New Jersey
The one spot in New Jersey where you can ignore the speed limit
Generally speaking, speed limit signs are pretty straightforward, right?
I mean, if the sign says “speed limit 65,” you should stay at or under 65 MPH.
But that’s not always the case, especially in a rather rural area of our fine state.
And, no, this is not a story about how everyone ignores the speed limit on the Turnpike and Parkway.
Speed Limit 65 Road Sign on the GSP
Life in Salem County, NJ
I’ve long been amazed and intrigued by Salem County. If you’ve never done a deep dive into this part of the state, it’s kinda like you’re in Kansas or Nebraska.
Actually, scratch the word “kinda” — it is like being in the middle of the Great Plains.
In other words, take every single stereotype you have about New Jersey and get rid of it.
There are no giant cities out here like Trenton or Newark. Sure, there are thousands of people in Salem and Carney’s Point, but just a few minutes away, this is where we put the “garden” in Garden State.
Let me put it this way: if you ever want to see an area of New Jersey with no Wawas, no Walmarts, and no strip malls, this is it.
You know how your town has 18 places to get pizza? Good luck with that down here.
Route 40 in Salem County NJ – Photo: Google Maps
This is where you can literally stand in the middle of a road during rush hour and never see a vehicle.
Chris Coleman / Google Maps
Bizarre Speed Limit Sign in New Jersey
Speaking of highways, while recently exploring lower Salem County, I was on some little backcountry road and I saw this rather unusual speed limit sign…
Suggested speed limit sign in Salem County NJ
Suggested? What does that mean?
Yes, I know what the word means, but I’ve never seen a suggested speed limit sign in New Jersey before.
Is this someone’s way of wanting you to slow down because there are kids in the area? Truth be told, I was in the middle of nowhere and I never saw any humans at all, let alone kids running around.
And can you get a ticket for going over 35 MPH here? It, technically, isn’t saying you have to go 35, it’s just suggesting it. Maybe you can suggest to the police officer that pulls you over to not write you a ticket. I’m sure that’ll end well for you.
I’ve never seen a suggested speed limit sign in New Jersey before. If you have, please let me know.
Meanwhile, if you like really cool old things, this century-old bridge in Salem County is really amazing…
Cool bridge in rural Salem County; Built in 1905, closed since 1991
Gallery Credit: Chris Coleman
New Jersey
Husband of slain New Jersey mom begs for help in newly released 911 call | Fox News Video
Former homicide detective Brian Foley joins ‘Fox & Friends Weekend’ to provide analysis on Conor Hanlon’s 911 call after finding his wife, Brooke, stabbed to death.
Former homicide detective Brian Foley provides expert insights into the newly released 911 call from Conor Hanlon, whose wife, New Jersey therapist Brooke Hanlon, was found stabbed to death. Foley analyzes the husband’s emotional state and the police’s approach, noting the case’s ‘suspicious’ designation 13 minutes into the call.
New Jersey
NJ firefighter dies after crash responding to fire call
A young firefighter died two weeks after being badly hurt in a crash while responding to a fire call, according to the Malaga Fire Company.
Robert (Bobby) Reider, 23, was driving north along Delsea Drive while trying to get to the scene of fire on Saturday, June 27 when his car went off the road, officials said.
When first responders got to the scene of the crash, they found Reider trapped in his car and worked to remove him.
Reider was then taken by helicopter to a nearby hospital where he was treated for severe and traumatic injuries.
Weeks later, on July 10 around 4:30 a.m., Reider died from his injuries while still in the hospital.
The Malaga Fire Company says that Reider joined their team in 2018 when he was just 16 as a junior firefighter.
He then went on to earn a certificate at Fire 1 at the Salem County Fire Academy in 2022.
