Fast-forward nearly 50 years, and the nation's most congested state has the highest pedestrian fatality rate in the country, a fact that persuaded officials to toughen laws governing the often-dicey interactions between motorists and pedestrians in crosswalks.
The goal, they said, was to change the culture of driving in a state long known for the incivility of its motorists.
"We needed to update the statutes," Division of Highway Traffic Safety Director Pam Fischer said Wednesday at a news conference at the Prudential Arena. "The old statutes hadn't kept pace with the times in New Jersey."
The new laws take effect in April and will affect motorists and pedestrians. Motorists, previously required to yield to pedestrians, will have to come to full stops and remain stopped or risk $200 tickets (double the current fine) and two points on their licenses.
Pedestrians can be fined $54 for not obeying traffic signals.
RELATED LINK: NJ pedestrian law website
Between 20 percent and 25 percent of auto-related fatalities in New Jersey since 2004 have involved pedestrians, the highest rate in the country and more than twice the national average, Attorney General Paula Dow said. About 150 pedestrians have died each year over that span, she said.
"This is simply too high," said Dow, who equated the confrontation between car and pedestrian to a game of chicken. "It's not enough simply to slow down or hope the pedestrian stops for the vehicle."
Solomon Anaya, a transplanted Californian who lives in Newark, said he has been unpleasantly surprised by New Jersey motorists' apparent disdain for crosswalk etiquette, particularly in front of his business on Market Street, which features a crosswalk and flashing yellow lights.
"I'm in the middle of the crosswalk, and people just come flying by," he said. "There are people walking all the time, and nobody stops."
Part of the impetus for the new laws came from Joel Feldman, a Pennsylvania resident whose 21-year-old daughter, Casey Feldman, was killed while crossing a street in Ocean City last year.
Feldman said the driver was distracted when he hit Casey in broad daylight in the middle of a crosswalk at a four-way stop sign. The driver won't face homicide charges under New Jersey law because it was concluded he didn't act recklessly, Feldman said, but will have to live with the result of his actions.
"Which side of that story does anyone want to own?" Feldman asked Wednesday.
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Associated Press writer Aaron Morrison contributed to this story.
