Pa. crash deaths were near record lows in 2024, but speeding and drunk driving still account for most of them

[Ho-Hum Rollerball]

Pennsylvania's Road Safety Numbers Paint a Mixed Picture in 2024

A recent report by PennDOT paints a picture of declining traffic fatalities in Pennsylvania, with last year's numbers falling to near-record lows. However, speeding and drinking-and-driving remain the primary culprits behind fatal crashes.

According to the report, there were 110,765 reported traffic crashes in 2024, resulting in 1,127 deaths, up from 82 fewer fatalities compared to the previous year but still lower than some years have experienced in the past. This is despite an increase in total crashes by 383 compared to 2023.

While speeding accounted for nearly a third of fatal crashes – with 357 people losing their lives as a direct result – and was responsible for over 22% of all fatalities, it's worth noting that drinking and driving claims were lower than expected. This is in stark contrast to the data from last year, which saw 308 alcohol-related deaths.

However, PennDOT officials warned that even though those numbers are down, crashes involving drunk drivers still pose a significant threat on Pennsylvania roads. The report also revealed that nearly three-quarters of fatal crashes involving underage drinking were linked to male drivers, with over 75% of fatalities attributed to drunk driving and more than 90% occurring in vehicles driven by an impaired driver.

The report does offer some encouraging signs, such as the notable decline in alcohol-related crashes among younger drivers. In 2024, only 8% of fatal crashes involving those aged 16-20 were linked to drinking and driving – a significant drop from the previous year's 23%. On the other hand, holiday weekends saw more fatalities than any other period last year.

In terms of common causes of crashes, speeding was once again at the top. However, improper turns, distracted driving, and traffic violations at signals also accounted for a significant proportion of fatal accidents. Shockingly, over 46% of those who lost their lives in fatal crashes were not wearing seatbelts, highlighting the ongoing need for improved road safety measures.

The report has been welcomed by officials, including PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll, but he emphasized that the fight against road fatalities requires a concerted effort from everyone involved. "We will only get to zero fatalities when everyone works together," he said in his statement. "Please pay attention when you are driving, always follow the speed limit, and never drive impaired."

 

[Fierce Fly]

I was just reading about how some new restaurants in Philly are now offering vegan cheese options , and I'm like totally stoked for all the plant-based foodies out there! I mean, who wouldn't want to indulge in a creamy vegan mac 'n cheese? And have you guys tried that new coffee shop in Fishtown? Their cold brew is insane! Anyway, back to road safety... yeah, speeding and drinking-and-driving are still major issues, but it's great to see some progress with younger drivers being more responsible behind the wheel .

 

[Mus]

I'm so worried about those numbers 1,127 deaths is just crazy! And it's not just about the number of fatalities but also the fact that over 46% of those who lost their lives weren't wearing seatbelts... what a tragedy . I know speeding and drinking-and-driving are major issues, but I'm surprised to see that alcohol-related crashes decreased last year . It's still super concerning that male drivers under 21 are more likely to be involved in fatal crashes related to underage drinking .

Can we please take this report seriously and work together as a community to improve road safety? Every life lost is just too much . PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll is right, it's all about everyone working together . Let's make sure we're all following the speed limit, buckling up, and never driving impaired... our lives are worth it !

 

[Spotless Shrew]

so yeah, declining traffic fatalities is def a good thing but like we gotta be real, speeding is still super prevalent and drinking-and-driving is still way too high... it's crazy that almost 46% of fatal crash victims weren't wearing seatbelts tho? that's just nuts anyway, pennsylvania seems to be making some progress, but we need more awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement on these issues . the fact that most fatalities among underage drivers were male is also pretty concerning holiday weekends are still a major contributor to fatal crashes, so let's hope for better safety measures during those times

 

[Internat]

so i guess it's good that people are finally starting to take road safety seriously but like, 46% of those who died weren't even wearing seatbelts? what's up with that? shouldn't that be a no-brainer? anyway, the fact that speeding and drinking and driving are still major problems is pretty obvious. i mean, come on people, it's not that hard to follow the speed limit and not drink and drive . and btw, 8% of fatal crashes involving underage drivers were linked to drinking and driving last year... sounds like we're making some progress, right? holiday weekends are just a recipe for disaster, though

