The New Years holiday is almost upon us, and with it the end of the opportunity to improve accidents in New Jersey. As of December 27th, there were 578 traffic deaths in New Jersey. This is compared to 586 for the same time period in 2008. Of that 578, 154 were pedestrians, which is up significantly from last year's end total of 136 pedestrian deaths.

The New Years holiday period last year saw 8 fatal accidents, six of which were pedestrians. The 2008 New Years holiday period started at 6 p.m. on December 31st and extended through Monday morning January 5th at 6 a.m. All 8 of those deaths were included in this year's totals because they occurred after midnight.

This year, the New Years holiday period begins Thursday, December 31st at 6 p.m. and continues until Monday, January 4th at 6 a.m.

This year, the New Years holiday period begins Thursday, December 31st at 6 p.m. and continues until Monday, January 4th at 6 a.m.

• Stay off highways. Do not pick up or discharge passengers on highways.
• Stay in your disabled vehicle if it is safely off the traveled portion of the highway and await emergency patrols.
• Only exit disabled vehicles in the traveled lanes when it there is ample time to make it well off the road and to a safe location.
• Notify police if your vehicle is in a bad location before getting out to change a tire or perform other emergency maintenance.
• Only cross roads at legal crossings
• Do not wear earphones that impede your hearing while crossing roads or walking/biking near traffic
• Do not walk anywhere near roadways while intoxicated. Although not as dangerous to others as driving while intoxicated, walking while under the influence may be just as dangerous to the walker. As a sober person to give an intoxicated person a ride or a place to sleep it off.
• Obey traffic signals, such as "Walk/Don't Walk"

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