by KYW's Michelle Durham
More New Jersey pedestrians are becoming casualties in accidents. One New Jersey officials says citizens are walking on roads they shouldn't be.
Edward O' Connor is the South Jersey regional supervisor for the Department of Traffic Safety. He says that so far this year, 86 pedestrians have been killed.
O'Connor says Camden County roadways are particularly dangerous for walkers to negotiate:
"In fact, Cherry Hill is one of the areas we're gong to be focusing on this summer with a pedestrian decoy program. Officers that are in plain clothes will act as pedestrians crossing at intersections with plenty of time for the vehicles to stop. If the vehicle doesn't make an effort to stop, they will radio in and that driver will be pulled over and cited."
O'Connor says the economy is prompting more people to walk to that errand rather than drive:
"Since it's not a pleasure walk, they have a goal and they are trying to get to a point they are maybe not as conscious of the traffic laws."
O'Connor says many of the Garden State's roads were not built with pedestrians in mind and now officials are taking a close look to see how they can be made safer for those who walk.
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