Interstate 80 Experiences a High Rate of Truck Crashes

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By Ed Rebenack, Esq.

Fatal Truck Crash Trend Continues on I-80 in New Jersey

Based on the number of fatalities per 100 miles, Interstate 80 is the ninth deadliest road in America, and the stretch of it in New Jersey is particularly dangerous. I-80 also experiences a high rate of accidents involving large commercial trucks, and those numbers are continuing to rise. Personal injury accident lawyers who work with truck accident cases in the area warn that I-80 averages about one truck crash a day, and efforts to stem the problem have not had a significant effect.

About Interstate 80

Interstate 80—also called I-80 and Highway 80—is a transcontinental highway that runs from Teaneck, New Jersey to San Francisco, California. I-80 is the second longest interstate in the U.S. and is recognized as the Christopher Columbus Highway by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. This road is one of the main arteries in America’s road network. It is vital to the local road infrastructure of New Jersey and many of the other states and cities that it passes through, and it is also vital for connecting the East Coast to the West Coast. I-80 provides access to many major cities along its route, and that makes it a popular choice for truckers who can stop at many destinations as they cross the country.

About Interstate 80 in New Jersey

The section of I-80 known as Christopher Columbus Highway runs from the Delaware Water Gap, which is located in northeastern New Jersey, and continues until it reaches New York City. It was established in 1958 and completed in 1973, and it runs a length of 68.54 miles.

It is the entirety of the highway that makes I-80 the ninth most dangerous road in America. Many of the metropolitan areas that the highway runs through have a problem with fatalities and fatal truck crashes in particular, and the number of incidents is only trending up. That said, the stretch in New Jersey is among the deadliest and is often the deadliest depending on the year.

The entire length of the highway averages about one crash per day according to NHTSA data, but the rate is actually higher if you limit the available data to those accidents that take place in the Garden State. The most recent data available puts the rate at 1.88. Some particularly dangerous stretches within the state have had a rate as high as 6.64. There are almost 5,000 crashes each year on this road, and those numbers have continued to go almost every year over the last decade and beyond.

Road Conditions on I-80

The population density in the area of New Jersey and New York where I-80 runs is very high. Interstate 80 is one of the busiest roads in the state, and NJDOT has made a concerted effort to limit arterial access. This approach helps to constrain the amount of traffic using the road for local purposes. Even with that effort, traffic volume is considerable, and that wear and tear coupled with the oft-harsh local climate make it very difficult to keep the road in optimal condition. Construction on I-80 in New Jersey is almost a daily occurrence, which creates its own accident potential, and even with that effort, this area of I-80 is considered to have among the worse road conditions of any stretch.

Signage on I-80

Several years ago, NJDOT and other agencies conducted a study to determine just how deadly I-80 was and what was causing these issues. Road conditions were certainly at the top of the list, but the joint study also found that the signage was problematic. They found that there was not enough signage and that what was in place was often confusing to drivers not familiar with the area.

Since a fix was reasonably affordable and able to be carried out in a short time frame, it became a focal point. Most of the signage on I-80 in New Jersey is new as of the last several years, and great effort was made to ensure that the signage was easy to follow. How much of an effect this has had is difficult to say as the data for 2021 is still being accumulated and analyzed, and data for 2022 is not yet available.

Toward Zero Deaths

The state is currently carrying out a Strategic Highway Safety Plan that began in 2020 and will conclude in 2025. The new signage was part of that plan. This is a follow-up to a previous five-year plan that emphasized lowering fatalities by adding safety features to I-80 and other highways. The latest plan also allots resources for engineering, driver education, enforcement, and emergency response.

2022 Has Been a Difficult Year

The 2022 statistics are not yet available and won’t be in a useable form for some time, but local experts aren’t bullish that they’ve achieved the targeted improvement. In fact, there have been a number of high-profile accidents involving commercial trucks on I-80 in New Jersey. One involved an operator driving his truck off an overpass. Another involved three trailer tractors colliding and killing multiple people, and a third notable case ended in a horrific fire that took the life of a truck driver.

The Plan Ahead

The state currently has a team of road engineers evaluating I-80 and coming up with more solutions. There are already plans to add more lanes, including special purpose lanes, particularly in the east where the congestion is highest. Some of that work has already begun, and while ultimately beneficial, it certainly causes its own problems as lanes need to be shut down in preparation for the work. Fortunately, construction crews are able to limit that disruption to between 9:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.

Staying Safe on I-80

Plan ahead. There are a number of tools online that you can use to monitor I-80 for closed lanes, construction, accidents, and so forth. Even if there’s no detour available, you’ll at least be aware of these problem areas in advance. The maximum speed limit on I-80 in New Jersey is 65 miles per hour. However, be aware that this drops as low as 50 mph in congested areas and curved stretches of road.

Most professional truck drivers are highly skilled and operate in a safe manner. Nevertheless, tailgating is a common problem, and if you experience it, state patrol recommends moving to the right in order to let the truck pass even if that means pulling off to the side of the road if possible.

Local Representation in New Jersey

If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck crash on I-80 or any of New Jersey’s other dangerous roads, the law firm of Rebenack, Aronow & Mascolo is here to help. RAM Law has handled many cases involving truck accidents in New Jersey. We have offices in New Brunswick and Somerville, and if you’d like to schedule an initial consultation with a personal injury accident lawyer, you can contact us online or call us at (732) 394-1549.

Contact Our Office

To schedule a confidential consultation, contact us online or call our offices, in New Brunswick at (732) 247-3600, in Somerville at (908) 448-2560, or in Freehold at (732) 828-2234.

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