New Jersey
NJ Legislators Are Considering a Bill That Could Ban Tesla Robotaxis Due to Their Tech Choice
New Jersey lawmakers are deliberating on a law that would create a three-year autonomous vehicle pilot program in the state, but Tesla might be banned from participating altogether over a technical choice made by the Texas-based carmaker for its self-driving vehicles.
The bill, officially known as S1677, would establish autonomous vehicle testing requirements with the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. One of these proposed requirements is that autonomous vehicle operators use camera-based technology and two additional forms of sensor tech, such as lidar or radar. Of course, Tesla’s autonomous vehicle technology is purely camera-based, meaning the brand could be banned from testing in New Jersey.
The text of the bill is fairly straightforward, requiring prospective autonomous operators to submit a “law enforcement interaction plan” and detail redundant safety systems, crash-avoidance technology, and data recording capabilities. The specific language that would ban Tesla’s system requires autonomous operators to “be equipped with crash-avoidance systems, including a camera system and two distinct sensing modalities that are capable of detecting and tracking obstacles in the event of failure of the camera system.” The bill also favors keeping traditional steering wheel and pedal controls available. While initial testing would be completed with human safety operators, the bill would allow fully autonomous operation once certain metrics, such as 50,000 crash-free miles, are met.
The decision to require both camera- and sensor-based technology is not a coincidence, according to The Verge. “This is not anti-Tesla. I’m pro-New Jersey safety,” Democratic state senator Andrew Zwicker, the bill’s primary sponsor and a physicist by trade, said to The Verge. “At this point, I don’t think the evidence is sufficient that a single sensor with software can handle situations that humans can.”
Tesla is, unsurprisingly, upset about this development, and the company is fighting back. The automaker’s public policy platform, Engage Tesla, features a call to action for Tesla owners to contact members of the New Jersey Legislature to oppose the bill, with the plea claiming the autonomous vehicle testing program is the opposite of progress, and saying that Tesla would be legally barred from testing in the Garden State. Statistics about roadway death rates in New Jersey and denying freedom of movement for elderly populations are also included.
“Rather than prioritizing real safety outcomes and performance, the bill specifically bans Tesla from the New Jersey market,” the site reads. “Every arbitrary roadblock is a delay for the people who need this life-changing technology most. Legislation that bans Tesla’s proven AV technology from the market is not caution — it’s anti-competitive favoritism that will cause New Jersey to fall behind while other states move forward.”
The bill, introduced on January 16, is currently under consideration by the New Jersey Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. The bill’s language closely mirrors talking points from the nonprofit SAVE-US, which is lobbying for stronger oversight of autonomous vehicle testing. New Jersey is not the only state pondering additional autonomous testing regulation; New York legislators are working on similar legislation. Just yesterday, federal safety regulators called out autonomous vehicle operators like Waymo for interfering with first responders.
A New York transplant hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Emmet White has a passion for anything that goes: cars, bicycles, planes, and motorcycles. After learning to ride at 17, Emmet worked in the motorcycle industry before joining Autoweek in 2022 and Road & Track in 2024. The woes of alternate side parking have kept his fleet moderate, with a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI and a BMW 318i E30 street parked in his Queens community.
-
Technology5 minutes agoAfter years of teasing, the viral Nopia synth is ‘basically finished’
-
World7 minutes agoBeloved musicians among victims in deadly Bahamas plane crash; aviation authority grounds flights
-
Politics12 minutes agoTrump-aligned House holdouts accused of holding ‘life-saving’ veterans bill ‘hostage’ over SAVE America Act
-
Health20 minutes agoSimple sitting change linked to lower risk of cancer death, study finds
-
Sports22 minutes agoGolf star records lowest round in LPGA major history with astounding performance at Evian Championship
-
Technology28 minutes agoMeta Verified scam threatens Facebook deletion
-
Business35 minutes agoMeta discontinues Instagram feature on new AI image generation tool after Hollywood backlash
-
Entertainment37 minutes agoHuey Lewis details how he ‘can’t enjoy music’ anymore because he is ‘basically deaf’