The daily commute may look more normal now in New Jersey than it has in the past 18 months, especially with school starting. Parents are driving their kids to school, commuting to work, commuting home and picking their kids up from school every day. For many, it is just part of the daily grind in their daily lives.
However, the daily grind can come to a halt if you are involved in a car crash while on the way to work or picking your kids up form school. A serious car crash often takes place at an intersection. And, as a recent report shows, some intersections in New Jersey have the dubious honor of being some of the deadliest intersections in the state.
What are the most dangerous intersections in New Jersey?
Between 2015 and 2019, over 3,100 individuals lost their lives in car crashes in New Jersey. The Centers or Disease Control and Prevention reports that motor vehicle accidents are the top cause of fatalities in the U.S. for those age 55 and younger. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) completed an analysis of auto accident data to determine which intersections in the state saw the most fatalities. The top 10 deadliest intersections in New Jersey include:
- S. Route 322 and Whitehall Road/Corkey Lane
- S. Route 22 and Adamsville Road/Morgan Lane
- J. Route 129 and Lalor Street
- J. Route 70 and Lakehurst Road
- County Route 524 and Sharon Station Road
- County Route 615 and Lake Road
- County Route 705 and Dunlin Way
- State Route 73 and Waverly Avenue/Willow Avenue
- S. Route 1 and Ford Avenue
- S. Route 1 and Bakers Basin Road
If you travel any of these intersections frequently you may wonder what you can do to stay safe. Part of staying safe is understanding what New Jersey law says about a driver’s responsibility at intersections.
What must drivers in New Jersey do when at an intersection?
New Jersey law addresses a motorist’s responsibilities when at an intersection. If a motorist is approaching an intersection, they must yield to the right of way of a motorist already in the intersection. If two motorists enter an intersection at the same time, the motorist on the left must yield to the motorist on the right. If a motorist is to the left, but the motorist to the right is within the intersection or otherwise opposes an immediate danger, but that driver did yield and gave a signal, the motorist to the left can make a left-hand turn.
It can be easy to be in a rush in the morning or after work, but in the end, it is important to drive safely. Unfortunately, some people will make risky decisions at intersections and cause car accidents. If you are injured in one of these automobile accidents, you will want to make sure you understand your legal rights and options so you can make informed decisions moving forward.