AAA Looks Backward & Forward on Transportation

With a year in transportation just behind us and another already upon us, let’s take a look at where, in AAA Mid-Atlantic’s view, we came from and to where we’re going.
2009: The Good
MVC, The Motor Vehicle Commission! In a November 2009 poll commissioned by the AAA Clubs of New Jersey of 1,000 New Jersey motorists, nearly nine in 10 (88%) described their most recent experience with the old DMV as positive! Is it fair to say it’s fixed yet?
Fewer Fatalities. According to NJ State Police, 586 fatalities resulted from 551 fatal crashes in 2009, down from 590 fatalities in 562 fatal crashes during 2008. This is the third consecutive year of reduced fatalities. Good job motorists, law enforcement and safety advocates! This decrease occurred even as motorists …
Drove More Miles. In the five-month period from June through October 2009 (most recent data available), New Jersey recorded a nearly 1.4% increase in total vehicle miles traveled (VMT) compared to a year earlier. Increased VMT typically denotes a growing economy.
The Snow and Ice Bill. Both houses of the Legislature approved and the governor, in October 2009, signed S-520 into law, which means motorists who drive around with a snow mattress or an ice sword on their roof are in for fines. Long overdue, in AAA’s view. And just in time for December’s record snow storm even though the law goes into effect in 2010.
Kyleigh’s Law. Decals for teen drivers will save lives by allowing law enforcement to enforce the state’s graduated driver license laws. Plain and simple.
Full Steam Ahead. Projects to widen the Turnpike and the Parkway move forward, as does Access to the Region’s Core, the new trans-Hudson River passenger rail tunnel. All three are forward-looking and important projects for mobility in and through New Jersey.
2009: The Bad
Transportation Trust Fund. With insolvency a fiscal year away, 2009 provided no solution to the funding mechanism for big transportation projects. Mobility is at stake. Motorists remain opposed to increasing its chief revenue source, the gas tax:
In fact, 64% oppose increasing the levy, according to the same AAA poll of 1,000 motorists cited above. 51% strongly oppose raising the tax.
Pedestrian Fatalities Increase. By more than 10% in 2009! Clearly, we all need to share the road and the right of way better. Pedestrians should always cross at intersections or in designated crosswalks. Motorists should drive undistracted and follow crosswalk laws. It’s going to take cooperation to reverse these numbers.
Motorists’ Right to Repair Act (S-1334) Killed. Another opportunity to provide motorists with the right to repair their vehicles when and where they want dies in a dark state senate corner during the wee hours of lame duck. Long live Right to Repair!
2010 (?):
More Accepting Drivers. Let’s let bygones be bygones in the New Year, shall we? A December 2009 AAA Mid-Atlantic Web poll found that:
23% of drivers have extended a rude gesture to another driver in the last six months.
20% of drivers have been the recipient of one.
A Fixed Transportation Trust Fund. A gas tax increase is as unlikely now as ever. Perhaps even more so. Let’s start putting all those fees that drivers pay to the MVC for the privilege of driving in this state into the TTF. Even if only $500 million of the +$1 billion in fees MVC collects goes to the TTF, it’s the equivalent of a more than 10-cent gas tax increase. In existing funds.
VMT Rebound? When the economic climate slightly improved in the second half of 2009, motorists returned to the road, recording 2,459 billion Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) nationally through October 2009.
In New Jersey from June through October 2009, the top monthly increase was 3.2%, in September 2009 compared to September 2008. A 3.2% VMT increase means about 200 million more miles traveled.
Seatbelt in all Seats? A key factor in reducing traffic deaths is seatbelt usage, and 2009 marked the 13th consecutive year of increased seatbelt usage, putting the state seatbelt usage rate at 92.6% – a drastic increase from 60.3% in 1996. AAA supports strengthening the existing law. So do a vast majority of motorists. In fact, in the AAA Clubs of New Jersey 1,000 motorist poll:
88% supported requiring all passengers in the vehicle, regardless of age or seat location, to buckle up.
78% strongly supported do so.