NEW JERSEY — The New Jersey city of Hoboken officially lowered its citywide speed limit to 20 mph Thursday, a major step in its sweeping plan to eradicate all traffic-related deaths and injuries within its borders to 2030, the mayor’s office announced.
The speed resolution, which was passed unanimously by the Hoboken City Council and signed into law by Mayor Ravi Bhalla, is part of Hoboken’s comprehensive Vision Zero Action Plan and includes a number of additional measures aimed at educating drivers about the changes and ensure compliance with the new speed limit.
Over the next few weeks, Hoboken says it will install speed camera signs at points of entry, post new 20-mph speed limit signs with companion license plate signs “citywide,” and add 20-mph pavement markings at locations selected.
The citywide speed limit change will not be considered fully implemented until all existing signs and pavement markings have been updated, Hoboken officials say, so there is a grace period.
Studies have repeatedly identified speed as a major contributing factor in car crashes, which influenced Hoboken’s decision. Officials also cited studies showing that the chances of a pedestrian being seriously injured or killed when struck by a vehicle range from 25% when the car is moving at 20 mph to more than 50% when it is moving at 30 mph.
“Lowering the speed limit citywide is the latest commitment we’re making to ensure our streets are safer for pedestrians, drivers and cyclists,” Bhalla said in a statement. “Although it may take an extra minute or two to travel through Hoboken in a vehicle, that extra time could end up saving the life of a child or an elderly person.”
“As a father of two children who walk our streets every day, the compensation is certainly worth it and is the latest effort we are making to eliminate all traffic-related injuries by 2030,” added the Democratic mayor.
Hoboken officials say their city’s streets haven’t seen a single traffic-related death since their Vision Zero plan was implemented by executive order in 2019, even amid regional and national trends showing significant increases in fatalities. and traffic-related injuries.
Across the river in New York City, the administration of Mayor Eric Adams has announced that the radars will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week beginning August 1.
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