NCJ Number
133703
Date Published
1990
Length
54 pages
Annotation
During 1989, New Jersey motorists traveled about 59 billion miles, and preliminary statistics indicate a death rate of 1.5 for every 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
Abstract
Nationwide in 1989, 45,555 people were killed; 892 people were killed in 815 fatal accidents. Compared to 1988, there was a decrease of 151 fatal accidents and 159 fatalities. An average of 2.4 persons were killed daily, and 39 percent of all fatal accidents involved alcohol. There were 29 motorcycles and 1 moped involved in fatal accidents, while pedalcyclists accounted for 18 fatal accidents. A total of 45 hit-and-run accidents involved 60 vehicles; 3 were drivers, 3 were passengers, 38 were pedestrians, and 1 was a pedalcyclist. The pedestrian death toll was 217. Of 1,173 drivers listed, 68 New Jersey drivers and 9 out-of-state drivers had their licenses suspended. Straight roads were involved in 57.5 percent of all fatal accidents, and 81.2 percent of all fatal accidents occurred during clear weather conditions. Of the drivers involved in fatal accidents, 71.7 percent were males. Of the vehicles involved in fatal accidents, 66.1 percent involved passenger cars and 26.6 percent involved trucks. New Jersey officials believe the improved traffic safety record for 1989 is due to continuing alcohol awareness programs. Mobile DWI (driving while intoxicated) patrols, sobriety checkpoints, the safety belt use law, and the 55 mile per hour speed enforcement program. Tables