Linwood, a small city of approximately 7,000 residents nestled in Atlantic County, New Jersey, offers convenient access to beaches, shopping, and employment centers that make South Jersey living appealing, but this prime location along the Garden State Parkway comes with significant safety concerns for drivers, especially getting into a car accident.
What Makes the Garden State Parkway So Dangerous?
Stretching 173 miles from Cape May to the New York border, the Garden State Parkway ranks among New Jersey’s deadliest roadways, and the statistics paint a sobering picture.
In 2018 alone, the Parkway recorded 10,363 crashes, while 2016 saw 32 fatalities from 29 separate fatal accidents, a dramatic increase from just 10 deaths the previous year.
How Does Living Near a Major Highway Increase Your Risk?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driver error accounts for approximately 94 percent of all accidents on major highways, with speeding, aggressive driving, distracted behavior, and improper lane changes representing the most common contributing factors.
Additionally, research reveals a counterintuitive pattern that surprises most drivers: the majority of serious car accidents occur remarkably close to where people live, with studies showing that 77 percent of crashes happen within 10 miles of home and 52 percent within just five miles.
For Linwood residents who regularly use Garden State Parkway exits, this proximity creates what traffic safety researchers call a “heightened vulnerability zone.” Drivers navigating their home neighborhoods frequently slip into what psychologists describe as “autopilot mode,” engaging in riskier behaviors such as checking phones or letting their attention wander precisely because they feel comfortable on roads they have traveled hundreds of times before.
Where Do Local Drivers Access the Parkway?
Linwood’s connection to the Garden State Parkway occurs primarily through Exit 36 via US Routes 40 and 322, creating a critical junction where local traffic merges with high-speed highway vehicles traveling at 55 to 65 miles per hour.
Exit 38A in nearby Egg Harbor Township also serves many residents and gained tragic notoriety in 2011 when four teenage football players from Mainland Regional High School lost their lives in a rollover accident near this interchange.
Highway exit ramps present particularly hazardous conditions because they require motorists to rapidly decelerate from highway speeds, and research shows that approximately half of all ramp-related accidents occur during exit maneuvers rather than entrance merges as a result of the challenging speed adjustments required.
What Can Linwood Drivers Do to Stay Safe?
Understanding these risks represents the essential first step toward safer driving, but awareness alone will not prevent accidents unless residents commit to maintaining vigilance every time they approach or travel the Parkway. Eliminating distractions, adjusting speed appropriately for transitions between highway and local roads, and allowing extra following distance can significantly reduce the likelihood of accidents.
Linwood Car Accident Lawyers at D’Amato Law Firm Provide the Help Drivers Need
When accidents occur near the Garden State Parkway, victims often face overwhelming challenges that extend far beyond their physical injuries, including mounting medical bills, lost wages, and the difficult process of rebuilding their lives. If you are dealing with any of these repercussions because of a car accident, trust the Linwood car accident lawyers at D’Amato Law Firm to advocate for you and your rights. Schedule a free initial consultation with a car accident attorney by filling out an online contact form or by calling us today at 609-926-3300. Our office is in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, and we serve clients in the surrounding areas.