subject: New Jersey Drivers Are Wrongly Stereotyped [print this page] The phrase "Jersey driver" gets used liberally to discuss poor driving habits. But is that really the case? Do New Jersey drivers really have a greater incidence of auto accidents than the rest of the country? The answers may surprise you.
When it comes to motor vehicle fatality rates, New Jersey drivers are safer than the national average. According to the most recent U.S. Census statistics from 2007, the average number of vehicular fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled was 1.4. New Jersey had only 1.0 fatalities, tying for sixth-best in the nation. Rhode Island and Massachusetts"another state with maligned driver reputations" was tied for the lowest rate with 0.8 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. Montana had the highest vehicle fatality rate, with 2.5 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
Another perception of New Jersey drivers is they drive fast and aggressively, which leads to more auto accidents, personal injuries, and wrongful deaths. However, the Census's 2007 statistics on auto fatalities due to speeding suggest otherwise. Of New Jersey's traffic fatalities, 8.43% were due to excessive speeding, which was the lowest rate in the nation. That national average was 31.76% and New Jersey's neighbor in Pennsylvania had the highest ratio, with 52.52% of its traffic fatalities attributed to speeding. New Jersey drivers, contrary to their reputation, are less dangerous on the road than many drivers in other states.
Why this is the case demands more research. Perhaps the population density of New Jersey leads to more traffic and makes motorists in the garden state drive more slowly. As a result, more collisions may yield less fatalities and serious injuries and more moderate personal injuries. Another possible reason could be how many (or few) trucks and tractor trailers there are on the road; collisions with those often produce more harrowing outcomes. A NJ personal injury lawyer most likely has some insights into these results.
