In simple terms, this is a petition to reduce the speed limit on East Main Street in Bridgewater New Jersey.  Recently the same street under the neighboring town of Somerville jurisdiction has reduced the speed limit to 25 miles per hour.  

Personally I have young children that have a bus stop directly on East Main Street.  One of which, is special needs diagnosed with Autism and other disabilities. My children attend different schools within the BRRSD and also attend ESY (extended school year) within the district, this means there are multiple buses stopping directly on East Main Street year round.

On our street, where my children and many others catch the school bus, the speed limit is currently too high posted at 40 mph. This not only endangers the lives of our children but also makes it difficult for drivers to stop for school buses. This past month, I've witnessed several near misses where speeding vehicles could have resulted in tragedies with our precious young ones. 

The current situation makes it unsafe for children waiting for their school bus at bus stops. With cars rushing past, despite the clear indication of bus lights, drivers often do not have enough time to react. This speed contributes immensely to the danger faced by children and significantly increases the risk of accidents. 

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reducing the speed limit by even just 10 mph can make a significant difference in reaction time and stopping distance. Slower speed allows drivers to have better control over their vehicles, thereby increasing pedestrian safety.

Additionally, in regards to, the intersection of Thomas Street and East Main Street amends must be made.  This intersection is used by many children living in the Bridgewater Avenue area to walk to the neighborhood Bel Aire Park.  This intersection currently has 4 lanes of high speed traffic with sidewalks on only one side of East Main Street and no crosswalks in the direction to access the park.  Reducing the speed limit on East Main Street will provide safety for children walking to the nearby park.

Previously accessing Bel Aire Park was not an issue because another park was located at Kirby Avenue.  The Kirby Avenue Park was used by those in the Bridgewater Avenue area which did not require crossing Main Street.  Today the Kirby Avenue Park no longer exists and is now the location of the Kirby Village complex.  The construction of this building has caused an inflow of more children with no safe access to the Bel Aire Park.  Reducing the speed limit on Main Street will help keep these children safe. Please see images below to verify how the landscape has changed.

We are urging the local council to take immediate action to lower the speed limit on this residential street. By implementing this change, drivers will be more likely to obey school bus stop laws and the overall environment will be significantly safer for our children. Let's create a safer way for our children to get to school every day.

If you are not familiar with the area some details may be confusing.  To clarify, East Main St is considered a county road and falls under ordinance of Somerset county.  This road is also referred to be county route 612 as stated on the county’s website.  I am calling together the Bridgewater and surrounding communities to make a decision and improve this roadway. 

Please join us in advocating for this critical change by signing this petition. Together, we can make a difference in ensuring our children's safety.