Office of the Governor | Governor Murphy Announces Adoption of Target Zero Commission Action Plan

Plan Marks Major Milestone in Goal to End Traffic Fatalities in New Jersey

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy today announced that the New Jersey Target Zero Commission has adopted an Action Plan with recommendations to move New Jersey towards the goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2040.

The 13-member Target Zero Commission was created when Governor Murphy signed A1476/S361 into law on January 13, 2025. Under the law, the Commission was charged with developing an Action Plan within one year to help achieve the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roadways throughout the state by 2040. The Plan includes 72 legislative and non-legislative recommendations intended to spur discussion.

The Commission includes officials from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), 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 key partners. The group is working collaboratively to improve safety for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and all roadway users across New Jersey – including via the Target Zero Commission High Injury Network, a data-driven tool using reportable crash data to show locations with a high number of crashes resulting in a fatality or serious injury where bicycle and pedestrian crashes occur. Fatal crashes and fatalities are down overall since 2023, with the number of fatalities in 2025 down nearly 19% year-to-date compared to 2024.

Consistent with the law, the Commission engaged stakeholders and the public during the development of the Action Plan and is committed to continuing the transparency of traffic safety data and resources across the state. The Commission’s Action Plan is intended to inform future policies, programs, and investments that prioritize safety.

The Target Zero Action Plan is grounded in the Safe System Approach, which recognizes that human mistakes are inevitable and that the transportation system must be designed to prevent those mistakes from resulting in death or serious injury. 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. These principles emphasize shared responsibility and coordinated action across all levels of government and sectors.

“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,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “This clear and comprehensive approach can save lives and lead to policies that demonstrate our commitment to making our roads safer for all.”

“From day one, this Commission was about more than setting a goal – it was about creating a clear, actionable path to save lives,” said NJDOT Commissioner Fran O’Connor, who chairs the Target Zero Commission. “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.”

Safety is everyone’s responsibility, and the Department of Transportation has sharply increased efforts to reduce traffic fatalities. Watch NJDOT Commissioner Fran O’Connor’s message about making roadway safety a way of life.