Between 2018 and 2020, 1,596 crashes resulted in fatalities along New Jersey roadways. MoneyGeek took a closer look at these to determine the deadliest stretches of road in the Garden State.
Out of New Jersey's 85,108 miles of road, we included 789 roads in our study. Our analysis showed the various factors involved in these deadly accidents. These included risky driving behaviors, such as drunk driving, speeding and distracted driving. We also looked at how the time of year contributed to these incidents.
Additionally, MoneyGeek presented a summary of fatal crashes for each county in New Jersey, including the most dangerous road for each.
Key Findings
- US-40 from West End Avenue to Noah's Road, which passes through Egg Harbor Township, Pleasantville and Atlantic City, is the deadliest stretch of road in New Jersey. Between 2018 and 2020, 11 fatal accidents occurred here.
- Over 40% of all fatal accidents in New Jersey between 2018 and 2022 involved drunk driving or speeding. Of the two, drunk driving contributed to 359 deadly crashes, while speeding was a factor in 327 recorded incidents.
- Distracted driving was involved in 19.6% of accidents. It contributed to 313 deadly crashes between 2018 and 2022. In a separate study, MoneyGeek analyzed the worst states for distracted driving and found New Jersey to be the ninth-worst state in the U.S. for distracted driving.
- October had the most fatal accidents between 2018 and 2020. A total of 10.4% (166) of all deadly crashes within these three years happened during this month. September and July followed, with 164 (10.3%) and 153 (9.6%) accidents, respectively.
- Middlesex County had the highest number of deadly crashes of any county. The majority of these accidents happened on I-95.
10 Deadliest Road Stretches in New Jersey
- DEADLIEST ROAD IN NEW JERSEYUS-40 from West End Avenue to Noah's RoadEgg Harbor Township | Pleasantville | Atlantic City
- Fatal Accidents:11
- fatalities:11
- Crashes Per Mile:2.8
- distance:3.9 miles
- US-322 from Village Parkway to E. Garwood AvenueGloucester County
- Fatal Accidents:10
- fatalities:12
- Crashes Per Mile:2.2
- distance:4.6 miles
- I-95 from Exit 74 to the Vince Lombardi Travel PlazaRidgefield | Teaneck | Fort Lee | Englewood | Ridgefield Park | Leonia
- Fatal Accidents:10
- fatalities:11
- Crashes Per Mile:2.4
- distance:4.2 miles
- US-1 from Garden Street to US Highway 22Elizabeth | Newark
- Fatal Accidents:10
- fatalities:10
- Crashes Per Mile:2.4
- distance:4.1 miles
- SR-21 from Miller Street to 4th AvenueNewark
- Fatal Accidents:9
- fatalities:10
- Crashes Per Mile:3.1
- distance:2.9 miles
- I-80 from Exit 55B to Exit 60Woodland Park | Elmwood Park | Paterson | West Paterson
- Fatal Accidents:8
- fatalities:9
- Crashes Per Mile:2.3
- distance:3.4 miles
- SR-27 from Seminary Avenue to Grant StreetLinden | Rahway | Roselle
- Fatal Accidents:8
- fatalities:8
- Crashes Per Mile:2.4
- distance:3.3 miles
- I-95 from Exit 13 to Exit 14Newark | Elizabeth
- Fatal Accidents:7
- fatalities:8
- Crashes Per Mile:1.4
- distance:4.9 miles
- US-9 from Spring Valley Road to Old Mill RoadOld Bridge
- Fatal Accidents:7
- fatalities:8
- Crashes Per Mile:1.7
- distance:4.1 miles
- SR-27 from La Rose Avenue to S. Adelaide AvenueFranklin Park | Highland Park | North Brunswick | New Brunswick
- Fatal Accidents:7
- fatalities:7
- Crashes Per Mile:2.0
- distance:3.4 miles
Drunk Driving Involved in 22.5% of Fatal Accidents
Of the 1,596 deadly accidents in New Jersey between 2018 and 2020, 359 involved drunk driving. That's 22.5% of all reported incidents — more than those involving speeding, distracted driving and winter weather.
