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New Jersey’s Traffic Ranking Reveals Challenges And Safety Focus In 2026 Study

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New Jersey’s Traffic Ranking Reveals Challenges And Safety Focus In 2026 Study


The average U.S. driver spends 49 hours a year in traffic. That significant fact leads to the loss of millions of dollars in productivity, so says a new 2026 study by WalletHub.

Driving

Photo by why kei on Unsplash

How to determine the most driver-friendly states in the U.S.

To determine the most driver-friendly state, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 31 key metrics. The data ranged from average gas price to rush hour congestion, to road quality, and other factors.

The U.S. has an amazing 10  out of the world’s 25 worst cities for traffic.

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If you are stuck in traffic, road conditions can lend high emotions to the already stressful situation of your commute. If you are stuck in traffic on a bad road, that can fuel major stress and cause longer delays.

Driving, Happy

Photo by Omotayo Tajudeen on Unsplash

Where are the best states to drive in?

The best state to drive in, ranking 1-5, is absolutely no surprise. In order, Vermont, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Indiana. I have driven in all these states. Of course, states 2-4 have flat, wide-open highways with tremendous infrastructure and no traffic. Vermont is beautiful, my experience has been wonderful scenery, great roads, and clearly marked signage.

Photo via Ivanko_Brnjakovic

Photo via Ivanko_Brnjakovic

Where does New Jersey rank?

New Jersey ranks somewhere in the middle, on the cusp of best and worst states to drive in. Coming in at No.  27, New Jersey received the middle-of-the-pack rank due to a no-surprise ranking of 47th worst for traffic and infrastructure.

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I know we have some tough roads, very tough roads, but the Garden State Parkway and the Turnpike, for the most part, are in much better shape than I have seen on other major roadways, namely Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and the traffic in Los Angeles, fuhgeddaboudit!

While New Jersey ranked 47th for traffic and infrastructure, they rank 7th overall for safety rank which helped in the overall average.

New Jersey also ranked 29th in car cost in ownership and maintenance.

These factors put New Jersey in the middle. We know we have traffic problems, we know we have infrastructure and road condition issues, but we also know how to drive safely. That is a good thing. Be careful out there.

For the full study and information, please follow the link below: Best & Worst States to Drive in 2026

LET’S GO Back to the ’80s: The Coolest Cars and the Ads That Sold Them

Whether you dreamed of cruising in a Porsche 944 like Jake Ryan, showing off in an IROC-Z, or riding shotgun with KITT from Knight Rider, the cars of the ’80s had something for everyone. Some were fast, some were flashy, and some just got you to tennis practice. Keep scrolling to see the most iconic cars of the decade — and the ads that convinced us we needed them.

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Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz

LET’S GO Back to the ’80s: The Coolest Cars and the Ads That Sold Them

Whether you dreamed of cruising in a Porsche 944 like Jake Ryan, showing off in an IROC-Z, or riding shotgun with KITT from Knight Rider, the cars of the ’80s had something for everyone. Some were fast, some were flashy, and some just got you to tennis practice. Keep scrolling to see the most iconic cars of the decade — and the ads that convinced us we needed them.

Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz

LOOK: See the iconic cars that debuted the year you were born

The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 weekend host Big Joe Henry. Any opinions expressed are Big Joe’s own.

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N.J. group demands review of Trenton immigration arrest operation at auto shop

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N.J. group demands review of Trenton immigration arrest operation at auto shop


U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-Mercer, said in a statement on Facebook that she has been briefed about the incident and her office is monitoring the situation.

Pazmino said her organization is calling on members of the community to come together.

“Brown and Black immigrant communities and nonimmigrant communities are welcome, and should be uniting against this force,” she said.

She is also calling on local officials to assist relatives of those taken into custody.

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“We need to support families affected by these kidnappings, with mutual aid, donations and anything else you think will help each other,” Pazmino said.

A woman identified as Andrea, while holding her 1-year-old daughter, Genesis, tearfully spoke in Spanish about the anguish she feels and her fears about the future without her husband Christian, one of the men taken into custody. A friend, who translated her word into English, said Christian was a good and honest man.

