NEW JERSEY
South Jersey Traffic Safety Alliance

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

The South Jersey Traffic Safety Alliance, formed in 1998, is a unique traffic safety organization spanning four New Jersey counties. The South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO) created the alliance in order to integrate traffic safety into the metropolitan and state planning process. SJTPO is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the southern New Jersey region, covering Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties. 

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goal was to create an alliance of traffic safety professionals from law enforcement, community education, fire, rescue, engineering, and planning to work closely with the SJTPO to decrease deaths and injuries resulting from traffic crashes. The objectives are to:

• develop region-wide traffic safety programs;
• share successful practices;
• exchange information; and
• support capital projects geared toward traffic and pedestrian safety.

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

The alliance focused on the following strategies and activities.

Establish an Executive Board - The main purpose of the Executive Board is to make recommendations to the general membership. These recommendations address legislative issues, committee appointments, safety programs, and training. A program coordinator manages the daily operations.

To ensure equal representation among the counties, the board included three representatives from each county. The New Jersey Division of Highway Safety and the county representative from the SJTPO Policy Board select the board members. Recently, associate executive board members were added to advise the board. Associate members include representatives from SAFE KIDS, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), AAA, and the New Jersey Division of Highway Safety.

Hold quarterly general membership meetings - Members receive updated information, exchange ideas, and present success stories at the quarterly general membership meetings. The meetings rotate among counties.

Participate in member surveys - The SJTPO surveys Alliance members every other year to determine current traffic safety issues. This “Safety Needs Assessment” identifies traffic safety priorities and provides SJTPO with capital programming needs. The survey addresses topics such as current traffic safety programs, pedestrian and bicycle safety issues, proposed bike or pedestrian pathways, problems with older and younger drivers, issues in transporting the disadvantaged, and local traffic statistics. In 2002, this survey information will be supplemented with New Jersey Highway Safety Data.

Develop organized activities - The Alliance developed a number of community projects that reflect community needs. Projects include:

• Child Passenger Seat (CPS) Inspection Campaign

• Saved By The Seat Belt Club

• Bicycle Safety Bowl

• Aggressive Driver Campaign

• Buckle Up Stencil Program

Maintain a resource library - The Alliance coordinator maintains a video library, as well as secures educational materials and promotional items for member organizations to use.

RESULTS