Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety (HTS) announced today a significant decrease in traffic-related fatalities in New Jersey in 2025.
According to preliminary data, fatal crashes declined by nearly 16%, from 647 in 2024 to 547 in 2025. The number of people who died in those crashes – including drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians – dropped by approximately 15%, from 684 in 2024 to 582 in 2025.
Pedestrian deaths fell by nearly 24%, from 230 in 2024 to 175 in 2025. Driver fatalities also decreased by approximately 15%, from 350 in 2024 to 299 in 2025. Motorcyclist fatalities in 2025 showed an approximate 40% decline, down to 72 from the historic high of 120 in 2024.
“The decline in traffic fatalities in New Jersey in 2025 is a clear step in the right direction,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Targeted traffic enforcement, driver education, and engineering safety improvements statewide have all made our state’s drivers and pedestrians safer. Our office works tirelessly to keep our residents safe on the roads. But there is still more work for us to do to drive down traffic fatalities, as even one traffic fatality is one too many. We will continue to take targeted action to drive down traffic fatalities in New Jersey.”
“While we are encouraged that traffic fatalities in New Jersey declined significantly in 2025, each of those numbers represents a life lost and a family forever changed,” said Michael J. Rizol Jr., Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “This decrease shows that our collective efforts are making a difference, but it also reminds us that there is still urgent work to do.”
Preliminary data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates an 8% decline in fatalities on the nation’s roads during the first half of 2025. Encouragingly, New Jersey is among the 38 states and territories experiencing a decline in traffic fatalities during that period.
New Jersey saw a decline in fatalities in 15 of its 21 counties, with only Camden, Cape May, Morris, Hudson, Ocean, and Salem counties experiencing more fatalities than the previous year. Ocean County experienced the most traffic fatalities (63), while Hunterdon County had the fewest (6).
In 2025, HTS allocated over $20 million to various law enforcement agencies and strategic partners statewide, reinforcing their traffic safety initiatives. HTS remains committed to implementing a comprehensive highway traffic safety plan that combines high-visibility enforcement mobilization with educational awareness campaigns to maximize impact. These efforts were coordinated with law enforcement and nonprofit agencies across the state.
