HOBOKEN – Drivers in Hoboken are being asked to slow down, even if they travel the posted 25 mph speed limit.
The city has launched a new campaign entitled “Twenty is Plenty,” which reminds drivers that even though the speed limit in most of Hoboken is 25 mph, slower speeds create safer streets.
“We live in one of the most walkable cities in the world, but if we want our streets to be truly inviting and safe for everyone –including children walking to school and the elderly and disabled crossing the street –then we all need to slow down a little bit,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer in a press release. “Making our streets safer and [more] vibrant is good for residents, visitors, and businesses.”
During a collision with a vehicle driving 40 mph, the chance of pedestrian death is 85 percent, according to the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, but the risk of fatality drops dramatically with lower speeds, as noted in a city release.
“In fact, for drivers speeding along our streets at 30 mph, the risk of pedestrian fatality is 40 percent,” said Transportation and Parking Director Ian Sacs in a press release. “If drivers keep to 20 mph on our streets, the risk drops to just 5 percent.”
The campaign is inspired by the “20’s Plenty for Us” campaign in Britain, and will result in advertisements in local newspapers, flyers at the Parking Utility, and electronic street signs at major incoming streets.