My heart is broken. My cousin was recently struck and killed by a driver while riding her electric scooter. She was just under a third of a mile away from her home, with the driver cowardly fleeing the scene. Tragically, this is not an isolated incident. Laurel Road has seen several fatal pedestrian accidents, with the lack of infrastructure playing a significant part.

Laurel Road, stretching from the White Horse Pike in Stratford to College Drive in Lindenwold, is notoriously dangerous. It is a long path characterized by inadequate street lighting, a complete lack of sidewalks, and no speed monitoring systems. This grim situation not only decreases motorists' visibility but also puts countless pedestrians at severe risk, as they are forced to share the road with speeding vehicles, particularly during nighttime.

Statistics from the Governors Highway Safety Association highlight a dire pattern; New Jersey is one of the states with the highest pedestrian fatalities in America. Our community shouldn't be a part of this alarming trend. We need immediate action to prevent further unnecessary loss of life.

This petition calls on the Lindenwold Township officials to take urgent measures by adding more street lights, constructing properly designated sidewalks, and implementing speed monitoring systems along this hazardous stretch of Laurel Road. These improvements will not only increase the safety of pedestrians and drivers but also reassure families who fear for their loved ones' safety whenever they venture onto this road.

Lindenwold's community deserves a safe environment where our children can travel without fear, and where unforeseen tragedies do not overshadow everyday activities. We echo the cries of other grieving families who have suffered similar losses, each marked by a painful story of catastrophe that could have been avoided with better infrastructure.

Your signature can help change the course of our township's safety measures, ensuring that tragedies like the one my family has endured will not be repeated. Stand with us in urging the Lindenwold Township to take immediate action to protect its residents. Please sign the petition.