Category: Safety

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Why Do You Need To Know This?

It’s no secret that car accidents kill a lot of people and injure thousands more. In the United States, car accidents rank as the third most common cause of death. Worldwide, they rank as the eighth most common cause of death. As such, driving a car is probably the riskiest thing that most people do on an everyday basis.

That is exactly why it pays to avoid the areas in which the greatest number of auto accidents occur. We might ask ourselves: “Why do some areas see more accidents than others?” And the honest answer is that we don’t know, and we don’t need to know. We just need to know where the most dangerous areas are (so that we can avoid them). With that in mind, let’s see which cities in New Jersey have the most car accidents.

Which Cities Are The Most Dangerous?

Because accident-related data is usually public, it is not hard to find some numbers on this subject. Here is an excellent article that gives us a look at the whole thing on a town-by-town basis. According to these people, New Jersey had about 270,000 auto accidents in 2015. While this represented a slight drop in relation to previous years, these accidents were not evenly distributed.

The following cities seem to have the most car accidents:

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• Newark (10,156 accidents)
• Jersey City (7,962 accidents)
• Elizabeth (4,335 accidents)
• East Orange (2,655 accidents)
• Linden (2,266 accidents)
• New Brunswick (1,738 accidents)
• Mount Laurel (1,713 accidents)
• Sayreville (1,634 accidents)
• West Orange (1,564 accidents)
• South Plainfield (1,018 accidents)

[/dt_vc_list][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_gmaps link=”#E-8_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”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Of course, it should be noted that car accidents can happen anywhere. Avoiding these cities will not necessarily be enough. As we already know, New Jersey saw about 270,000 wrecks in 2015. Newark had the biggest share of these wrecks, but that share only accounted for about 4% of the total.

Population Seems To Be The Biggest Factor

When we ask ourselves why some cities see more wrecks than others, the answer is not an obvious one. However, we do see one pervasive trend that offers a reasonable answer. As this article outlines, the numbers make a lot more sense when we break them down at the county level. When we do that, we can see that the most heavily populated counties are the ones that have the greatest number of car accidents.

This means car accidents can be explained by overpopulation. More people in a crowded space equals a greater chance of collision. For the record, here are the counties that experienced the greatest number of crashes from 2015 to 2017:[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][dt_vc_list]

• Hudson County (198,000 accidents)
• Essex County (34,800 accidents)
• Bergen County (15,700 accidents)
• Passaic (17,300 accidents)

[/dt_vc_list][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_gmaps link=”#E-8_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”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As you can see, Hudson County is (by far) the most dangerous county in the state, at least when it comes to car accidents. This might very well be since Hudson County is one of the most overpopulated places in the state.

Which Areas See The Most Fatalities?

Although a car accident is always a big problem, we should give some special attention to fatal car crashes. After all, these are the worst-case scenarios that we all dread. According to this article, which is based on road fatality statistics from the state police, these are the New Jersey counties where you are most likely to die in a car wreck:[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][dt_vc_list]

• Middlesex County (39 deaths)
• Burlington County (35 deaths)
• Camden County (32 deaths)
• Essex County (29 deaths)
• Ocean County (27 deaths)
• Gloucester County (25 deaths)
• Atlantic County (19 deaths)
• Morris County (19 deaths)
• Monmouth County (19 deaths)
• Bergen County (19 deaths)

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A Few Other Points Of Caution

First, remember that many accidents occur at intersections. These are areas in which many cars are changing direction at the same time, and it only takes one mistake to cause a serious problem for everyone. Always proceed through the intersection slowly, giving other cars time to get out of your way.

You should also remember that interstate driving is always the most dangerous. When driving on the highway, you will be driving at much higher speeds (as opposed to in-town driving), and that extra speed amounts to a much greater impact if you should crash. Therefore, you should avoid the common mistake of driving on the interstate when you are tired.

Many accidents are caused by distracted driving, and cell phones are the number one culprit. “Texting and driving” has become such a problem that some states have even gone so far as to make it illegal. Never use your cell phone while driving, as no call or text message could ever be worth the risk. You can always call them back when you get home!

Conclusion

No matter where you go, it always pays to be a cautious driver. Even if you do not make a single mistake, you still must be on the lookout for the mistakes of other drivers. Still, this information might save your life if you act on it properly.

In closing, we are not telling you to avoid the areas listed here, as that might not be possible for you. If you have any business in one of these places, you cannot reasonably be expected to avoid them. However, these are the cities and counties in which you should exercise the most caution. You should especially avoid crowded driving situations because those seem to carry far more risk than any other kind. If you have found this article to be helpful, and if you would like to know more, please fill out the contact form below.

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Everyone assumes that a bigger car is automatically safer when it comes to a collision because of its size. A larger and heavier weight car is just going to survive a crash better than a smaller car.

Adjustments, modifications and technological advances have somewhat altered that assumption as major improvements made to both larger and smaller cars have proven that there are advantages with both. There will obviously be increased safety with a larger car, particularly a newer one. What’s important is determining whether a larger or smaller vehicle is going to meet safety requirements, eliminate risks and meet driver adaptability and needs.

