which they are comfortable. This rate, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, has been going up as cars have become bigger, more safer, and more capable.
Engineering ways to make drivers ‘less comfortable’ going fast seems like a good idea to me. In addition to all the very good suggestions about pedestrian education.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWGEPZlbtX4
Silverleaf,
You are definitely older than I am!
Yes, Mr/s silver Land Rover on Upper Mountain on a sunny Sunday afternoon that tried to pass on the left, in a no passing zone, through an intersection because the car ahead had stopped to let 4 adults, an infant in a stroller and a dog cross. Hopefully, even with your antilock brakes, the tires squeal gave you a wake up call.
Frank – One class behind you at MHS.
Well, that explains the better memory recall.
psmith it was like paying for a reduced sentence. I’m sure how they handled the paperwork but I didn’t get the 2 points I was expecting. My fine went up from whatever was on the ticket to a higher amount – but much less then I’d have paid if my insurance company saw points on my license. I paid it directly to the court clerk via check. Since my first post someone told me you can only do this 3 times in a lifetime in NJ. But the women I saw in that court seemed to be experts at it so maybe I just happened to be there the day they were all using their last one ?
Buying off tickets is standard procedure.
If you get a ticket for speeding and choose to go to court, you will find a crowd of people and one wheeler-dealer who offers to change the ticket to a more costly, but non-moving violation. More $$$ but no points.
I experienced this once; it is hard not to be cynical. If you have money, you can speed all you like and never get a point on your license.
I’m very conscious of speeding in town. I don’t. However, I think if this initiative is on biker and pedestrian safety, perhaps part of the discussion should be about bikers and pedestrians. Far too many bikers cycle about town as though they’ve got absolutely no rules to follow. They drive where they want, ignore stop signs and red lights and I’d not be surprised if bikers had a few accidents with pedestrians as well. And how about pedestrians get tickets for darting across the street from between parked cars and not crossing at cross walks. Not sure where skateboarders fit in but they’ve given me a fright on more than one occasion
Ah, the Montclair “cyclists.” Those in the tight “Tour de Montclair” outfits are the best. I especially like the chubby ones, belly resting comfortably on the crossbar. Or when they stop and look like fools walking in their special shoes.
They act like “bike riders” when they need to, cars at other times. ALWAYS looking out just for themselves. (Why else would they subject my eyes to those bodies trapped in lycra?)
Somehow I just knew that this thread would devolve into a body-shaming comment about “chubby” cyclists in lycra. Nice.
Regarding the original topic of this post, if I’m honest with myself, I have to confess that I sometimes exhibit a sense of entitlement with my own driving–going slightly over the posted speed limit, or making a rolling stop, or following someone in front of me too closely–because I have somewhere to go and a schedule to keep. It’s hard not to think that that schedule and that destination are the most important things at the moment. I’ve noticed that this sense of entitlement tends to increase the farther I am away from my home and my street. That’s why those “Drive Like YOUR KIDS Live Here” signs can be effective. We all know how we exercise caution on our own blocks. The trick is to really internalize just how important it is to drive that way everywhere.
BOO-HOO— “Body Shaming”? Gimme a break.
Fat bellied people wearing lycra while pretending to be huffing’ up the Col de Peyresourde is funny. Or shall we pretend otherwise?
I also laugh at skinny guys in big coats, fat guys in little coats, old (read: 40+) folks with BIG ASS tattoos, young folks with BIG ASS tattoos, those guys with their big ‘ol “manly” beards, suits and sneakers, hoochie-moms, and dockers.
Your silly comment only shows that Democrat Ed Rendell was right: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHQtrryJlO4
Perhaps the best, most succinct rule of thumb on the roads, whether you’re a driver, a cyclist, or a pedestrian, is this:
“Don’t be a d*ck.”
Applies to comment threads, too.
Bloomfield Ave is a particular problem due to the volume of traffic and pedestrians who must cross a wide street. Why not try the Shibuya solution in Japan where they stop all traffic to allow pedestrians to cross in any direction. The Park Street and the Fullerton/Church Street intersections with Bloomfield Ave might be a good places to try this experiment due to large number of pedestrians who cross. This would send a strong message that Montclair seriously considers the safety of their pedestrians and bike riders.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGwEiA19psI
“…. That’s why those “Drive Like YOUR KIDS Live Here” signs can be effective……”
When it comes to my own street, those signs are effectively ignored.
Three words : more speed bumps. They seem to have done the trick on North Mountain.
Interesting idea softrider. Bloomfield and Park would be the place to try it.
I’m still hoping they get rid of the crosswalk at Midland and Bloomfield. Putting a crosswalk on Bloomfield Ave without a traffic light was a bad idea, and no amount of signage, flashing or otherwise, will make it safe to cross there.
Several streets in my area provide shortcuts around what can often be a busy intersection, so we get our share of speeders. This includes school buses, and we’re not talking 30 in a 25mph zone. It has gotten better lately, but a single speed bump would make a big difference and increase the margin of safety for the children.
I agree with willjames in his posts above. As a cautious driver, I obviously stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, but I’m tired of that subset of individuals playing chicken by basically stepping in front of my car on Grove without any warning.
Also, as a cyclist, I’m aware of the rules of the road. Someone should tell the seemingly increasing numbers of bikers that feel entitled to leasurely ride down the middle of the traffic lanes on some of our busier streets, like the three amigos that backed up traffic on Park last week as they rode about 10mph three abreast. Or another personal favorite, those riding in traffic at night, dressed in black. Don’t be a D___, pretty much captures it.
Follow up to this thread of a month ago.
NYC will limit the speed limit to 25 mph soon throughout the city. Just waiting for Mayor de Blasio’s signature. What are we waiting for here in Montclair — another pedestrian or biker’s death?
https://www.transalt.org/sites/default/files/news/streetbeat/2014/Oct/1016.html#art1