Street Smart NJ Overview

Street Smart NJ is a public awareness and behavioral change pedestrian safety campaign. Since its creation in 2013, more than 140 communities have participated in Street Smart NJ.

Street Smart NJ emphasizes educating drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists through mass media, as well as targeted enforcement. Police officers focus on engaging and educating, rather than simply issuing citations. Street Smart NJ complements, but doesn’t replace, other state and local efforts to build safer streets and sidewalks, enforce laws and train better roadway users.

The campaign is coordinated by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) and is supported by federal and state funds, with additional funding/in-kind contributions from local partners, including the state’s eight Transportation Management Associations.

Communities and organizations everywhere are invited to use the strategies and materials on the Street Smart NJ website to create their own campaigns

Evaluations are periodically conducted to gauge the effectiveness of Street Smart NJ campaigns.

The Street Smart NJ Campaign focuses on reinforcing 5 key behaviors to improve safety:

  • Stop for Pedestrians
  • Obey Speed Limits
  • Wait for the Walk
  • Use Crosswalks
  • Heads Up, Phones Down
  • Stop and stay stopped for pedestrians in marked crosswalks and yield the right of way at intersections.
  • Wait until the pedestrian has crossed all the way before proceeding.
  • Look for other pedestrians who may begin crossing while you are stopped.
  • Be careful when passing vehicles stopped at or adjacent to crosswalks and intersections.
  • Stop and look for pedestrians and bicyclists before turning right on red.
  • Do not block or park in crosswalks.

  • Know the speed limit on the roadway you are driving.
  • Maintain appropriate speed.

  • Use the pedestrian buttons and begin crossing the street on the “Walk” signal.
  • Watch out for vehicles turning right on red.
  • When stepping off a bus, allow it to proceed before crossing to ensure a clear sight line.

  • Use marked crosswalks where available.
  • If there is no crosswalk, cross only at corners and intersections.
  • Use sidewalks or walk facing traffic where there are no sidewalks.
  • Before crossing look left, right, then left again.
  • Be visible at night and in inclement weather.
  • Walk sober.

  • Do not text while walking across the street.
  • Do not text or engage in other distractions while driving.
  • Make eye contact with drivers/pedestrians.

Street Smart

For more information about
Street Smart contact
Tara Shepherd
(908) 788-5553

Recent Campaigns: