New Jersey Target Zero Commission adopts action plan aimed at eliminating traffic deaths by 2040
TRENTON, N.J. — Gov. Phil Murphy announced Tuesday that the New Jersey Target Zero Commission has adopted an action plan outlining recommendations intended to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on the state’s roadways by 2040.
The 13-member commission was established after Murphy signed legislation A1476/S361 into law on Jan. 13, 2025. The law directed the panel to develop an action plan within one year to guide efforts to improve roadway safety statewide. The adopted plan includes 72 legislative and non-legislative recommendations designed to inform future policy discussions.
The commission is made up of representatives from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the New Jersey State Police, the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the Motor Vehicle Commission, regional transportation planning organizations and other agencies. The group is working collaboratively to improve safety for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and other roadway users.
Officials said the commission also relies on the Target Zero Commission High Injury Network, a data-driven tool that uses reportable crash data to identify locations with high numbers of fatal and serious-injury crashes, including those involving pedestrians and cyclists. According to state data, traffic fatalities have declined overall since 2023, with fatalities in 2025 down nearly 19% year-to-date compared with 2024.
State officials said the commission engaged stakeholders and the public during the development of the plan and intends to continue making traffic safety data and resources available. The plan is expected to guide future investments and programs that prioritize roadway safety.
The action plan is based on the Safe System Approach, which assumes human error is inevitable and emphasizes designing transportation systems to reduce the likelihood that mistakes result in serious injury or death. The plan is organized around seven focus areas: safer people, safer roads, safer speeds, safer vehicles, post-crash care, safer land use and coordinated implementation.
“Over the past year, the Commission has listened to the public and followed the data to develop this plan, and I am grateful for this collaborative effort between government, stakeholders, advocates, and everyday New Jerseyans who use our roads,” Murphy said. “This clear and comprehensive approach can save lives and lead to policies that demonstrate our commitment to making our roads safer for all.”
NJDOT Commissioner Fran O’Connor, who chairs the Target Zero Commission, said the plan is intended to move the state from setting goals to taking action.
“From day one, this Commission was about more than setting a goal – it was about creating a clear, actionable path to save lives,” O’Connor said. “This Action Plan reflects the reality that traffic deaths are preventable and that achieving zero will require sustained collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and a shared commitment to safety at every level. At NJDOT, we take this responsibility seriously, and we are committed to turning ideas into meaningful action.”
Transportation officials said efforts to reduce traffic fatalities will continue as the state works toward making roadway safety a shared responsibility across agencies and communities.
