Photo by Adrienne J. Romero / SOC Images.
Joshua Caldwell believes that if he had just worn his glasses that day, “none of this would have happened.”
What Caldwell was referring to was the multi-vehicle collision that he was involved in, ultimately leaving him without a car.
“I couldn’t see, so I thought that the glare from the car coming towards me was a street light, Caldwell told Slice of Culture. “I was also racing.”
His accident is one of the 655 car crashes that New Jersey experienced in 2024. Although his crash did not result in any fatalities, it shines a light on the concept of individual responsibility while driving. Caldwell is a resident of Union County, where, according to the Accident Data Center, “traffic crashes remain a primary public safety issue.”
As of Dec. 31, 2024, 687 people have suffered fatal injuries from these crashes. Based on data from NJSP Fatal Crash Statistics, Hudson County is ranked at No. 9 in the state for having the most car accidents.
In the last year, Hudson County suffered 18 car crashes, resulting in the loss of 19 people: nine drivers, two passengers, one bicyclist and seven pedestrians.
However, Hudson County is not the only New Jersey area that encountered a high number of car accidents. Essex County, home to widely-known cities such Newark and East Orange, reported 49 vehicular crashes in 2024 with a fatality count of 55.
Kilgore News Herald has Newark at No. 4 for the most dangerous city to drive in New Jersey.
One of the most recent deadly accidents in Newark occurred on Dec. 6, 2024, beneath the Pulaski Skyway. Though it was a single-vehicle accident, all six occupants lost their lives. Lamar McKnight, 32, and Brad Cunnigham, 41, the head and assistant football coaches at Hudson Catholic High School, were among those that were killed.
Police are still working to pinpoint what led up to the fiery crash that left Hudson and Essex County residents completely shattered.
Many of McKnight’s football students took to Instagram to express their feelings surrounding the crash.
“Coach McKnight, you were more than just a mentor– you were family. I am devastated by the news and so heartbroken,” Kyle Mercorelli, a sophomore quarterback at Hudson Catholic High School, said on his Instagram.
Although mobile accidents have been at the forefront of public safety issues, what happened on Dec. 6 was an eye-opener for many New Jersey residents.
What Causes Car Crashes?
In 2021, New Jersey had a 21.4% increase in fatalities from motor vehicle accidents compared to the previous year, emphasizing a growing roadway crisis. Over 200 pedestrians were killed, causing the state to see the most number of pedestrian fatalities since 1989. Recently, an early morning car crash on Routes 1 & 9 in Jersey City left three people hospitalized and two “nearly unrecognizable cars.”
Records from the Center for Disease Control, CDC, also show that about 400,000 people nationwide suffer from injuries each year being involved in a “distracted driver accident.”
Research from New Jersey State Police Reports shows that driver error, speeding and failing to yield to the “right-of-way” are the top three factors in these occurrences.
It is believed that at least 90% of all motor vehicle accidents are caused by driver error. These crashes typically occur on local streets where the pedestrian population is rampant.
In Hudson County, where streets like John F. Kennedy Blvd and N.J. 440 North see high bouts of traffic on a daily basis, these accidents become all too common especially when driver inattention and road infrastructure pose a great challenge.
What Is Being Done?
According to the National Transportation Research Nonprofit, TRIP, 22% of New Jersey roads “are in poor or mediocre condition.” Between 2019 and 2023, over 3,000 people died on a New Jersey highway.
Along with this, from 2018-2022, approximately 42 people were killed in work zone related crashes.
In order to reduce these statistics, Hudson County officials have decided to take action by introducing Vision Zero– an initiative that focuses on eliminating all traffic-induced fatalities and creating safer streets in order to promote responsible driver behavior.
“We hope to implement these new designs into projects that we are going to undertake in the next couple of years while still informing residents of all these concepts,” Craig Guy, Hudson County Chief Executive Officer, said to Slice of Culture at a Vision Zero press conference on Jan. 11.
The Vision Zero Action Plan is set to enforce many different road safety elements such as “lighting, turning lanes, rumble strips, bright road markings, clear areas for pedestrians to walk, bike lanes and more.” Officials also plan to improve public transit for communities that rely on that form of transportation the most.
With the help of Vision Zero, Guy and other county representatives hope that by 2034, there will be zero traffic related fatalities. Despite the initiative recently making its way to Hudson County, some cities have already experienced the effects.
“The municipalities of Jersey City and Hoboken have seen tremendous results with no deaths on city streets that have received vision zero treatments. This demonstrates that deaths from traffic violence are entirely preventable,” said Talya Shwartz, the Vice President of Hudson County Complete Streets.
Hudson County Complete Streets shares a mirrored approach to Vision Zero plans. The organization aims to “advocate for safer streets, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and transit access.”
Shwartz told Slice of Culture that Vision Zero task force members are working to slow down cars by “narrowing and reducing the number of lanes” with the hopes that pedestrians and drivers will be able to have safe travel on a daily basis.
“With a population of 700,000 in the most densely populated area of the state, Hudson County residents deserve to have efficient and safe ways of getting around without being mired in congestion,” Shwartz said.
The Path Forward
Although officials are working to prevent these statistics from increasing, one problem still remains: driver error.
Caldwell mentioned that for him, his decision to speed while being unable to see not only cost him his car, but also weighed on his emotional health.
“I’m not physically hurt, but I really do miss my car,” Caldwell said. “I put a lot of work into it and it kind of hurts to no longer have it.”
For every person like Caldwell that has been able to assess their mistake, there are mourning families that have not been granted the same opportunity.
His story is a testament to how every move behind the wheel matters, even the small ones.
As the state continues to create new safety measures in order to protect its residents, drivers, pedestrians and cyclists must work together to ensure a more secure environment for everyone on the road.
“As ongoing members of this taskforce, we have a lot of work to do together to put this plan in action as fast as possible so that lives can be saved,” Shwartz emphasized.
Caldwell’s words further underline this responsibility:
“Make sure that you are able to see when you are behind the wheel. Sometimes racing is not worth it, even if someone is challenging you on the road.”
– Joshua Caldwell on speeding
By remaining alert, being considerate of others, creating safer streets and following traffic laws, New Jersey residents could begin to see a community where safety is the top priority.
