JACKSON, N.J. — In 2023, roughly 1,600 roadway crashes and accidents were reported in Jackson Township, a town with over 100 square miles of roads, most of which are winding county two-lane highways. So far this year, there have been about 1,200 reported crashes overall.
That is down from 133 per month last year to about 130 per month this year.
According to information provided by the Jackson Police Department, however, the department reported a slight increase in serious traffic crashes this year, while overall crash numbers were down compared to previous years. The department attributes these figures to fluctuating traffic patterns and the constraints faced by its traffic safety division.
Jackson Police, like many departments across the state, rely on an annual grant from the state to focus enforcement efforts on roads with the highest crash volumes.
State police data shows that the amount of traffic crashes in Jackson Township fluctuates each year, but there has been no major trend in increasing or decreasing crashes over a 15-year period, matching statewide records showing the same results.
In essence, no roads are more dangerous today than at any time in the recent past in Jackson. In fact, roads such as East Veterans Highway are reportedly safer now than when compared to a decade ago after a major overhaul was done to the road by Ocean County, which owns and maintains the road.
Each year, the police department applies for a grant that the state issues to departments throughout the state to enforce traffic laws on roads with serious crashes or high crash volumes.
The grant allows the department to allocate resources towards high-risk roads identified by the state, which has led to targeted enforcement details. In recent years, these grants and coordination with county and state officials have led to a downward trend in roadway fatalities in Jackson over the past 15 years.
While serious crashes are up “slightly” from previous years, overall crashes are down slightly.
In addition to using grant funding for enforcement on high-volume crash roads, the department has also responded to daily speeding and parking complaints. The police department plans to release its monthly crash statistics on social media by the end of this week. Police have been engaged in proactive traffic enforcement throughout the township, many times based on community feedback and requests.
