Car accidents are a tragic reality that affects thousands of people each year. In New Jersey, a topic of concern among citizens and policymakers is the number of car accident fatalities in the state.
Examining the available data on car accident deaths in New Jersey will help determine whether the state is seeing an increase or decrease.
Current status in New Jersey
According to the New Jersey State Police Department Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, fatalities decreased 14.9% between 2022 to 2023. To date, in 2023, 149 fatal crashes took the lives of 154 individuals. Middlesex County has the highest fatality total at 22 deaths, including 12 drivers, one passenger and nine pedestrians.
Long-term trends
Long-term trends point to a gradual decrease in car accident fatalities over the past decade. The New Jersey Department of Health reports that from 2010 to 2020, the number of car accident fatalities per 100,000 population decreased from 7.4 to 6.4 deaths.
However, death rates due to motor vehicle crashes increased between 2019 and 2020. Compared to the national trend, New Jersey is not the only state that experienced an increase in car accident fatalities between 2019 and 2020. However, the mortality rate related to motor vehicles in New Jersey is approximately half of the entire nation.
Efforts to reduce accidents
The state increased law enforcement efforts to reduce distracted driving and enforce seat belt laws. The New Jersey Department of Transportation implemented several safety measures on highways, such as improving signage and installing rumble strips to reduce accidents.
Taking steps to ensure safety on New Jersey roadways is crucial in preventing car accident deaths. Ways to increase motorist and pedestrian safety include obeying traffic laws, never driving under the influence and avoiding distractions while driving.