Governor Phil Murphy has signed into law a new measure aimed at strengthening driver education and testing standards to improve road safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users across New Jersey.
The law mandates that driver’s education curricula, examinations, and manuals include information about motorists’ responsibilities when encountering pedestrians, cyclists, and individuals using personal mobility devices. It also outlines penalties for failing to comply with these responsibilities.
The legislation builds on a series of road safety initiatives launched under the Murphy Administration, including the creation of the Target Zero Commission earlier this year. The 13-member commission is tasked with formulating a plan to eliminate all serious traffic injuries and fatalities in New Jersey by 2040.
The law comes amid a troubling rise in traffic-related deaths. From 2023 to 2024, traffic fatalities rose by 14%, driven largely by a 36% increase in pedestrian deaths. However, officials report a reversal in the trend this year: traffic fatalities are down 17%, and pedestrian deaths have decreased by 31% compared to the same period last year.
Under the new law, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) will revise its driver manual and testing materials to place greater emphasis on the responsibilities of drivers when sharing the road with pedestrians and cyclists. The law aims to instill safer passing and driving practices from the outset of a motorist’s training.
In addition to the MVC, the law is supported by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, both of which emphasized the importance of educating new drivers to prevent crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving non-motorists.