Although New Jersey is rather small geographically, its proximity to many major east coast cities means it has several busy and dangerous roads.
Out of the many dangerous roads in New Jersey, there are five that are often thought of as some of the most dangerous.
Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike
The Garden State Parkway, which runs across the entire state, has a high number of car accidents. As one of the most heavily traveled highways in the state, statistics revealed over 10,000 crashes occurred there in 2018.
Accident numbers were also high on the New Jersey Turnpike, which reported over 7,000 crashes that same year.
While those are two of the most well-known state highways, there are a few other lesser-known roads that are often just as dangerous.
Routes 287, 130 and 1
Accidents often occur on Route 287. This route is often congested and filled with a wide variety of semi-trucks and merging traffic. These factors can result in incidents of reckless or aggressive driving, leading to an accident.
Route 130 tends to experience a high rate of pedestrian accidents and fatalities due to its lack of sidewalks and crosswalks. This makes the road dangerous for drivers and pedestrians.
Route 1 is another New Jersey highway where congestion is common. The road has many different intersections and stoplights, which can increase the chance of an accident that causes serious injuries.
One two-mile section of this road had the highest number of accidents in 2018. The section was near several malls and office parks, which put drivers at a higher risk of an accident.
Staying safe on these roads
While you cannot control the infrastructure of these roads and highways, you can make sure you drive safely when you must travel on them. Avoid aggressive driving and remain patient and calm when you find yourself stuck in traffic, which you likely will at some point.
You also have no control over other drivers on these roads. Negligent driving is a major factor in most serious car accidents.
There are many forms of negligent driving, including speeding, tailgating other vehicles and failing to use turn signals. Aggressive, distracted and drowsy driving are other common examples of negligent driving and are seen often on these roads.
What to do after a car accident
When you are injured in a car accident that you believe was caused by the other driver’s negligence, seek medical attention immediately. Treat your injuries and keep documentation of all medical treatment you receive.
Carefully document everything about the accident. Obtain the other driver’s contact information and insurance information. Call the police and get a copy of the police report.
Injuries from a car accident often result in high medical bills and lost time from work. Victims may experience mental and emotional distress after a serious accident. By proving the other driver was negligent, you can hold them accountable for their irresponsible actions and potentially receive compensation.
