Why Have New Jersey Roads Gotten More Dangerous?
New Jersey drivers are not just imagining it. Roadways across the state have become more dangerous since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the data backs that up. Traffic fatalities rose sharply after years of relative stability, climbing from 558 deaths in 2019 to 587 in 2020 and then surging to 697 in 2021, the largest single-year increase in more than 50 years. Although fatalities have declined since then, they have not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels. In 2024, 684 people died on New Jersey roads, before stepped-up enforcement and safety efforts helped bring the number down to 582 last year.
State officials attribute the decline to renewed law enforcement and safety initiatives, but they acknowledge the problem is far from solved. The state’s attorney general called the reduction “a clear step in the right direction,” while emphasizing that continued effort is needed. Experts say the pandemic triggered lasting changes in driver behavior, including faster speeds, increased distraction, and more aggressive driving. These patterns have persisted even as traffic volumes returned to normal.
Law enforcement leaders say reduced traffic enforcement during the height of COVID played a major role. To limit person-to-person contact, police departments intentionally scaled back traffic stops in 2020. With emptier roads and less enforcement, many drivers grew accustomed to speeding and taking risks. While enforcement has increased since then, it still has not reached pre-pandemic levels. As of early 2025, overall traffic enforcement remained about one-third lower than in 2019, despite more than 29,000 impaired drivers being removed from the roads and over 2 million traffic tickets issued in 2023.
Crash data mirrors the fatality trend: a sharp rise in accidents in recent years followed by a modest dip in 2025 as enforcement and public awareness campaigns ramped up. Additional complications arose in late 2024, when the Attorney General’s Office launched an investigation into a significant slowdown in state police traffic enforcement, which coincided with scrutiny over racial disparities in traffic stops.
Drivers themselves report heightened tension and volatility on the roads. Residents describe more tailgating, confrontations, and road-rage incidents, often fueled by distracted driving and cellphone use despite New Jersey’s hands-free driving law.
To improve safety, the New Jersey Department of Transportation has modernized how it collects and analyzes crash data. The state has also expanded the use of Red Light Extension technology at more than 150 intersections, which keeps all lights red until a vehicle clears the intersection, reducing severe crashes. Public awareness campaigns targeting speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving now accompany these infrastructure efforts.
New Jersey’s roads remain measurably more dangerous than they were before the pandemic, and the effort to make them safer is ongoing.
Contact a New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Driving has become more dangerous in recent years. New Jersey officials need to take steps to fix the issues and make roads safer.
A Morristown car accidents attorney from The Law Offices of Michael P. Burakoff can assist you if you have been in a crash. We will help you get full and fair compensation. To schedule a consultation, call (973) 455-1567 or fill out the online form.
Source:
app.com/story/news/transportation/2026/02/03/nj-roads-dangerous-driving/87996227007/
