On Thursday, October 29th, nearly 100 students from five high schools across the state gathered in Dunellen to collaborate on road safety projects at the Second Annual Youth Advisory Board Summit. Under this year’s theme of “From Awareness to Action”, with Summit funding provided by the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety, students celebrated their accomplishments, exchanged ideas, and identified new projects to improve safety on their local streets.
Nearly 100 students from five high schools across the state gathered to collaborate on road safety projects at the Second Annual Youth Advisory Board Summit.
Their ideas included partnering with municipal elected officials to advance community safety initiatives, educating peers and younger students through creative outreach such as videos, coloring books, and art projects, and creating opportunities for individuals impacted by traffic crashes to share their experiences and raise awareness.
The event was organized by the Nikhil Badlani Foundation, created in memory of 11-year-old Nikhil Badlani from West Orange who tragically lost his life in 2011 when a driver ran a stop sign. In 2018, the Foundation launched the Traffic Safety Youth Advisory Board at West Orange High School to empower youth to make a difference in traffic safety advocacy. Today they have four additional participating chapters; Infinity Institute (Jersey City), Frank J. Cicarell Academy (Elizabeth), Dunellen, and Burlington City high schools.
The past efforts of Youth Advisory Board members have involved various traffic safety campaigns, even resulting in state legislation. They helped pass Bill S2789, requiring at least 50 hours of supervised driving for permit holders under 21 to obtain a driver’s license, including 10 hours in the darkness of night. Additionally, they’ve advocated for Bill A4765, requiring drivers’ education regarding safely sharing the roadway with vulnerable road users.
The Day’s Schedule
The Summit began with welcoming remarks from Sangeeta Badlani, founder of the Nikhil Badlani Foundation, and Michael J. Rizol, Director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, who praised the students’ commitment to traffic safety and encouraged them to transform their ideas into meaningful action.
To further support these emerging youth leaders, the summit featured guest speakers who provided both inspiration and practical guidance. Foundation Board Member Michael Dannemiller shared insights on traffic safety and the importance of youth advocacy, while Sean Meehan of the NJDOT Safe Routes Resource Center, housed at Rutgers University’s Voorhees Transportation Center (VTC), discussed how street design and transportation planning can help create safer communities for all road users.
As part of breakout groups, Sam Rosenthal, Sean Meehan, and Leigh Ann Von Hagen of VTC along with other transportation experts from Keep Middlesex Moving, Union County Connects, and East Coast Greenway worked with students during breakout sessions, helping them refine ideas and brainstorm projects to advance traffic safety in their communities.
During the closing session, Leigh Ann Von Hagen of VTC encouraged students to take the next step by developing elevator pitches that clearly communicate the goals of their projects, the changes they hope to achieve, and why those changes matter. As she reminded participants, “Your personal experiences are powerful. Each of you brings a unique perspective and story. When those voices come together, they can inspire action and make a real difference. Small ideas can grow into meaningful change for safer streets and healthier communities.”
Sean Meehan and Sam Rosenthal (VTC), along with Sofia Barandiaran (East Coast Greenway), work with students on ideas for local safety campaigns.
New Video Contest Announced
A new challenge was unveiled as part of New Jersey’s Safe Routes to School initiative. Students are invited to develop concepts for short videos answering the question: “What do I want my community to look like to make walking, bicycling, and micromobility safer, especially for teens traveling to and from school, activities, jobs, and transit?”
Winning concepts will be produced into professional social media videos, giving students an even larger platform to share their vision for safer streets.
The 2026 Youth Advisory Board Summit highlighted the creativity, leadership, and commitment of New Jersey’s youth, proving that safer communities start with engaged young people ready to turn ideas into action.