Which New Jersey roads and towns see the most deadly crashes? We went straight to the official numbers: the New Jersey State Police Fatal Accident Investigation Unit's county totals, and the federal Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) record of every fatal crash in the country. Here is what the data shows, and what it does and doesn't tell you.
Key facts
- State Police preliminary figures show 581 people killed in 546 fatal crashes in New Jersey in 2025, down from 684 deaths in 2024.
- Pedestrians were 176 of those 581 deaths, about 3 in 10.
- In 2025, Ocean County had the most traffic deaths (63), followed by Middlesex (49), Essex (44), Burlington (43) and Camden (40).
- From 2022 through 2024, the Garden State Parkway (79 deaths) and U.S. Route 1 (77) had the most fatalities of any New Jersey road in the federal data.
- Newark recorded more traffic deaths than any other New Jersey municipality over those three years: 84.
Where the numbers come from
We used two official sources:
- New Jersey State Police, "Victim Classification by County" reports for 2024 and 2025. These count every traffic death reported to the State Police Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, broken down by drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians. The State Police label them preliminary and subject to change; the 2025 report we used was run on October 31, 2026.
- NHTSA FARS crash files for 2022, 2023 and 2024. FARS records the road, municipality, lighting and other details of each fatal crash. We counted New Jersey crashes by the road and town listed in those files.
Both sources count only crashes in which someone died. Non-fatal crashes, which are far more common, aren't included here.
Traffic deaths by county, 2025 and 2024
| County | 2025 deaths | 2025 pedestrian deaths | 2024 deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean | 63 | 18 | 46 |
| Middlesex | 49 | 15 | 60 |
| Essex | 44 | 27 | 55 |
| Burlington | 43 | 9 | 45 |
| Camden | 40 | 14 | 37 |
| Atlantic | 34 | 12 | 56 |
| Bergen | 32 | 8 | 42 |
| Gloucester | 29 | 3 | 32 |
| Union | 29 | 11 | 39 |
| Passaic | 27 | 10 | 31 |
| Mercer | 26 | 8 | 38 |
| Monmouth | 25 | 7 | 53 |
| Cumberland | 22 | 8 | 30 |
| Morris | 22 | 4 | 21 |
| Hudson | 21 | 11 | 19 |
| Salem | 21 | 3 | 16 |
| Cape May | 13 | 0 | 9 |
| Somerset | 13 | 1 | 19 |
| Sussex | 11 | 3 | 12 |
| Warren | 10 | 2 | 15 |
| Hunterdon | 7 | 2 | 9 |
| New Jersey | 581 | 176 | 684 |
Source: New Jersey State Police Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, preliminary year-end victim classification by county, 2024 and 2025.
Two things stand out. First, Essex County's deaths are mostly people on foot: 27 of its 44 traffic deaths in 2025 were pedestrians, more than any other county. Hudson County was similar, with 11 of 21. Second, totals can swing sharply from year to year. Monmouth County went from 53 deaths in 2024 to 25 in 2025, and Ocean County rose from 46 to 63. One year of data is a snapshot, not a trend.
The roads with the most traffic deaths, 2022 to 2024
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | Pedestrians killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 71 | 79 | 15 |
| U.S. Route 1 | 67 | 77 | 23 |
| U.S. Route 9 | 48 | 51 | 19 |
| Interstate 95 | 46 | 51 | 5 |
| U.S. Route 30 (White Horse Pike) | 45 | 47 | 21 |
| U.S. Route 130 | 37 | 39 | 12 |
| Interstate 80 | 34 | 36 | 2 |
| Interstate 78 | 27 | 31 | 5 |
| Route 27 | 26 | 31 | 11 |
| Interstate 295 | 28 | 29 | 3 |
Source: our count of New Jersey crashes in NHTSA FARS files, 2022–2024. Crashes on the New Jersey Turnpike may be listed under I-95 or under the Turnpike's own name, depending on the segment and how the crash was coded.
What the road list tells you
- Route 1 is deadly for people on foot. It had more pedestrian deaths (23) than any other road, and its deaths were concentrated in Middlesex (30 of 77), Union (19) and Essex (11) counties. Long stretches mix 50 mph traffic with shopping centers, bus stops and few safe crossings.
- Route 9 and the White Horse Pike follow the same pattern. Both are long commercial highways with driveways, bus stops and crossing pedestrians. Route 9's deaths were heaviest in Monmouth and Middlesex counties.
- The Parkway's total partly reflects its length and traffic. It runs the length of the state and carries enormous volumes, so raw totals favor it. A long, busy road can lead the list without being the most dangerous mile for mile.
- Interstates are deadly for drivers, not walkers. I-80, I-95 and I-295 had relatively few pedestrian deaths. Their crashes tend to involve high speed, trucks and lane changes.
The towns with the most traffic deaths, 2022 to 2024
| Municipality | County | Deaths | Pedestrians killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newark | Essex | 84 | 31 |
| Vineland | Cumberland | 36 | 5 |
| Elizabeth | Union | 32 | 15 |
| Trenton | Mercer | 29 | 16 |
| Jersey City | Hudson | 27 | 8 |
| Paterson | Passaic | 25 | 4 |
| Camden | Camden | 24 | 11 |
| Toms River | Ocean | 24 | 8 |
| Atlantic City | Atlantic | 22 | 10 |
| Sayreville | Middlesex | 22 | 10 |
| Woodbridge | Middlesex | 20 | 3 |
| Lakewood | Ocean | 20 | 5 |
Source: our count of New Jersey crashes in NHTSA FARS files, 2022–2024, by the municipality listed for each crash.
Read this list with care. These are raw totals, so large cities and towns crossed by major highways naturally rank high. Newark, Elizabeth and Jersey City have large populations and heavy traffic. Sayreville and Woodbridge are crossed by the Parkway, the Turnpike, Route 9 and Route 1. Also, about one in five New Jersey deaths in these federal files had no municipality listed, so some towns are undercounted.
When deadly crashes happen
About half of New Jersey's fatal crashes from 2022 through 2024 happened in the dark, whether on lighted or unlighted roads. Darkness matters most for pedestrians, who are much harder for drivers to see. If you walk near a busy highway after sunset, bright or reflective clothing and marked crossings make a real difference. When pedestrians have the right of way in New Jersey.
Does a "dangerous road" help an injury claim?
Statistics don't decide fault. A claim still turns on what happened in your crash: who ran the light, who was speeding, who wasn't watching. But the road itself can matter in two ways:
- Road design or maintenance. If a missing signal, a broken guardrail or a dangerous condition the government knew about contributed to the crash, a claim may lie against the public entity responsible for the road. These claims are governed by the Tort Claims Act, and a written notice of claim is generally due within 90 days (N.J.S.A. 59:8-8). How claims against public entities work.
- Evidence. Busy corridors are more likely to have traffic cameras, store surveillance and witnesses. That footage is often overwritten within days, so it is worth acting quickly.
If you were hurt on one of these roads
- Get medical care, and tell the doctor everything that hurts. Steps to take after a crash.
- Get the police crash report. How to read a New Jersey crash report.
- Submit your PIP claim for medical bills. New Jersey PIP explained.
- Keep the deadline in mind: most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2), and claims involving a public entity need notice within 90 days.
Hurt in a crash on Route 1, the Parkway or any New Jersey road? See our car accident and pedestrian accident pages, or call for a free consultation.