Of the 607 people who died, 333, were behind the wheel; 167 were pedestrians, 89 were passengers and 18 were on bicycles.
TRENTON -- More than 600 people died in traffic accidents on New Jersey's roadways last year, 8 percent more than in 2015 and the most deaths seen since 2011, according to preliminary State Police statistics.
After dropping to a 20-year low in 2013 when 542 people died in crashes and collisions, the fatalities have been steadily climbing, according to state police data released Tuesday.
In 2015, 562 died in vehicular accidents - six more than the previous year. But in 2016, 607 people, or 45 more, died in 2016.
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State Police Sgt. Jeff Flynn said detectives will analyze the accident data to determine what may be learned to help keep the motoring public safe. But if prior years are any guide, spotty seat belt use, excessive speed and distractions like cell phone use contribute to traffic fatalities.
"Unrestrained passengers and speed are directly correlated to fatalities. The faster you go, your chance of a fatality unfortunately increases. Seat belts save lives - there is no debate," Flynn said. "Those types of things are frustrating. We work very hard to get the message out. We know things like that can be prevented."
Of the 607 people who died in 2016, more than half, 333, were behind the wheel; 167 were pedestrians, 89 were passengers and 18 were on bicycles, according to the state police information.
Although drivers of all ages had died last year, the very young and the most elderly were in the minority. Just six drivers under 18, and 24 people 80 and older died behind the wheel last year, according to the data.
More people died in Burlington County crashes than any other county, with 50 deaths, followed by Middlesex and Monmouth counties which tied with 49 fatalities, according to the State Police data. Four of the fatal crashes in Burlington occurred on State Highway 70; three took place on Interstate 95/NJ Turnpike.
"We have to look at the data and determine if it will it show a road or section may need attention," Flynn said. The analysis could prompt the State Police to recommend better signage or speed limit changes.
Traffic experts agree driver fatigue and distractions are the culprits behind a growing number of accidents and fatalities.
Cathleen Lewis, a spokeswoman for the AAA New Jersey Automobile Club, has said driver distraction is "the largest change in behavior over the last 10 years."
Other reasons include drugged driving, where motorists take medications that affect their performance behind the wheel; and driver fatigue, which the National Transportation Safety Board elevated to a top safety priority following the 2014 crash on the New Jersey Turnpike that seriously injured Tracy Morgan and killed fellow comedian James McNair.
The Garden State's highways and roads are still far safer than they were two decades ago, when 809 people were killed in 1996.
NJ Advance Media Staff Writer Jonathan Salant contributed to this report. Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.