Hundreds Of Runners Push For Safer Streets In West Orange, Honor Boy Killed In Crash

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The rain didn’t stop them from racing in the name of traffic safety.

A soggy bout of weather didn’t dampen spirits at the 16^th annual Stop For Nikhil Run/Walk/Bike Ride, which took place Sept. 20 at West Orange High School.

The fundraising race drew hundreds of participants to remember those killed and seriously injured in traffic crashes and take action for safer roads.

The event honors the life of Nikhil Badlani, an 11-year-old West Orange boy who was killed in 2011 by a driver who ran a stop sign.

The day began with cyclists taking part in the 5K memorial bike ride, a powerful reflection of the growing community that has come together around the Foundation’s mission to make our roads safer. A Bollywood dance warm-up got runners and walkers moving before the 5K Run, 3K Walk, and Kids Fun Run got underway. The Nikhil Badlani Foundation Youth Advisory Board then led participants in the STOP For Nikhil Traffic Safety Pledge, a cornerstone of Nikhil's Law. Rounding out the morning were student-created traffic safety artwork, community and traffic safety exhibits, and a Waymo fully autonomous vehicle on display.

The morning's ceremony featured remarks from a lineup of state and local leaders who have partnered with the foundation throughout its 16-year history.

“There’s one piece of legislation that, thanks to the Nikhil Badlani Foundation, came to fruition, and that’s the Target Zero Commission,” New Jersey State Sen. John McKeon said.

“A couple years ago, [former Gov. Phil Murphy] signed the Target Zero with the goal of wiping out traffic fatalities by 2040,” McKeon said. “As we speak for the last several years, dedicated experts have been meeting and going forward with policy to meet those goals, and that's because of this family and this foundation.”

New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Priya Jain also commented on the annual traffic safety campaign – and the youth who inspired it.

“Sixteen years later, that commitment is as important as ever,” Jain said. “Nikhil’s story brings into sharp focus as professionals what we need to do, what are the decisions that we need to make, and how we make sure we’re keeping our roads safe.”

“Over the past year, a tremendous amount of work has gone into this, and now our focus is on action, using data to understand where the risks are and putting resources where they have the biggest impact, whether that's bicycle safety, pedestrian safety, or other safety measures,” Jain said.

“There is a simple reality,” Jain added. “People will make mistakes. But those mistakes should not cost them their lives.”

Sangeeta Badlani, founder and president of the Nikhil Badlani Foundation, reflected on how far the foundation's work has come since the first Stop For Nikhil event took place 16 years ago.

“When we first held this event 16 years ago, we could never have imagined where this journey would take us,” Badlani said.

“I often wonder what Nikhil would think if he could see all this,” Badlani said. “Knowing him, I know he would be very embarrassed by all this attention, but I'd also like to think he's smiling at what all of you have helped us accomplish in his memory.”

According to the foundation, it has invested more than $440,000 in traffic safety education and awareness over the paste 16 years. The organization has also awarded more than $330,000 in academic scholarships to graduating seniors – many of them first-generation college students –and invested more than $150,000 in private music education for children who might not otherwise have had the opportunity. Meanwhile, its Driver's Ed Through Art program has engaged more than 10,600 students and created 45 murals in schools across New Jersey, some of which have been featured on New Jersey Transit, and its Youth Advisory Board has grown to five schools across five counties.

“As transportation continues to evolve, so must the way we approach safety, from designing safer infrastructure and strengthening our traffic safety laws to embracing new technology and empowering the next generation,” Badlani said.

Badlani also presented this year's Stop For Nikhil Inspiration Award to Michelle Robinson, recognizing her advocacy for safer roads following the loss of her father, a Burlington City crossing guard who was killed protecting children.

Michael Rizol, director of New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, closed out the morning's remarks with a reminder of the work still ahead.

“It takes all of us,” Rizol said. “We can provide education, we can provide funding, we can help modify the law, we can help support the law, but we need everyone to buy in.”

“When you’re behind the wheel, put your phone down, buckle up, slow down, make sure you're not impaired, and share the road with other road users,” Rizol said. “It's not until everyone embraces that message that we'll truly be successful in moving toward zero traffic fatalities. We need everyone to live that message every day.”

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.