New Jersey drivers already know how chaotic our roads can get. Between tight turns, busy highways and drivers who can’t turn on their blinker, it can feel intense on a good day. A new ConsumerAffairs report, which pulled federal crash numbers, shows that five cities in New Jersey fall into the top 20 places in the Northeast where driving is especially dangerous. The data points to a mix of speeding, alcohol and drivers making choices that don’t leave much room for error.
Camden
Camden showed some of the toughest numbers in the whole report and ended up in the second spot overall. A lot of the most serious crashes here involve people driving fast or reacting late in traffic.
Camden by the numbers:
• About 13 deaths for every 100,000 people
• About 18 crashes involving dangerous driving for every 100,000 people
• About 6 deaths tied to speeding for every 100,000 people
• About 4 deaths involving alcohol for every 100,000 people
Lakewood
Lakewood’s numbers placed it third in the Northeast. What stood out most was how often alcohol shows up in fatal crashes. Speeding isn’t far behind either, making certain roads tougher to navigate safely.
Lakewood by the numbers:
• About 13 deaths for every 100,000 people
• About 9 crashes tied to unsafe driving for every 100,000 people
• About 7 deaths tied to speeding for every 100,000 people
• About 7 deaths involving alcohol for every 100,000 people
Newark
Newark landed in eighth place. If you’ve ever driven near downtown or along the major highways that cut through the city, the mix of traffic, quick merges and constant movement won’t come as a surprise.
Newark by the numbers:
• About 10 deaths for every 100,000 people
• About 6 crashes involving dangerous driving for every 100,000 people
• About 3 deaths tied to speeding for every 100,000 people
• About 2 deaths involving alcohol for every 100,000 people
Trenton
Trenton took the 10th spot. Most of the deadly crashes here stem from risky driving rather than alcohol. Speeding appears regularly in the data too, which lines up with what drivers often experience on busier stretches.
Trenton by the numbers:
• About 10 deaths for every 100,000 people
• About 10 crashes tied to unsafe driving for every 100,000 people
• About 3 deaths tied to speeding for every 100,000 people
Elizabeth
Elizabeth was listed 11th. Traffic here can shift quickly from stop-and-go to fast-moving, and some of the worst crashes involve drivers misjudging those changes.
Elizabeth by the numbers:
• About 9 deaths for every 100,000 people
• About 5 crashes involving dangerous driving for every 100,000 people
• About 4 deaths tied to speeding for every 100,000 people
• About 1 death involving alcohol for every 100,000 people
How the report was done
The ConsumerAffairs Research Team used data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System. They reviewed cities across the Northeast with populations of at least 65,000 and compared their fatal crash rates, speeding incidents, alcohol involvement and behaviors considered unsafe behind the wheel. The combined scores created the ranking.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.