New Jersey’s Deadliest Roads and Fatal Accident Statistics

Between 2018 and 2020, 1,596 crashes resulted in fatalities along New Jersey roadways. MoneyGeek identified the state's deadliest stretches of road.

Out of New Jersey's 85,108 miles of road, we included 789 roads in our study. The analysis covered risky driving behaviors (drunk driving, speeding and distracted driving) and how crash frequency shifted by season.

• 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 2020 involved drunk driving or speeding. Of the two, drunk driving contributed to 359 deadly crashes. Speeding accounted for 327.
• Distracted driving was involved in 19.6% of accidents. It contributed to 313 deadly crashes between 2018 and 2020. In a separate study, MoneyGeek ranked New Jersey ninth-worst 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.

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.

Even small amounts of alcohol affect driving ability in ways most drivers underestimate.

In New Jersey, the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit is 0.08%, about four drinks. Two drinks can push a driver's BAC to 0.02%. At that concentration, visual tracking already starts to suffer. The ability to focus on more than one thing at once drops, too.

A DUI conviction carries consequences that last for years. Drivers face license suspension and fines; some also serve jail time. The conviction also raises car insurance rates in New Jersey. Fewer carriers are willing to insure drivers with a DUI on record.

In 2020, 38,824 lives were lost in U.S. motor vehicle crashes, with speeding involved in 19% of those fatalities. In New Jersey, speeding was a factor in 327 (20.5%) of all deadly crashes in New Jersey from 2018 to 2020.

Speeds above the limit reduce vehicle control. At higher speeds, stopping distance increases and the margin for error shrinks.

Distracted driving contributed to 313 deadly crashes in New Jersey from 2018 to 2020. That's 19.6% of all recorded incidents.

The state has a distracted driving law prohibiting drivers from talking or texting on their cellphones. New Jersey still ranks ninth-worst in the U.S. for distracted driving, according to a separate MoneyGeek study.

October recorded the most fatal accidents from 2018 to 2020 at 166 (10.4%). September and July followed, with 164 (10.3%) and 153 (9.6%) fatal crashes.

Keeping New Jersey's roadways safe is the responsibility of all drivers. Safe driving reduces crash risk and lowers what you pay for coverage. Sometimes you can't prevent a crash. In these situations, having full coverage car insurance provides a financial buffer. 

The average cost of car insurance in New Jersey is $1,674 a year. Where you live affects your premium. For example, auto insurance in Newark, the state's most populous city, costs $1,775 a year. Drivers pay around $1,573 a year 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 quotes from several providers is the most reliable way to find the cheapest car insurance.

The number of deadly crashes varied across New Jersey's counties. The five counties with the highest numbers accounted for around 38% of all fatal accidents.

Middlesex County had the highest count of fatal accidents from 2018 to 2020, at 151. Most occurred on I-95, with speeding and drunk driving as the leading factors.

MoneyGeek analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) database using fatality data from 2018, 2019 and 2020.