Personal Injury Blog

Worst Roads for Trucks & Driving in New Jersey

The Worst Roads for Trucks in New Jersey

When we think of the worst traffic areas in the country, most of us would think that Los Angeles or New York City are probably home to the most confusing traffic patterns and congested roadways. However, there are a number of deadly roads right here in New Jersey. Many accidents, including those involving big trucks, occur on these roads every year.

One such road is Route 130 through Camden and Pennsauken Township. One citizen commented that “trucks have wheels on both lines,” leaving little room for other vehicles. Drivers also tend to speed when entering or exiting this road. This stretch is a detour for many drivers that wish to avoid 295 and the Turnpike.

Like Georgia, New Jersey also has its own traffic area known as “Spaghetti Junction.” A number of roads, including the Turnpike, Parkway, Route 440, Route 287, Route 9, and other smaller roadways meet here. Travelers must be in specific lanes to get on Route 9, Route 287, or Route 440. Some drivers experiencing Spaghetti Junction for the first time call local highway patrol offices in tears because they do not know which way to turn!

The worst meeting of two roads in the entire state occurs at the intersection of Routes 4 and 17. Drivers quickly change lanes without the courtesy of giving a signal. If you are traveling south on Route 17, you have to quickly move into the far left lane to continue on Route 17. Otherwise, you may be rear-ended if you slow down to allow drivers in front of you to move over to get onto Route 4.

Another scary drive is the Route 9/35 merge in South Amboy. Heading from Route 9 onto Routes 9/35 is only a 50-foot stretch. It is difficult to see oncoming traffic and you must act quickly to merge onto the outer lanes.

Additionally, Route 22 in Union and Springfield is the most congested highway in the state. Cars make sudden turns, and exits are scattered along the highway on both the left and the right sides.

The Fort Lee/George Washington Bridge area has also been listed as one of the worst trucking chokepoints in the entire country.

Many challenging traffic patterns occur on roadways that were designed decades ago. The transport and manufacture of goods has changed drastically, even just in the last ten years. These changes impact truck drivers, which of course impact other motorists.

Chokepoints also cause significant traffic delays, which reduce the number of miles that can be driven in a day. Cities with major chokepoints become less attractive to companies, which in turn choose different locations for their sites. The trucking industry loses close to $50 billion per year due to congestion on highways.

Of course, traffic congestion affects consumers as well, costing an estimated $160 billion in wasted gas and time. Unfortunately, the United States has underfunded its infrastructure for many years—there is now an $836 billion backlog of roadway capital needs.

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, call Leonard Legal Group today to discuss your legal options. To schedule a free consultation, call our 24-hour call center at 973-984-1414 or contact us online.