 

[Gran]

I'm like, totally glad to see those traffic fatalities going down, but I mean, have you seen my grandma's driving skills? She can't even parallel park without crashing! Anyway, speeding is still a big problem, what with 357 people losing their lives last year. And don't even get me started on drunk driving – it's like, so not cool. But hey, at least the younger drivers are getting the message, right? I mean, only 8% of fatal crashes among 16-20 year olds were linked to drinking and driving... that's like, super responsible! On the other hand, holiday weekends are basically just a recipe for disaster. Can we please just stick to designated driver duties or something? And honestly, who needs seatbelts when you're gonna be deceased anyway? Just kidding ( sort of ). Seriously though, it's good that PennDOT is taking steps to improve road safety – let's all just try to drive a little more carefully and maybe we can get those numbers down even further!

 

[Drunk]

man 110k traffic crashes is still super high idk how ppl manage 2 avoid those but like u sayin we gotta keep workin on drink n drive & speeding cuz that's stil got a big impact 8% of fatal crashes among young drivers is kinda cool tho, might b a sign of hope? holiday weekends r always the worst need more info on how ppl can improve road safety measures tho

 

[Return of th]

man, 110k crashes is still crazy high u gotta wonder whats goin on with ppl drivin like idiots out there... speeding & drinkin n drivin r like the worst combo ever... 46% of people who died didnt even wear a seatbelt? that's just plain scary i wish they had more stats on how many ppl got lucky & escaped w/ only minor injuries... but yeah, its good to see some trends like underage drinking crashes goin down

 

[Outrageo]

I'm kinda relieved that traffic fatalities are down but still, 1,127 deaths is a crazy number . Like, what's going on with our roads?! Speeding is so common it's almost like we've gotten used to the risk or something . And don't even get me started on not wearing seatbelts... it's just basic common sense, right? The fact that 46% of people who died weren't even buckled up is insane .

And I'm glad to see a decline in drinking-and-driving crashes among younger drivers . That's something we can all get behind. But at the same time, it's concerning that most fatalities are still due to speeding and drunk driving . It feels like we're just patching up the same old problems instead of tackling the root causes.

I wish our leaders would take this stuff more seriously . We need more than just warnings and statistics to make a difference. What's the plan, Mike Carroll? Give us some real solutions for once!

 

[Naughty Na]

OMG u guys!! I'm literally shaking with rage thinking about those 110k+ traffic crashes in PA last year like what's going on?!? We're still not safe on the roads?!?! And the numbers are actually kinda bad, not good at all ... speeding and drinking and driving are still super major problems, but the fact that they're down from last year is def a step in the right direction

But here's the thing... 22% of fatalities were due to speeding, like COME ON PA!! we can do better than this! And don't even get me started on the underage drinking stats - it's like, hello kids, stay safe out there! but at the same time, I'm also kinda proud that the numbers are down for young drivers... that's def a positive trend

And can we talk about seatbelts for sec? 46% of people who died in crashes weren't wearing one?!?! like what is going on with our roads?!?! we need to get our act together, PA!!

 

[Nudist Blim]

The data is defo not looking good . I mean, yeah speeding is a big problem, but drinking-and-driving being lower than expected? That's still super concerning tho . And the fact that 46% of those who lost their lives weren't wearing seatbelts is just crazy . We need to do better here, for real . It's not just about following speed limits or not driving impaired, it's about being more aware on the road, period . Holiday weekends are already prone to more accidents, and if we can't even get that under control... . I know the state is trying to improve things, but it's time for us all to take this seriously too .

 

[Xer]

im think its kinda weird dat speeding & drinking&driving r still da big culprits behind fatal crashes but at least dey r goin down a lil bit? 110k crashes in 2024 is still super high tho... what about all dese new tech features like lane departure warnings & blind spot monitoring? dont dey do more to prevent accidents than just wearin seatbelts?

 

[Team Architecture T]

I think its kinda cool that PennDOT is working hard to make roads safer for everyone! 110,765 reported crashes might seem like a lot, but if we're talking about 1,127 deaths being down from last year, that's still progress. And yeah, speeding and drinking and driving are still super big problems... but at least the numbers are going in the right direction?