All drivers know that drinking and driving are never a good combination, but most don't realize how even a tiny amount of alcohol affects your driving skills.
In New Jersey, you're legally drunk when your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) reaches 0.08%. It takes about four drinks to hit that. However, two alcoholic beverages usually put your BAC at 0.02%. You might think it's insignificant, but you'll already experience difficulty tracking moving objects and multitasking. That already puts you and your passengers in danger.
The costs of drunk driving are expensive and long-lasting, even if it doesn't result in a fatality. You may lose your license, pay fines and face jail time. A DUI on your record makes finding affordable car insurance in New Jersey more challenging.
Speeding Is a Factor in 20.5% of Fatal Crashes
In 2020, 38,824 lives were lost as a result of motor vehicle crashes across the U.S. and 19% of fatal crashes involved drivers who were speeding at the time of the accident.
In New Jersey, speeding was also a concern. It was a factor in 327 — or 20.5% — of all deadly crashes from 2018 to 2020.
Driving above the speed limit often makes controlling your vehicle more difficult. You'll need more stopping distance, which may not be possible if the car in front of you suddenly stops, making collisions more likely.
Distracted Driving Contributed to 19.6% of Fatal Accidents
Distracted driving contributed to 313 deadly crashes in New Jersey from 2018 to 2020. That's 19.6% of all recorded incidents.
The Garden State has a distracted driving law prohibiting drivers from talking or texting on their mobile phones while behind the wheel. Despite that, New Jersey ranks as the ninth-worst state for distracted driving in a MoneyGeek study.
October Had More Fatal Accidents Than Any Other Month
Our analysis looked at which month had the highest number of deadly crashes. October came out on top for fatal accidents from 2018 to 2020. A total of 10.4% of all crashes resulting in fatalities happened then — that translates to 166 incidents.
September and July had the next-highest recorded incidents, at 164 (10.3%) and 153 (9.6%), respectively.
Driving Safely Protects You, Others and Your Wallet
Keeping New Jersey's roadways safe is the responsibility of all drivers. You don't just protect yourself and your loved ones when you practice safe driving behaviors — you also save money. However, sometimes you can't prevent a crash, and in these situations, having full coverage car insurance comes in handy. A policy ensures that you, your passengers and your assets have protection after a collision.
The average cost of car insurance in New Jersey is $1,674 per year. Remember, though, that this is an average for the entire state — where you live often affects your premium. For example, auto insurance in Newark, New Jersey's most populous city, costs $1,775. In comparison, drivers pay around $1,573 per year for car insurance in Jersey City.
Besides your ZIP code, insurers consider other factors when calculating your premium. These include your age, driving history and car's make and model. Comparing estimates from several providers is always a good idea — it can help you find the cheapest car insurance company that fits your needs and preferences.
Fatal Accidents and Most Dangerous Roads: County Breakdown
The number of deadly crashes that happened in each of New Jersey's counties varies. However, the five counties with the highest numbers contributed to around 38% of fatal accidents in the Garden State. That's a total of 608 recorded incidents.
Middlesex County had the highest count of fatal accidents from 2018 to 2020, at 151. Most of these happened along the 1-95 and involved speeding and drunk driving.
Methodology
MoneyGeek analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) database using fatality data from 2018, 2019 and 2020. Currently, 2020 is the latest data available in the system.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Impaired Driving: Get the Facts." Accessed October 13, 2022.
- Federal Highway Administration. "Highway Statistics Series." Accessed November 1, 2021.
- National Highway Safety Administration. "Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)." Accessed March 3, 2021.
- National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration. "2020 Traffic Safety Facts." Accessed October 13, 2022.
- New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. "Just Drive." Accessed October 13, 2022.