Auto crashes are one of the primary causes of injuries and untimely deaths in New Jersey and across the United States. Since it is such a problem and so many lives are affected by it, national and local agencies are vigilant about trying to find solutions to prevent these collisions.
Part of that is tracking the number of accidents and how they happen. Unfortunately, while there is a positive trend for better road safety across the nation, New Jersey is seeing a troubling increase in road deaths. State agencies and law enforcement are trying to figure out why.
People who take to the state roads should also be aware of the trends so they know what to look for to avoid being in a crash. If they are involved in an accident while driving, as passengers, while on motorcycles, bicycles or as pedestrians, they must think about how it can change their lives and act quickly to assess their options.
First half of 2024 has seen a troubling uptick in New Jersey road deaths
The New Jersey State Police released its fatality numbers through July 2 and found that there was a worrisome increase in fatalities on state roads in 2024 when compared to 2023. In 2023, by that date, there were 266 deaths. In 2024, it was 314. This was an 18% increase, which is statistically significant.
Pedestrians were increasingly vulnerable with 99 having lost their lives in the first half of the year. That is compared to 77 at the same time in 2023. People age 59 to 79 were at the highest risk.
Both numbers contrasted with the national statistics which have indicated greater road safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said there was a reduction of more than 3% in road fatalities in the U.S. for the first six months of 2024.
Individually, 30 of the 50 states in the union saw a decrease in road fatalities. Before this report, New Jersey was improving in its road safety reputation, particularly with pedestrians. This makes the numbers all the more worrying.
In recent years, the same reasons for auto crashes are emerging repeatedly: distraction, recklessness, speeding and impairment. Various campaigns have sought to educate drivers as to the dangers they are placing themselves and others in by this type of behavior.
That includes emphasizing the Slow Down, Move Over law for emergency vehicles and the Be Safe Together campaign entreating drivers to be attentive of their surroundings and avoid behaviors that lead to accidents. An example is putting their cellphone out of reach or putting it on silent so they are not tempted to drive distracted.
People using New Jersey roads should prioritize safety
As this shows, even when there is progress in making the roads less dangerous and people are showing better judgment, auto accidents can happen without warning for myriad reasons. Following the basic principles can help with increasing the chances of arriving at a destination safely. Still, there are endless risks on the roads that are difficult to avoid.
When there is an accident, people can suffer brain injuries, broken bones, internal damage, spinal cord injuries and more. In a worst-case scenario, they can lose their lives. This can be a personal, financial, emotional and professional burden for them and their loved ones.
Even with campaigns and attempts to show people how their behaviors can cause accidents, it still happens. After a crash, those who were hurt or lost a loved one need to explore all avenues to make a full recovery.
