December is the most dangerous month for New Jersey pedestrians, a new study finds
June was the safest month for pedestrians in the state, quickly followed by May and April.
NEW JERSEY – December is the most dangerous month for pedestrians in New Jersey, a new study has found.
The personal injury lawyers at Zinda Law Group analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the volume of fatal motor vehicle crashes and the number of pedestrians killed in these incidents between 2017 and 2021.
Pedestrians traveling in December are most at risk in New Jersey. Approximately 246 fatal motor vehicle crashes were reported during this month, which included the death of 103 pedestrians. These figures made December the most treacherous month, with 41.87% of these incidents involving a pedestrian fatality.
Winter and early spring proved to be more dangerous for pedestrians, with both January and March claiming second and third spot on the study. Precisely 38.50% of motor vehicle crashes involved the death of a pedestrian during January. Of the 87 pedestrians killed in fatal crashes, 50 were linked to nighttime incidents.
March was named the third most dangerous month for pedestrians, with 37.16% of fatal crashes involving a pedestrian death. Fatal crashes totaled 183 during this month.
| Ranking | Month | Total MVCs | Pedestrians killed in Fatal Crashes | MVCs involving a pedestrian death |
| 1 | December | 246 | 103 | 41.87% |
| 2 | January | 226 | 87 | 38.50% |
| 3 | March | 183 | 68 | 37.16% |
Summer and late spring appear to be the safest time to take a walk in New Jersey. During the month of June, pedestrians are less involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes. Of the 252 incidents on record between 2017 and 2021, 60 pedestrians were killed. Around 23.81% of fatal crashes saw pedestrians lose their lives, the lowest of any month state-wide.
May also proved to be one of the safer months for pedestrians in New Jersey. With 56 pedestrians killed in fatal crashes, May was the second-safest month for New Jersey residents. Approximately 25.34% of fatal crashes involved a pedestrian fatality.
April rounded out the months with the lowest rate of pedestrian deaths in fatal motor vehicle crashes. Exactly 28.04% of fatal crashes saw a pedestrian killed, with 53 individuals losing their lives across 189 different incidents.
“Evenings during the winter months are some of the most dangerous times to travel as a pedestrian. Over 70% of pedestrians killed in a fatal crash were involved in an incident during nighttime,” a spokesperson for Zinda Law Group said. “If you decide to take a walk in the darker months or during the evening, make sure to wear reflective clothing if possible and travel in well-lit areas. It is vital to always be aware of your surroundings for possible vehicles, removing earphones or reducing the volume of your music to ensure you move as safely as possible.”