“If he used to see a neighbor carrying something heavy, he would run to help them. If a friend needed a favor, he didn’t ask, he just did it,” she said.

Andrea (left) whose husband, Christian, was taken into custody during a raid on a Trenton auto repair shop, holds her 1-year-old daughter, Genesis, while translator Ashley Batz reads her statement in English. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

She said “his daughter was his whole world. He would wake up to her and give her kisses every morning. He would play with her after a long day at work. He loved us and protected us. He didn’t do anything wrong, so why was he taken?”

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The Rev. Erich Kussman, St. Bartholomew’s pastor, said the entire Lutheran Church stands with the family.

“Anything you need, you can come to us. I want you to know that. I will stand with you, and we will do what we can to protect you, because that’s the call of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” he said.

“Standing with ICE is antithetical to the gospel of Jesus Christ, hands down,” he added. “Fifty-one times the scriptures tell us to welcome the immigrant and foreigner as one of our own. If you’re not living true to that gospel, the words of Christ himself, you are not a Christian, no matter what you claim to be.”

With immigration enforcement activity on the rise in New Jersey, lawmakers have proposed several bills to expand protections for immigrant communities. One measure called the “Fight Unlawful Conduct and Keep Individuals and Communities Empowered Act” would allow individuals to file a lawsuit against ICE agents who violate their constitutional rights.

Asma Elhuni speaking at a podium
Asma Elhuni, an organizer with Resistencia En Acción NJ speaks at a press conference at St. Bartholomew Lutheran Church in Trenton, joined by pastor Erich Kussman. The group was responding to the detention of three workers at Agudo’s Repair Shop on Feb. 20, 2026. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

Another proposed bill would require any business that operates a private prison or detention facility in the state to pay a tax equal to 50% of the taxpayer’s gross receipts derived from the operation of the facility during the previous year. The bill also stipulates all revenues generated would go to an “immigration protection fund.”

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Recently proposed legislation would prohibit ICE agents from ever holding a public job in the Garden State, and New Jersey U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim are proposing legislation to prevent new funding for the Department of Homeland Security from being used to purchase a warehouse in Roxbury, New Jersey.

Requests for comment from ICE and the U.S. Marshals Service were not immediately returned.



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Spring’s coming; Sunny, warm Saturday and significant warm-up ahead NJ

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Spring’s coming; Sunny, warm Saturday and significant warm-up ahead NJ


A brief respite from cold weather is ahead of New Jersey this weekend, before temperatures continue to rise late next week, according to the National Weather Service.

Saturday, Feb. 28 will be sunny across the Garden State, and temperatures will be comfortable, reaching the high 40s and low 50s.

Then, a brief artic cold front is expected to move into the region late on Saturday night, bringing temps to low 30’s and some scattered snow showers on Sunday, especially in North Jersey.

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During the week, a couple low pressure systems are in the NWS forecast. Little snow if any is expected from these systems, especially in the late week, when a significant warm-up is expected.

Asbury Park and Monmouth County weekend weather forecast

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.

Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33.

Sunday: Partly sunny and a chance of snow before 1 p.m. The high should be near 39. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22.

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Wildwoods and Atlantic County weather forecast

Saturday: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 56.

Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Sunday: Partly sunny and a slight chance of rain before 1 p.m. The high should be near 44. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 19.

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Newark and Essex County weather forecast

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.

Saturday night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 32.

Sunday: Cloudy and scattered snow showers before 1 p.m. Then gradual clearing of skies, with a high near 39. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 17.

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Juan Carlos Castillo is a New Jersey-based trending reporter for the USA Today Network. Find him on Twitter at _JCCastillo.



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Winning numbers drawn in Thursday’s New Jersey Pick 6 Double Play

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Winning numbers drawn in Thursday’s New Jersey Pick 6 Double Play


The winning numbers in Thursday’s drawing of the “New Jersey Pick 6 Double Play” game were:

8, 23, 29, 34, 43, 45

(eight, twenty-three, twenty-nine, thirty-four, forty-three, forty-five)

For more lottery results, go to Jackpot.com | Order Lottery Tickets

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