Wyckoff Awarded for Safety Efforts

With a strategy of education, enforcement and engineering, Wyckoff is continuing its efforts to keep pedestrians and motorists safe from automobile-related incidents.

In recognition of its work, the township will receive a New Jersey American Automobile Association Traffic Safety Award October 15 at the annual Community Traffic Safety Award Ceremony.

“It’s definitely a town interested in pedestrian safety, and they are doing a great job,” said William Visser, manager of public aid and government services for AAA.

Each year, AAA sends out applications to local communities to fill out with information about pedestrian safety programs, as well as information about automobile accidents, injuries and fatalities.

Wyckoff has not had a pedestrian fatality since 2002 and has received similar AAA awards in past years, Visser said.

“Our job is to make it as safe as it possibly can be... we’ll continue to do our best each and every year,” police Chief Benjamin C. Fox said.

The police monitor traffic patterns and when problems occur, they assess what can be done to make the area safer. Fox said they look at what they call the three “E’s” in traffic safety—engineering, education and enforcement.

Last year, the police worked with the township’s schools to adjust parking and traffic patterns. Fox said they also look for areas that could be made safer with traffic signs and lights. In addition, he said, they try to let the public know of potential hazards through public safety alerts, newsletters and signboards.

The township also provides educational programs for students, beginning with a summer Safety Town program for pre-schoolers. Fox said the program, which is run by the Board of Education, involves a course where the children ride on tricycles and learn the rules of the road. The police department sends an officer each year to assist the program.

For older students, Visser said, the township runs a program where students can wear fatal vision goggles, which simulate the effect drinking and drugs can have on vision.

“It really makes it very difficult to walk or drive,” Visser said.

In addition to school programs, police also assist parents in correctly installing car seats, so they are able to function properly in case of an accident, Visser said.

“They are very active in helping their community, young or old,” Visser said.

The police try to keep it as safe as possible, Fox said, but they still have to account for residents’ driving habits. The final step in keeping pedestrians safe is enforcement.

“Sometimes their driving behavior only changes when they get a speeding ticket or some other type of summons,” Fox said.

The township will find out which award it has received at the ceremony. The highest designation is the award of excellence, Visser said.

“We are certainly happy to be the recipient of another award for AAA," Fox said.