Fatal crashes in New Jersey
In 2024, 670 people died in 638 fatal crashes on New Jersey roads, 10.7% more than in 2023. That is about 2 deaths a day, and 1.7% of all road deaths in the United States.
New Jersey ranks 23rd of 51 by road deaths in 2024.
Road deaths in New Jersey since 1975
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads in New Jersey
US 1 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in New Jersey from 2015 to 2024: 157, with 172 deaths. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (51 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 1 | 157 | 172 | 61 | Middlesex, Union, Mercer |
| 2 | I-95 | 155 | 170 | 42 | Middlesex, Mercer, Bergen |
| 3 | US 9 | 127 | 138 | 46 | Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean |
| 4 | US 30 | 126 | 133 | 44 | Camden, Atlantic |
| 5 | US 130 | 111 | 117 | 37 | Burlington, Camden, Middlesex |
| 6 | I-80 | 104 | 117 | 31 | Morris, Warren, Passaic |
| 7 | I-78 | 87 | 93 | 24 | Somerset, Union, Hunterdon |
| 8 | I-295 | 86 | 90 | 26 | Burlington, Gloucester, Mercer |
| 9 | State Highway 27 | 78 | 85 | 26 | Union, Middlesex, Essex |
| 10 | State Highway 70 | 78 | 79 | 29 | Ocean, Burlington, Camden |
| 11 | US 40 | 76 | 79 | 24 | Atlantic, Salem, Gloucester |
| 12 | State Highway 47 | 67 | 70 | 21 | Cumberland, Gloucester, Cape May |
| 13 | US 322 | 65 | 69 | 23 | Gloucester, Atlantic |
| 14 | State Highway 55 | 60 | 65 | 12 | Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem |
| 15 | US 46 | 59 | 61 | 17 | Morris, Bergen, Passaic |
| 16 | State Highway 35 | 57 | 59 | 18 | Monmouth, Middlesex, Ocean |
| 17 | US 206 | 52 | 56 | 16 | Burlington, Sussex, Mercer |
| 18 | I-287 | 51 | 57 | 14 | Somerset, Middlesex, Bergen |
| 19 | State Highway 33 | 49 | 49 | 10 | Monmouth, Mercer, Middlesex |
| 20 | US 22 | 43 | 47 | 14 | Somerset, Union, Hunterdon |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest counties in New Jersey
Middlesex County had the most fatal crashes in New Jersey from 2015 to 2024: 494, with 532 deaths. 21 counties in New Jersey recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 20 with the most are listed.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middlesex | 54 | 494 | 532 |
| 2 | Essex | 46 | 442 | 470 |
| 3 | Camden | 37 | 427 | 448 |
| 4 | Burlington | 45 | 418 | 445 |
| 5 | Ocean | 42 | 400 | 423 |
| 6 | Monmouth | 48 | 388 | 413 |
| 7 | Atlantic | 55 | 365 | 385 |
| 8 | Bergen | 40 | 345 | 368 |
| 9 | Gloucester | 29 | 337 | 362 |
| 10 | Union | 34 | 290 | 302 |
| 11 | Mercer | 35 | 259 | 266 |
| 12 | Passaic | 32 | 246 | 262 |
| 13 | Cumberland | 25 | 230 | 250 |
| 14 | Morris | 21 | 221 | 234 |
| 15 | Hudson | 19 | 220 | 234 |
| 16 | Somerset | 18 | 186 | 196 |
| 17 | Salem | 14 | 130 | 145 |
| 18 | Warren | 14 | 113 | 119 |
| 19 | Cape May | 9 | 110 | 114 |
| 20 | Sussex | 12 | 103 | 107 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in New Jersey
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 244 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 8 pm to 9 pm; the worst month is October.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.3 percent, 194 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 108 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 99 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 153 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 182 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 164 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.5 percent, 88 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 97 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 98 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 126 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 158 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 181 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.0 percent, 57 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 115 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 99 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 160 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 159 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 135 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.2 percent, 72 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 101 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 99 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 160 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 183 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 153 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.3 percent, 78 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 104 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 107 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 123 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 208 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 188 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.7 percent, 96 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 114 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 110 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 136 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 193 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 228 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.5 percent, 204 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 102 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 85 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 144 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 189 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 244 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.7%
- Feb6.1%
- Mar6.6%
- Apr6.8%
- May8.1%
- Jun9.2%
- Jul9.1%
- Aug8.8%
- Sep9.4%
- Oct10.3%
- Nov9.3%
- Dec8.6%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in New Jersey: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| New Jersey | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 11% | 43% | below the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 34% | 25% | above the US share |
| In daylight | 44% | 46% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 29% | 21% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 18% | 28% | below the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on New Jersey roads in 2024
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 311 | 46% |
| Pedestrians | 210 | 31% |
| Motorcyclists | 112 | 17% |
| Cyclists | 25 | 3.7% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 12 | 1.8% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes happen in New Jersey: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (2,916 in New Jersey).
| New Jersey | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 22% | 26% | below the US share |
| Speeding | 23% | 27% | below the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 45% | 49% | below the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 8.7% | 6.5% | above the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 14% | 16% | below the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 1,943 | 34% |
| Pedestrian | 1,678 | 29% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 1,470 | 25% |
| Other | 231 | 4.0% |
| Cyclist | 192 | 3.3% |
| Rollover | 169 | 2.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 114 | 2.0% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Vehicles in fatal crashes in New Jersey
Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type (8,474 vehicles).
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 3,785 | 45% |
| SUVs | 1,934 | 23% |
| Motorcycles | 833 | 9.8% |
| Pickups | 685 | 8.1% |
| Vans | 447 | 5.3% |
| Other trucks | 394 | 4.6% |
| Truck-tractors | 315 | 3.7% |
| Buses | 81 | 1.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road pages for New Jersey
Every numbered road in New Jersey with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the New Jersey numbers come from
Every figure on this page is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I35 FRONTAGE" and "I-35" are the same road; frontage roads and ramps are left out of road counts). Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". The full method.