DMVZoneBlogState Police counted 581 traffic deaths in New Jersey in 2025. See every county's total, the rate per 100,000 people, and why South Jersey stands out.
New Jersey State Police counted 581 traffic deaths in 546 fatal crashes in 2025 (preliminary). Ocean County had the most deaths, 63, but Salem County had by far the highest rate for its size, about 32 per 100,000 residents.
Raw totals make big counties look the most dangerous, because they have the most people and the most miles driven. So we show both: the number of deaths and the rate per 100,000 residents. The two lists tell different stories.
| County | Deaths in 2025 | Per 100,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| Salem | 21 | 32.4 |
| Cumberland | 22 | 14.3 |
| Cape May | 13 | 13.6 |
| Atlantic | 34 | 12.4 |
| Ocean | 63 | 9.9 |
| Gloucester | 29 | 9.6 |
| Burlington | 43 | 9.3 |
| Warren | 10 | 9.1 |
| Camden | 40 | 7.6 |
| Sussex | 11 | 7.6 |
| Mercer | 26 | 6.7 |
| Middlesex | 49 | 5.7 |
| Hunterdon | 7 | 5.4 |
| Passaic | 27 | 5.2 |
| Essex | 44 | 5.1 |
| Union | 29 | 5.0 |
| Morris | 22 | 4.3 |
| Monmouth | 25 | 3.9 |
| Somerset | 13 | 3.8 |
| Bergen | 32 | 3.3 |
| Hudson | 21 | 2.9 |
Rates use 2020 Census county populations and are rounded. The 2025 State Police numbers are preliminary and can change as cases close.
The top four rates are all in South Jersey: Salem, Cumberland, Cape May and Atlantic. These counties have long two-lane highways, higher speeds, fewer streetlights and longer waits for an ambulance. A crash at 55 mph on a dark county road is far more likely to be fatal than a fender-bender in city traffic.
Hudson and Bergen, two of the most crowded counties in the country, have the lowest rates. Congestion keeps speeds down. Crashes still happen, but they are less often deadly.
176 of the 581 people killed were pedestrians, about 30 percent. That is why New Jersey now requires new drivers to learn how to share the road with people walking and biking.
If you drive in South Jersey at night, slow down on unlit two-lane roads, use your high beams when no one is coming, and watch the shoulder for people walking.
Which New Jersey county had the most traffic deaths in 2025?
Answer: C. Ocean County had 63 deaths, the highest count in the state.
About what share of New Jersey traffic deaths in 2025 were pedestrians?
Answer: C. 176 of 581 deaths were pedestrians, about 30 percent.
When should you use high beams on a dark rural road?
Answer: C. Use high beams when you will not blind another driver. Dim them for oncoming traffic and when following another car.
State Police data showed 2024 at a 30-year high. The 2025 count of 581 is still preliminary, so compare the two once the final 2025 report is published.
The New Jersey State Police fatal crash statistics report, updated through December 31, 2025.
It lets small and large counties be compared fairly. A raw count mostly shows which counties are biggest.
Checked against these pages on November 12, 2026. Laws change, so open the source before you rely on a number.
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