New Jersey pedestrian traffic deaths, which spiked to a 36-year high in 2024 and sparked action plans by local and state governments, fell sharply last year, according to data collected by the New Jersey State Police.
Pedestrian fatalities were down 27% in 2025 compared with 2024 — a far steeper decline than the 10% drop in all other traffic fatalities, which includes drivers, passengers and bicyclists. The 169 deaths in 2025 were down 61 from 230 in 2024 and were about equal to the 171 deaths in 2023.
The decline was dramatic in several counties that had the highest pedestrian deaths in 2024, according to the latest data:
- Monmouth County, which reported 21 pedestrian fatalities in 2024 had six last year, a 71% drop.
- Bergen County, which reported 22 pedestrian fatalities in 2024 had seven last year, a 68% drop.
- Atlantic County, which reported 20 pedestrian fatalities in 2024 had 12 last year, a 40% drop
- Middlesex County, which reported 21 pedestrian fatalities in 2024 had 14 last year, a 33% drop.
- Essex County, which reported 26 pedestrian fatalities in 2024 had 21 last year, a 19% drop.
Several counties had increases in pedestrian deaths, including Ocean County, which went from 13 to 17, a 31% increase. Camden County had increases in the number of both pedestrian deaths and total fatalities and Burlington County had an increase in pedestrian deaths.
Last July, Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation expanding driver education and license testing to safeguard pedestrians and cyclists.
"The law requires that both the driver's education curriculum and the driver's examination include information about a driver's responsibilities when approaching a pedestrian operating a bicycle or personal conveyance, as well as the associated penalties for failing to comply with these responsibilities," according to the governor's announcement.
Pedestrians not crossing at crosswalks or intersections resulted in nearly half of all pedestrian deaths in 2024, according to the state police 2024 fatal accident report. However, 47 pedestrians who were killed in 2024 were hit while crossing at marked crosswalks, the report states.
Alcohol also may have played a role in many pedestrian deaths, according to the report. A total of 193 pedestrians killed were tested for alcohol and 62 tested positive.
In 2024, the state began to track the deaths of pedestrians who were in "personal conveyance" devices. Fourteen people using personal conveyance in 2024 died, including eight on low-speed electric scooters, four on low-speed electric bicycles and two on motorized scooters, the state report notes.