Modern Cars

Safety features in newer or modern cars, no matter the size of the car, contain elements that reduce the chances of injury or death. Some vehicles have upgraded features as well as standard features. The standard features in newer cars include:

• Airbags – (front, side, rear, curtain airbag) Most of these airbags are found in even the least expensive of newer cars.
• Sensors and cameras for backing up – They help in avoiding rear-end collisions and are found in new cars from 2018
• Blind Spot – A sensor or camera in a newer vehicle acts as a warning to inform a driver that there is another car next to them when maneuvering to make a lane change.
• Electronic Stability – This is a control device that helps to stabilize a vehicle when it goes into a slide or spin. It helps to control a vehicle in the event of a rollover accident. This type of stabilizer was once only available in luxury vehicles but is now found in most every vehicle since 2012.
• Reinforced roofs – A reinforced roof will provide safety with a roof cave-in.

Weight, Size, and Height

A larger car is going to be heavier and able to take the impact of a collision more effectively than a smaller car. The larger the size and weight of a vehicle, the less damage will be incurred in an accident. Hoods on larger and newer vehicles are also able to better withstand the brunt of damage from head on collisions. The hood on a larger sized vehicle has considerably more area than a smaller car’s hood and can take the crumbling and crushing effect that happens in front-end collisions. A smaller vehicle is much less likely to endure the aftermath of a front-end accident. The front of a vehicle is the one area that is going to take the impact, and a larger vehicle can much easier sustain that type of damage.

In thinking of the height of a vehicle, a larger vehicle’s center of gravity is going to be higher, which can be risky when it comes to rollover accidents, while a smaller vehicle is usually going to be lower. A rollover accidents is less likely to occur with a smaller car, but there is the chance of a smaller vehicle skidding and sliding under another vehicle (large semi-trailer truck) from the back and creating an underride accident, which is usually deadly.

Momentum

A vehicle with a lot of weight is going to have an increased momentum and will have more difficulty slowing down. In the case of an accident with a smaller car, the force of the larger vehicle will significantly impact the smaller one and cause it to propel as well as damage it. The impact will most likely cause severe damages and injuries to any driver and passengers. Risks are definitely higher when a larger vehicle collides with a smaller one.

Larger and Smaller Vehicle Considerations

There are many things to take into consideration when determining the safety of a bigger or smaller car. What’s important to know is that a larger, newer vehicle is going to withstand a collision better than its smaller counterpart, but there are considerations to be made with smaller vehicles as well. They are usually less expensive, get good gas mileage and are easier to operate, particularly for a novice driver. Remember with all new vehicles, large or small, technological features have increased their overall safety, so the risks are a whole lot less than with any sized older vehicle.

If you are not sure about the safety of your current vehicle, or a new one, and are unsure of the effects a collision could have on either, complete the online contact form, and a collision expert will get back to you with the answers you need to better understand the safety of your vehicle.

Cars are now equipped with almost as much technology as our homes, much of it designed for our safety. By May of 2019, all new cars and small trucks in Canada must be equipped with backup cameras, something that will not be too far off in the United States as well. Automakers are working to make automatic braking standard by 2022. There is significant research that these types of technology reduce crashes but experts are finding that there is now a generation of drivers who are too dependent on technology, believing those tools will fully protect them.

Blind Spot and Lane Change Warning

Driving instructors are particularly worried blind spot and lane change warning technology. Many are finding that drivers no longer check over their shoulder or in the rearview mirror when changing lanes in cars that have those options. Some drivers also believe that a car equipped with the lane change warning allows them to continue texting behind the wheel. A study conducted by the Intelligent Design for Adaptation, Participation and Technology (iDAPT) found that lane-keeping skills of drivers dropped in cars with lane change protection technology.

Safety Adjustments

It is not a new theory that cars with safety feature technology can lead drivers to drive less carefully. Studies have found that when people drive cars equipped with anti-lock brakes, they drive faster, follow others more closely and hit the brake later. Other studies have found that as drivers become accustomed to safety features, they become lazy, take more risks and depend far too much on the safety feature to step in if they make a mistake.

Understanding Safety Features

One of the most important things to remember is that, although safety features provide additional protections in a vehicle, they have their own limitations. For example, backup cameras also have blind spots so it is important to walk around your car to be sure there is nothing behind you before backing up. Never use only the backup camera for guidance as the camera cannot see things coming at the car from the side or corners. Sensors can be faulty which is why drivers should never fully depend on safety features like blind spot and lane change warnings or automatic braking features. In addition, it is important to understand how your safety features work before you leave the dealership in a new car. One study found that 37 percent of drivers with lane change or blind spot technology turned off the systems because of false alarms, irritation or misunderstanding how they work.

In one study, 30 percent of those asked said that they believed their cars were so advanced they could almost drive by themselves, a scary statistic in today’s world of busy highways. If you need to understand the safety features of your car, schedule an appointment today by calling or filling out the online form.