NCJ Number
198911
Date Published
2002
Length
46 pages
Annotation
This document presents fatal motor vehicle accident statistics for the State of New Jersey in the year 2000.
Abstract
There were 655 fatal crashes with 723 fatalities in New Jersey in the year 2000. This is the fewest number since the State Police initiated its motor vehicle traffic database. A review of fatal crashes for the first 6 months of calendar year 2001 found a decrease of 6.6 percent from calendar 2000. There are two issues that have become areas of concern. Motorcycle related crashes and deaths were up significantly over the previous year. Also, the number of intoxicated drivers in fatal accidents has increased 15 percent. Of the fatalities, 36 percent had consumed alcohol to some extent. Of all drivers, 12 percent were legally intoxicated. There were 54 fatal accidents involving motorcycles. Pedalcyclists accounted for 14 fatal accidents. The pedestrian death toll was 144. There were a total of 33 hit-and-run fatal accidents involving 50 vehicles. There are 36,020 miles of open public roads in the State of New Jersey, indicated one death for every 49.8 miles. Straight roads were involved in 53 percent of all fatal accidents. Of all fatal accidents, 85 percent occurred during clear weather conditions. Of the known drivers involved in fatal accidents, 73 percent were males. Of the vehicles involved in fatal accidents, 61 percent involved passenger cars. There were 43 tractor-trailers involved in 42 fatal accidents that resulted in 51 fatalities.