Northwest New Jersey tops the state in highway speeding deaths and ranks very high in the number of pedestrian deaths, according to a Tri-State Transportation Campaign report.

According to the report, more people died of speeding and reckless driving in New Jersey during 2006 than in the last five years combined. Police say many of the fatalities occured on smaller highways and county roads. Sergeant Glen Dusz, with the Sparta Police Department, believes speeding occurs on back roads in Sussex County because there is not much police presence in those areas.

The report also includes pedestrian accidents. It found 168 people died crossing state streets last year. Meanwhile, authorities are urging drivers to ease up on the gas. They also want pedestrians to look both ways when crossing the street.