“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in a decrease of approximately 13.2% in vehicle miles traveled nationwide, preliminary data indicates that motor vehicle fatalities across the country increased to a 12- year high of 38,680 deaths, up 6% from 2019.  New Jersey recorded 667 fatal collisions in 2021 resulting in 697 fatalities, a 21% increase in fatal crashes and a 19% increase in total fatalities compared to 2020.  In 2021, Driving While Intoxicated (drugs and/or alcohol) was listed as the contributing factor in 17.9% of those 697 fatalities.  In 2021, 27.2% of drivers involved in fatal crashes had been driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol at the time of the crash. A total of 8.9% of the 290 drivers involved in a fatal crash in 2021 tested positive for cannabis.”