Think traffic makes New Jersey roads more dangerous? This report says the opposite

A new LendingTree report on New Jersey drivers has turned some expectations upside down.

Old Bridge earns the dubious honor of having the state’s worst drivers, with 83.3 incidents per 1,000 drivers.

Close behind are Brick (81.0), Lakewood (79.7), East Orange (74.0), and Piscataway (71.0).

On the flip side, some of New Jersey’s toughest, higher-crime cities posted the lowest traffic incident rates:

• Camden: 46.6 (safest in the state)
• Newark: 50.4
• Jersey City: 52.5
• Paterson: 53.3
• Passaic: 56.5

The metric includes accidents, DWIs, speeding tickets, and other citations.

AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File

The numbers don't match what most New Jersey drivers would expect

So, I ask the question: Why do high-crime cities have better driving records?

This counterintuitive result isn’t about safer streets overall; it’s about driving environments and behavior.

Here's what I took away from a deeper dive into the data:

Urban density and caution

In places like Camden, Newark, and Jersey City, heavy congestion, pedestrians, cyclists, and constant traffic lights force drivers to stay alert.

One wrong move can mean immediate trouble so that people may drive more defensively.

Suburban towns often have faster roads, more open space, and drivers who let their guard down.

Fewer miles driven per person

Many urban residents rely on public transit, walking, or short trips.

Lower exposure to the road means fewer opportunities for incidents. Suburban commuters rack up more highway miles daily, increasing risk.

Enforcement and demographics

Urban areas sometimes have a heavier policing presence for traffic (revenue or safety), or different age/driver profiles.

The report also notes Gen Z drivers statewide have sky-high rates (103.6 incidents per 1,000), which may hit suburban family towns harder.

Data quirks

“Incidents per 1,000 drivers” puts all drivers and locations in the same bucket, but real-world factors like vehicle type, local road design, speed traps and local habits play a major role.

Photo by Nabeel Syed on Unsplash

My biggest takeaway from this report

So, don't take from this report that Camden or Newark streets are pleasant or safer to drive, far from it, given ongoing crime and quality-of-life issues.

It highlights how traffic safety statistics don’t always align with broader public safety and quality-of-life issues.

New Jersey as a whole ranks near the bottom nationally for drivers, with high accident rates.

Bottom line: Congestion might make you late, but it could also keep you (slightly) safer behind the wheel.

Better to be in the traffic than in an accident.

Drive carefully out there, especially if you’re cruising through Old Bridge or Brick.

The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Bill Spadea. Any opinions expressed are Bill's own.

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