A campaign aimed at making residential streets safer is returning to Piscataway once again this year.

The initiative, called “Piscataway Promotes Safe Streets,” focuses on reducing speeding and preventing crashes in neighborhoods where the speed limit is 25 mph.

Town leaders say the campaign began about four years ago after ongoing complaints about speeding throughout residential areas.

“After talking with colleagues from another state to other mayors….the biggest issue facing towns is safety on the streets,” Mayor Brian Wahler said.

Officials say the initiative was strengthened after receiving a grant from the New Jersey Division of Traffic Safety, allowing the township to track speeding data more effectively and implement a four-part strategy.

One of the most visible changes is eight pole-mounted radar signs that flash drivers’ speeds back to them in real-time, installed throughout the town.

“When we started this campaign, we didn’t have any of those signs,” Sgt. Bill Kloos said.

Education is the second focus. Officers are now conducting seminars at local high schools on how to drive safely. Data showed teens were involved in crashes at rates higher than county and state averages.

“It is important because when we looked at the data, teens are involved in these crashes at a much higher level than the state and county average,” Kloos said.

Community engagement is another component. Residents are encouraged to provide feedback and can request free lawn signs urging drivers to slow down.

Lastly, police conduct targeted speed enforcement. Officers are assigned to specific streets at specific times based on data collected from radar signs, which are typically placed in neighborhoods for several weeks before information is downloaded and analyzed.

Officials say the effort is producing results. Speed-related crashes on 25 mph roads are now at or below county and state averages.

Town leaders say the long-term goal is to expand the campaign to additional communities. So far, they are partnering with Rutgers police and South Plainfield police. The campaign will also expand to 30 mph and 35 mph residential streets.

"A lot of teens that we are seeing involved in these collisions are from 16 to 20 years old," Patrolman Mark Chanley said. "A lot of Rutgers students that would drive through Piscataway on a daily basis, and might be involved in these crashes, so we decided to partner with the Rutgers University Police Department.

As part of their community engagement efforts, they will be hosting a Public Open Forum taking place at the Piscataway Community Center on March 16 to educate on the campaign.