Montgomery Township Police Work to Ensure Drivers Stop for Pedestrians, About 30% Ignore Walkers and Keep Driving

By Barbara A. Preston | September 16, 2025

Drivers almost always slow down for a pothole, however, 30% ignore a pedestrian who is trying to safely cross the street in a designated crosswalk.

In a continuing effort to improve pedestrian safety, Montgomery police observed 23 drivers who failed to stop for a pedestrian in the crosswalk on Pike Run Road in Belle Mead during a four-hour period on Thursday, September 11.

Pike Run Road pedestrian crosswalk in Belle Mead. Drivers must stop for pedestrians who are trying to cross the road — it's the law. During a police enforcement operation, 23 drivers failed to stop on September 11.

Photo by Google Maps.

Another 44 drivers did comply with the law and stopped for an officer in plain, highly visible clothing in the crosswalk, and allowed the officer to cross Pike Run Road.

Of the 23 drivers who failed to stop, 18 were able to be stopped by police. The other drivers were not stopped due to officers being unavailable with other stopped violators. Police ticked 12 drivers for 39:4-36 (Not stopping for a pedestrian in crosswalk) and six received  written warnings.

In Addition to Not Stopping, Some Were Speeding, or Using a Cell Phone

Two drivers were issued speeding summons, three were issued failing to stop for a stop sign, one for using a cell phone, one failure to wear a seatbelt, one careless driving summons, and two expired registrations. All stopped drivers were provided educational palm cards that explains the pedestrian law and what a driver's responsibilities are regarding pedestrians and crosswalks, police said.

Montgomery Police Chief Silvio Bet said traffic fatalities have increased by 14% in New Jersey. This overall increase was largely due to a 36% increase in pedestrian fatalities.

“As part of our ongoing commitment  to community safety, our department is actively enforcing pedestrian safety laws to protect everyone on  our roadways,” he said. “In New Jersey, drivers are required to stop for pedestrians in marked crosswalks and must not pass vehicles stopped for pedestrians. Furthermore,  pedestrians should use crosswalks and obey traffic signals for their safety.  

These simple steps save lives. Our officers are out there to ensure that both drivers and pedestrians are  following the law—because safety is a shared responsibility.” 

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The Montgomery Police Department takes enforcement actions in response to  community requests and to educate the general public on the rules at marked and unmarked crossings.  The police department will continue to conduct pedestrian safety enforcement operations in the coming  months at various locations within the township, Bet said.

"The Montgomery Township Police Department would like to thank AAA for being a strong  advocate for traffic safety and providing our agency with a pedestrian enforcement grant and training that aided in this enforcement effort being successful," Bet said.

The enforcement operation was coordinated by Sgt. Tim Giaccone, Traffic Bureau Supervisor.