Emphasis Areas

The New Jersey 2020 Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) aims to reduce fatalities and serious injuries by 14% over five years. The following Emphasis Areas focus on strategies and tactics for meaningful safety improvements to achieve the SHSP’s goal.

Visit the Implementation Documents page to find documents related to the NJ 2020 SHSP Implementation.

Intersections

In 2020, crashes at intersections accounted for 30% of all fatalities and serious injuries in New Jersey. The Intersections Emphasis Area strategies address all potential crash hotspots and conflict points while traveling through an intersection.

Driver Behavior

Driver behavior is a key contributing factor in a majority of New Jersey’s fatal and serious injury crashes. Advancements in technology have helped in reducing frequency and severity of driver behavior related crashes in recent years; however, behavior related crashes continue to be a major contributor. The Driver Behavior Emphasis Area’s strategies identify and target high risk driver behaviors including aggressive drivers, drowsy/distracted drivers, unbelted drivers and occupants, impaired drivers, unlicensed drivers, and heavy vehicle drivers. The approach works to promote positive driving behavior and recommend improvements for roadway design.

Lane Departure

In 2020, half of New Jersey’s fatal and serious injury crashes involved a vehicle unintentionally leaving the lane. By understanding who is involved with these crashes, where they occur and what type of lane departure occurred, the Team is focused on to design issues that encourage positive driving behavior related to lane departure.

Other Vulnerable Road Users

Certain types of road users are more vulnerable on the road than others and the SHSP takes steps to increase safety for these road users. The Other Vulnerable Road Users Emphasis Area focuses on strategies to improve the safety for a number of high-risk users including mature road users, younger road users, motorcyclists, work zone workers, and other road workers.

Pedestrians & Bicyclists

According to United States Census Bureau, approximately 4% of the population in New Jersey choose walking and/or biking as their primary mode of transportation and it is important that the SHSP protects these road users. Furthermore, the Federal Highway Administration recognizes New Jersey as a pedestrian and bicyclist focus state due to the large number of pedestrian/bicyclist fatalities with 197 total fatalities in 2020. The Pedestrians and Bicyclists Emphasis Area Team focuses on who is statistically involved in these crashes, where are they occurring and the type of crash.

Data 

Reliable and detailed traffic safety data help practitioners accurately identify problems, risk factors and priority areas. This type of data is used to formulate strategies, set targets and monitor performance. The Data Emphasis Area crosses all Emphasis Areas and focuses on improving the state’s data related to safety and integrating it with existing analysis.  

Equity 

The SHSP places special focus on creating an equitable safety investment, which considers traditionally underserved populations. The Equity Emphasis Area approach includes an independent team providing oversight and guidance to the other Emphasis Areas to ensure Equity is given full consideration in strategy development and action implementation. In addition to supporting the other Emphasis Areas, the Equity Emphasis Area strives to ensure that highway safety investment is inclusive of the interests of traditionally underserved populations and is considered more deliberately.