Report: NJ Saw Fewer Deaths On Roadways In 2012

State Police statistics show fewer people died on New Jersey's roadways in 2012 than in 2011, but there was a slight increase in pedestrian deaths.

Flickr User Dave in the triad

Citing data it obtained, the Star-Ledger reports there were 558 traffic fatalities on the state's roads and highways in 2012 that resulted in 592 deaths. There were 586 accidents that left 627 dead in 2011.

However, 165 pedestrians were killed in 2012, up from 143 in 2011.

Experts say several factors contributed to the boost in pedestrian deaths, including drivers and pedestrians being distracted by electronic devices and confusion on the state's crosswalk yield law.

The greatest number of those killed were between the ages of 50 and 64 reports the paper.

The most deaths were in Middlesex County with 66, followed by Ocean County with 54 and Burlington County with 50.