EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. — The East Brunswick Police Department is urging drivers to avoid blocking the newly painted intersection box at Rues Lane and Hillsdale Road, a move aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving safety.
The painted grid, introduced in recent weeks, marks a zone where vehicles are prohibited from stopping while waiting for traffic to move forward. Drivers who enter the box without ensuring they can fully exit it risk obstructing vehicles attempting to enter or exit Hillsdale Road, creating bottlenecks and delays.
Officials cited New Jersey’s Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation, Section 39:4-67, which prohibits drivers from entering intersections when traffic ahead prevents immediate clearance. The law is designed to ensure roadways remain passable and to reduce the risk of collisions at busy crossings.
“When a driver ‘blocks the box,’ they interrupt the flow of traffic and create unnecessary safety hazards,” the department stated in a Facebook post on Tuesday. The statement emphasized the importance of courteous driving to maintain smooth traffic flow in the area.
Authorities are reminding motorists to pay close attention to traffic conditions and to keep the painted box clear at all times, as enforcement of the rule will continue.
Blocking the box leads to gridlock and delays, East Brunswick police say.