Transportation

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Agriculture to publish online safety information for motorists about sharing roads with farm equipment, including a video on passing risks. It mandates that driver education courses include instruction on safely sharing roads with farm equipment, defined as tractors, machinery, or equipment used in farming. The department must also emphasize this safety topic during National Farm Safety and Health Week each September. Additionally, the bill requires a report within 18 months assessing safety risks and potential solutions like signage or penalties for unsafe passing. The policy directly affects drivers, farm operators, and new drivers through updated education materials.

S 685 creates a 15-member "Fleet Conversion Task Force" within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to study the transition of commercial vehicle fleets (like delivery trucks and company vehicles) to zero-emission models. The task force will examine challenges such as costs for small businesses, coordinate with stakeholders including fleet operators, manufacturers, and environmental groups, and develop policy recommendations to support this shift. It directly affects commercial fleet owners, operators, and related industries by seeking solutions to reduce transportation emissions, which account for 38% of New Jersey's total greenhouse gases. The task force must hold public hearings, gather input from diverse sectors, and submit findings to the state within a set timeframe.