Motor vehicle collisions are one of the top causes of injury and death in New Jersey. Crashes can occur on any rural roads and on highways where people drive uneventfully every single day. Most collisions are the result of unsafe driving habits, although they are occasionally caused by inclement weather, road issues or vehicle defects.
Anyone might end up hurt in a crash and could struggle to cover the expenses caused by a collision. Even those with the safest personal habits could end up injured in a crash if they encounter someone else who is drunk or texting at the wheel.
Of course, there are certain factors that increase your risk, including when and where you drive. According to collision data from 2022, certain counties in New Jersey see far more collisions than others. What counties are the most dangerous for New Jersey drivers based on the number of fatalities?
More populous counties tend to have more crashes
When you look at the counties with the highest number of fatalities, you quickly realize that they are also the counties with some of the bigger municipalities in the state. Middlesex counties saw the highest total number of fatalities, with 67 people dying in 64 different collisions.
Burlington had the second-highest number of fatalities, with 59 deaths occurring in 53 different crashes. Essex County had 57 fatalities, Camden had 56, and Monmouth had 55. When looking at the most dangerous counties, those five are a good start.
Ocean County was home to 53 traffic fatalities in 2022, while Bergen County saw 45 traffic deaths. 40 people died in Gloucester County. Atlantic County saw 34 deaths, and Mercer County had 28 traffic fatalities. Morris County saw 20 deaths in 20 crashes in 2022. The county with the lowest total number of traffic fatalities was Hunterdon, with only eight deaths throughout the entire year.
Obviously, some roads within those counties are more dangerous than others, and you can’t simply avoid the most populous counties in the state. However, you can remind yourself when in Middlesex or Burlington counties that the possibility of a crash is likely higher.
Addressing your driving behaviors to reduce your overall risk could potentially help you avoid a motor vehicle collision.
