Pennsylvania crash statistics
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation releases an annual report on crashes throughout the state.
The most recent information is from 2022, where there was the third lowest total of reportable crashes since 1950. (Read the full report here.)
There were 115,938 traffic crashes in the commonwealth in 2022. Those crashes claimed the lives of 1,179 people and injured 67,012 others.
On average in Pennsylvania:
- Each day, 318 reportable traffic crashes occurred – about 13 crashes every hour.
- Three people were fatally injured in reportable traffic crashes each day. That is approximately one fatality every seven hours.
- Each day, 184 people were injured in reportable crashes -- about eight injuries per hour.
Based on the 2022 population (12,972,008):
- One out of every 51 people was involved in a reportable traffic crash.
- One out of every 11,003 people was fatally injured in a reportable traffic crash.
- One out of every 194 people was injured in a reportable traffic crash.
Drivers
Every crash involves three elements: the driver, the roadway, and the vehicle.
Of all the drivers represented in crashes, the young driver and the older driver stand out.
Young drivers (16-21) are the least experienced. They are also prone to “overzealous” driving performance, according to PennDOT.
Older drivers (65 and up) experience driving difficulties related to deteriorating physical abilities.
Speed was a contributing factor in the majority of crashes in 2022.
Alcohol-related crashes
Alcohol-related crashes decreased in 2022 and were the second-lowest total in the last five years.
However, alcohol-related fatalities increased to 320 and were the second-highest total in the last five years.
Alcohol-related fatalities were 27% of the total traffic fatalities.
On average, there were 24 alcohol-related crashes each day.
County overview
The 10 counties with the most reported traffic crashes:
- Allegheny: 9.9%
- Philadelphia: 7.5%
- Montgomery: 7%
- Bucks: 4.8%
- Lancaster: 4.8%
- Berks: 4.3%
- Lehigh: 4.2%
- Delaware: 4.2%
- York: 3.9%
- Chester: 3.8%
The 10 counties with the most traffic-related fatalities:
- Philadelphia: 12.1%
- Allegheny: 7.1%
- Lancaster: 4.8%
- Bucks: 4.4%
- Montgomery: 4.3%
- Berks: 4%
- York: 3.1%
- Luzerne: 2.8%
- Westmoreland: 2.7%
- Lehigh: 2.6%