Middlesex County, surrounded by some of New Jersey’s major highways, leads the nation in the number of fatal car accidents and fatalities so far this year.
It should come as no surprise to anyone concerned with traffic in the county that Route 1 was the site of the deadliest crashes in Middlesex County, nine. If you include Route 1 in Union County, that number jumps to 13.
These are some of the statistics in the New Jersey State Police Fatal Accident Investigation Unit report so far in 2024.
Route 1 from Plainsboro on the Mercer County border to Linden is a problem for drivers at all hours of the day, every day of the year.
Even two hours into the new year there was a fatality on Route 1 in Plainsboro. And the latest was in Nov. 4 in Edison.
Earlier this year North Brunswick partnered with Edison, South Brunswick and New Jersey State Police in an effort to reduce traffic-related deaths and increase road safety on Route 1.
As part of this program, the police are working with other law enforcement agencies to strengthen measures against reckless driving, distracted driving and speeding. By pooling resources and expertise, law enforcement aims to combat dangerous behavior that endangers drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.
In August, South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka implemented an accident reduction program called STOP – Stop, Traffic, Obstruction, Problems.
“We are taking a more aggressive approach by adding more officers to target areas of concern,” the official said.
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The incident came after the South Brunswick Police Traffic Safety Bureau reviewed all fatal crashes in the township over the past two years.
The study showed that the cause in 31% of fatal accidents was speeding, 25% failure to stop at a red light or stop signal, 19% was drunk driving and 19% impaired driving. In addition, 19% were not wearing a seat belt, 13% were unsafe lane changes, 6% reckless driving and 6% driver fatigue/treatment.
“These deaths can be prevented, but drivers must take precautions,” said South Brunswick Traffic Safety Lt. Gary Holstend. In South Brunswick, there are 7 miles of Route 1 with 12 intersections with traffic signals, drivers must follow the traffic signal. We will then focus on intersections, distracted driving and speeding. This is your warning.
Central NJ roads are very deadly
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Route 1, 13 fatal crashes (Middlesex and Union County)
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Route 9, 9 fatal accidents (Middlesex and Union)
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Route 27, 6 fatal accidents (Middlesex and Union)
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I-287, 6 fatal accidents (Somerset and Middlesex)
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I-78, 4 fatal accidents (Somerset and Union)
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Garden State Parkway, 4 fatal accidents (Middlesex and Union)
Central NJ fatal accidents by county
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Middlesex, 51 (first in New Jersey’s 21 counties)
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Union, 29 (10th in the state)
In total, New Jersey had 566 accidents and 600 deaths. Atlantic County was second to Middlesex with 48 accidents and Cape May County had the fewest fatal accidents, 7.
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Central NJ pedestrian dies in accident with county
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Middlesex, 19 (2nd in New Jersey)
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Union, 10th (tied for ninth in the state)
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Hunterdon, 2 (tied for 17th)
Middlesex County NJ fatal accident downtown
Somerset County NJ fatal accident in town
Hunterdon County NJ fatal accident in town
Union County NJ fatal accident downtown
NJ fatal crashes: steady decline
Despite the state’s population growth, the number of fatal accidents has continued to decline in New Jersey.
In 1968, according to the State Police, there were 1,208 fatal accidents and 1,358 deaths.
The number of fatal accidents decreased gradually, reaching a low in 2015 of 542 accidents. This number remained stable until 2020, but increased in 2021 to 697, and decreased to 574 in 2023.
Contributing: Staff writer Susan Loyer
Email: mdeak@MyCentralJersey.com
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ traffic deaths: Central Jersey car fatalities, pedestrian data