Pedestrian safety initiative under way

EATONTOWN -- Beginning tomorrow through Sept. 27, law enforcement officers from the borough will be stepping up enforcement and education of the state's pedestrian laws.

In an attempt to reduce the disproportionate number of pedestrian injury crashes and fatalities, the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety will assist the borough of Eatontown in developing a comprehensive safety program involving education and enforcement.

The education component of the program involves getting the safety message to members of the community, with a special emphasis on three high-risk groups - children, seniors and non-English-speaking residents, according to information released by the Eatontown police.

The enforcement component involves targeted police patrols at high pedestrian crash locations in the community. During these patrols, warnings and summonses will be issued to motorists whose actions put pedestrians at risk, police said.

The Pedestrian Safety and Education campaign is made possible through a grant awarded to Eatontown police by the state Division of Traffic Safety.