New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety

The mission of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety is to reduce fatalities, injuries and property damage on the roads of New Jersey resulting from traffic crashes. To achieve its mission, the Division undertakes traffic safety programs relating to Education, Enforcement, and Engineering. The bulk of the Division's funding comes from the Federal Government, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The funding received by the Division is used to undertake state-wide traffic safety programs and is also dispersed to local, county and state agencies in the form of traffic safety grants.

The Director is appointed by the Governor and also serves as the Governor’s Representative for highway safety.

Traffic safety priority areas that the Division attempts to address include:

Occupant Protection:
Issues relating to the usage of seat belts and child safety seats.

Impaired Driving:
Efforts to reduce driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol.

Pedestrian Safety:
Programs designed to reduce crashes involving pedestrians.

Diversity Programs:
Bringing the traffic safety message to the state’s diverse populations.

Comprehensive Traffic Safety Programs:
County-wide programs that address specific traffic safety issues in a particular county.

Distracted Driving:
Educating motorists about the dangers of distractions such as cell phones and eating while driving.

Aggressive Driving:
Reducing dangerous driving practices including speeding, excessive lane changes, tailgating and gesturing.