New Jersey Records 15% Decline in Traffic Fatalities During 2025

New Jersey State Police counted 575 traffic deaths in 2025. That's down from 684 in 2024. The drop represents a 15% decline after the previous year hit a 30-year high.

The state met its goal. Officials had aimed for no more than 577 deaths under their Highway Safety Plan, and they succeeded.

The numbers surpassed what the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration predicted. NHTSA had expected only a 10% reduction between 2024 and 2025, but New Jersey did better. Across the nation, NHTSA projected fewer fatalities for 2025 even though Americans drove about 25 billion more miles.

Pedestrian deaths fell sharply. In 2024, 230 pedestrians died — a 30% spike from the year before. In 2025, that number dropped to 173. Cyclist fatalities declined too, from 18 to 17.

Ocean County recorded the most fatalities. Sixty-two people died in 53 crashes there. Middlesex County followed with 48 deaths across 48 crashes, while Essex County saw 42 people killed in 42 crashes. Hunterdon County had the fewest deaths — just 6 people in 6 crashes.

Essex County led in pedestrian deaths at 25. Ocean County came next with 17. State Police cautioned that these figures remain preliminary and might change.

The reduction arrived as New Jersey launched its Target Zero initiative. On Jan. 13, 2025, Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation creating a 13-agency Target Zero Commission. Their mission? Develop a plan to eliminate traffic deaths by 2040.

On Dec. 18, 2025, the commission approved its draft report. The 72-page plan outlined recommendations — proposed laws and measures for state agencies and local law enforcement to put into action.

The report uses the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Systems Approach. It made specific recommendations in seven areas: driver education, pedestrian safety, road design, driver awareness of safety laws, speed management, vehicle safety, and post-crash care.

Safety advocates spoke up. During a Dec. 1, 2025, hearing, they called on Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill's administration to act. Families who lost loved ones in crashes urged swift action too. State Department of Transportation officials sent copies of the approved report to Sherrill's transition team, Murphy, and the state legislature.

The report pinpointed 140 sections of interstate, state highways, and local roads as high-injury areas needing attention.