NHTSA FARS 2020–2024 · Census population
Most Dangerous Counties in New Jersey
Quick answer: Middlesex County recorded the most road deaths in New Jersey from 2020 to 2024 (300), while Salem County had the highest death rate, 25.7 per 100,000 residents a year against 6.9 for the state as a whole.
Per 100,000 residents a year · counties with 10,000+ people
Highest death rate
| # | County | Deaths per 100k / year | Deaths 2020–2024 | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salem County | 25.7 | 84 | 65,275 |
| 2 | Cumberland County | 16.2 | 124 | 153,305 |
| 3 | Atlantic County | 15.9 | 219 | 276,270 |
| 4 | Gloucester County | 12.3 | 189 | 306,954 |
| 5 | Warren County | 12.3 | 68 | 110,849 |
| 6 | Cape May County | 11 | 52 | 94,941 |
| 7 | Burlington County | 9.5 | 222 | 467,805 |
| 8 | Camden County | 9.1 | 239 | 527,257 |
| 9 | Mercer County | 7.8 | 150 | 385,864 |
| 10 | Sussex County | 7.1 | 52 | 145,807 |
| 11 | Middlesex County | 6.9 | 300 | 871,290 |
| 12 | Ocean County | 6.5 | 213 | 654,362 |
| 13 | Monmouth County | 6.4 | 208 | 645,353 |
| 14 | Essex County | 6.1 | 263 | 863,002 |
| 15 | Hunterdon County | 5.8 | 38 | 130,160 |
21 counties · click a heading to sort
Every county in New Jersey
| County | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Per 100k / yr | Pedestrians | At night | Alcohol | 2020→2024 | Deadliest roads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex County | 300 | 281 | 6.9 | 28% | 56% | 23% | US-1, I-95, US-9 | |
| Essex County | 263 | 245 | 6.1 | 41% | 57% | 17% | SR-21, US-1, I-78 | |
| Camden County | 239 | 231 | 9.1 | 41% | 62% | 18% | US-30, US-130, SR-168 | |
| Burlington County | 222 | 211 | 9.5 | 21% | 52% | 23% | US-130, SR-38, SR-70 | |
| Atlantic County | 219 | 210 | 15.9 | 32% | 56% | 27% | US-30, US-40, US-322 | |
| Ocean County | 213 | 203 | 6.5 | 18% | 43% | 23% | SR-70, SR-37, US-9 | |
| Monmouth County | 208 | 195 | 6.4 | 27% | 50% | 23% | US-9, SR-35, SR-33 | |
| Bergen County | 202 | 187 | 4.2 | 39% | 58% | 18% | SR-17, I-95, SR-3 | |
| Gloucester County | 189 | 175 | 12.3 | 17% | 47% | 23% | US-322, SR-55, SR-47 | |
| Union County | 163 | 154 | 5.6 | 41% | 52% | 18% | US-1, SR-27, I-78 | |
| Mercer County | 150 | 145 | 7.8 | 33% | 57% | 21% | US-1, I-95, I-295 | |
| Passaic County | 138 | 131 | 5.3 | 32% | 50% | 20% | SR-23, I-80, SR-3 | |
| Cumberland County | 124 | 114 | 16.2 | 21% | 51% | 39% | SR-47, SR-55, SR-49 | |
| Hudson County | 116 | 110 | 3.2 | 36% | 55% | 24% | US-1, I-95, I-280 | |
| Morris County | 104 | 104 | 4 | 27% | 51% | 26% | I-80, US-46, SR-15 | |
| Somerset County | 98 | 94 | 5.6 | 31% | 46% | 23% | I-287, I-78, US-202 | |
| Salem County | 84 | 75 | 25.7 | 10% | 41% | 31% | I-295, US-40, SR-77 | |
| Warren County | 68 | 65 | 12.3 | 15% | 32% | 26% | I-80, SR-31, SR-57 | |
| Sussex County | 52 | 49 | 7.1 | 15% | 20% | 22% | SR-23, SR-94, US-206 | |
| Cape May County | 52 | 50 | 11 | 29% | 36% | 26% | SR-47, US-9, SR-147 | |
| Hunterdon County | 38 | 38 | 5.8 | 18% | 42% | 29% | SR-31, I-78, US-202 |
Deaths = people killed in crashes in the county, 2020–2024. Pedestrians = share of deaths who were on foot. At night = share of fatal crashes in the dark. Alcohol = share of fatal crashes where police reported a driver had been drinking. Rate = yearly average deaths ÷ average population × 100,000. Source: NHTSA FARS, U.S. Census Bureau.
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Questions
Dangerous counties — FAQ
What is the most dangerous county in New Jersey for driving?
Middlesex County recorded the most road deaths in New Jersey from 2020 to 2024 (300), while Salem County had the highest death rate, 25.7 per 100,000 residents a year against 6.9 for the state as a whole. Big counties lead on counts because more people drive there; the rate shows the risk for each resident.
How many people died on New Jersey roads from 2020 to 2024?
3,242 people, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, about 648 a year.
Where does this ranking come from?
Every fatal crash in NHTSA's FARS census for 2020–2024, placed in the county where it happened, divided by the county's average population from the U.S. Census Bureau. Rates are only ranked for counties with at least 10,000 residents.