Fatal crashes in Pennsylvania
In 2024, 1,127 people died in 1,060 fatal crashes on Pennsylvania roads, 6.9% fewer than in 2023. That is about 3 deaths a day, and 2.9% of all road deaths in the United States.
Pennsylvania ranks 10th of 51 by road deaths in 2024.
Road deaths in Pennsylvania since 1975
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads in Pennsylvania
US 30 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Pennsylvania from 2015 to 2024: 194, with 222 deaths. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (108 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 30 | 194 | 222 | 51 | Lancaster, York, Westmoreland |
| 2 | I-81 | 169 | 214 | 44 | Cumberland, Franklin, Luzerne |
| 3 | I-80 | 151 | 167 | 56 | Luzerne, Monroe, Clinton |
| 4 | US 11 | 141 | 146 | 42 | Luzerne, Cumberland, Perry |
| 5 | US 22 | 130 | 144 | 35 | Dauphin, Westmoreland, Huntingdon |
| 6 | US 1 | 124 | 134 | 27 | Philadelphia, Delaware, Bucks |
| 7 | I-76 | 121 | 140 | 31 | Philadelphia, Chester, Lancaster |
| 8 | State Highway 611 | 109 | 115 | 42 | Philadelphia, Monroe, Bucks |
| 9 | I-95 | 102 | 112 | 32 | Philadelphia, Delaware, Bucks |
| 10 | US 322 | 99 | 109 | 28 | Lancaster, Chester, Crawford |
| 11 | US 422 | 99 | 105 | 21 | Berks, Lebanon, Butler |
| 12 | US 6 | 98 | 104 | 27 | Pike, Tioga, Bradford |
| 13 | US 13 | 84 | 87 | 29 | Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware |
| 14 | State Highway 309 | 76 | 84 | 24 | Luzerne, Montgomery, Bucks |
| 15 | I-79 | 73 | 78 | 12 | Washington, Allegheny, Butler |
| 16 | US 222 | 72 | 82 | 21 | Lancaster, Berks, Lehigh |
| 17 | US 19 | 66 | 72 | 15 | Allegheny, Butler, Erie |
| 18 | State Highway 8 | 61 | 65 | 21 | Allegheny, Butler, Erie |
| 19 | US 209 | 53 | 62 | 16 | Monroe, Schuylkill, Dauphin |
| 20 | State Highway 51 | 52 | 57 | 14 | Allegheny, Fayette, Beaver |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest counties in Pennsylvania
Philadelphia County had the most fatal crashes in Pennsylvania from 2015 to 2024: 1,131, with 1,196 deaths. 67 counties in Pennsylvania recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 20 with the most are listed.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | 133 | 1,131 | 1,196 |
| 2 | Allegheny | 74 | 659 | 686 |
| 3 | Bucks | 41 | 487 | 513 |
| 4 | Lancaster | 49 | 474 | 503 |
| 5 | Berks | 47 | 416 | 440 |
| 6 | Montgomery | 45 | 402 | 420 |
| 7 | York | 37 | 346 | 377 |
| 8 | Westmoreland | 27 | 330 | 349 |
| 9 | Chester | 24 | 303 | 319 |
| 10 | Luzerne | 18 | 295 | 313 |
| 11 | Dauphin | 26 | 272 | 295 |
| 12 | Lehigh | 30 | 269 | 296 |
| 13 | Erie | 33 | 248 | 262 |
| 14 | Delaware | 27 | 247 | 264 |
| 15 | Washington | 27 | 222 | 234 |
| 16 | Monroe | 18 | 198 | 221 |
| 17 | Northampton | 15 | 194 | 213 |
| 18 | Schuylkill | 21 | 190 | 208 |
| 19 | Cumberland | 16 | 189 | 199 |
| 20 | Lackawanna | 16 | 185 | 200 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in Pennsylvania
The heaviest slot is Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 407 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 3 pm to 4 pm; the worst month is October.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.3 percent, 362 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 150 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 142 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 327 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 364 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 281 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.3 percent, 145 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 210 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 191 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 302 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 310 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 198 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.0 percent, 109 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 189 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 217 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 324 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 312 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 248 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.9 percent, 94 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 194 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 185 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 332 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 335 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 283 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.3 percent, 146 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 168 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 208 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 299 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 317 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 292 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.7 percent, 189 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 168 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 244 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 367 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 398 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 407 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.6 percent, 388 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 169 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 200 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 317 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 384 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 383 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.0%
- Feb6.1%
- Mar6.7%
- Apr7.5%
- May8.4%
- Jun9.5%
- Jul9.8%
- Aug9.8%
- Sep9.2%
- Oct9.9%
- Nov8.3%
- Dec7.8%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in Pennsylvania: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| Pennsylvania | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 45% | 43% | above the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 24% | 25% | about the same as the US share |
| In daylight | 52% | 46% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 18% | 21% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 25% | 28% | below the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on Pennsylvania roads in 2024
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 703 | 62% |
| Motorcyclists | 217 | 19% |
| Pedestrians | 173 | 15% |
| Cyclists | 22 | 2.0% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 12 | 1.1% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes happen in Pennsylvania: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (6,051 in Pennsylvania).
| Pennsylvania | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 25% | 26% | about the same as the US share |
| Speeding | 40% | 27% | above the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 58% | 49% | above the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.1% | 6.5% | below the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 18% | 16% | above the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 4,255 | 39% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 3,561 | 33% |
| Pedestrian | 1,524 | 14% |
| Other | 589 | 5.4% |
| Rollover | 550 | 5.1% |
| Parked vehicle | 191 | 1.8% |
| Cyclist | 189 | 1.7% |
| Not reported | 5 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Vehicles in fatal crashes in Pennsylvania
Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type (16,370 vehicles).
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 6,552 | 40% |
| SUVs | 3,379 | 21% |
| Motorcycles | 2,055 | 13% |
| Pickups | 1,845 | 11% |
| Truck-tractors | 932 | 5.7% |
| Other trucks | 759 | 4.6% |
| Vans | 749 | 4.6% |
| Buses | 99 | 0.6% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road pages for Pennsylvania
Every numbered road in Pennsylvania with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the Pennsylvania numbers come from
Every figure on this page is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I35 FRONTAGE" and "I-35" are the same road; frontage roads and ramps are left out of road counts). Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". The full method.