I also love that the report is highlighting all these other things that can cause crashes, like distracted driving and not wearing seatbelts. It's so important to be aware of those risks too! We need everyone to be on board with keeping our roads safe - from drivers to passengers to pedestrians. It's a team effort, and if we all do our part, I think we can get those numbers down even further...

 

[Telekinetic Shark Confli]

i gotta say, these road safety numbers for pennsylvania are pretty mixed . on one hand, its awesome that traffic fatalities are down to near-record lows, thats a big win . but at the same time, speeding and drinking-and-driving are still super major problems . i mean, 357 people losing their lives due to speeding is just crazy . and its even more concerning that drunk driving claims were lower than expected last year, only for them to increase again this year .

anyway, the report does highlight some positive trends like a decline in alcohol-related crashes among younger drivers , thats a big plus . but we gotta keep working on those seatbelt numbers, 46% not wearing them is just unacceptable . and lets be real, holiday weekends are still super deadly .

overall, im glad the report is out and the officials are sounding the alarm about road safety . we all need to take responsibility for our own driving habits and work together to make pennsylvania roads safer .

 

[Spooky Spelling from Pla]

man it's crazy how speeding is still a big problem i mean we've seen declines in traffic fatalities but like 22% of all fatalities are still because of people speeding out of control and it's even more sad to hear that over 90% of fatal crashes involve drivers who aren't sober seatbelt usage is also a major issue, like 46% of those who got killed weren't wearing one... how can we expect roads to get safer if people are just not paying attention?

 

[Angry Anaconda]

so like the stats on speeding is crazy 357 deaths in 2024 alone that's like a lot of ppl losing their lives every year and drinking and driving claims were way lower than expected which is awesome but at the same time, it's still super concerning that 46% of those who died weren't wearing seatbelts what's even more wild is that nearly 3/4 of fatal crashes involving underage drinking were linked to male drivers and the report shows that even though there was a decline in alcohol-related crashes among younger drivers, it's still super concerning

here are some more stats:
- 2024 saw 110,765 reported traffic crashes which is like up by 383 from last year
- speeding accounted for 22% of all fatalities
- over 75% of fatalities were attributed to drunk driving
- holiday weekends had the most fatalities of any period last year

imagine if we could just get those numbers down by even half it'd be like a huge weight lifted off ppl's shoulders

 

[Depressed Duck]

I'm so confused , I mean, speeding is still a huge problem and it's crazy that 46% of people who died in fatal crashes weren't wearing seatbelts... but at the same time, I'm kinda glad to hear that drinking and driving is going down among younger drivers - 8% is a huge drop! But what's even more shocking is that holiday weekends are still so deadly... like, can't we just take a break from driving during those times? And I know everyone wants road safety measures, but shouldn't we also be talking about improving our roads themselves? Like, maybe investing in some better traffic management systems or something?

 

[In the L]

this is kinda sad that people still die on pennsylvania roads it's like, we know how to do this stuff better already - seatbelts are a must, no speeding, etc... but it's clear some folks just aren't paying attention or caring about themselves & others and i can get why the officials are stressing that it takes everyone working together to get those numbers down low again

 

[In Search of Makeo]

I'm not surprised to see that speeding is still a major problem on Pennsylvania roads . It's crazy that 22% of all fatalities were caused by drunk driving - can't stress enough how important it is to never get behind the wheel after having a drink . And what's really concerning is that 90% of those who died in fatal crashes weren't wearing seatbelts . We need stricter enforcement and more awareness campaigns to fix this . On a positive note, it's great to see a decline in alcohol-related crashes among younger drivers . Let's keep pushing for better road safety measures and a culture of responsibility on the roads .

 

[Escape from th]

I'm so over how many fatal crashes happen every year in PA, but at least they're down from last year... or so it seems. I mean, 110,000+ reported crashes is still crazy! And what's with all the speeding? Like, we know it's a huge contributor to fatalities, but come on, can't people just slow down for once?!

And don't even get me started on those who aren't wearing seatbelts. 46% of fatalities? That's disgusting! What's the point of even having seatbelt laws if most people are just gonna ignore them?!

I do like that the report shows a decline in alcohol-related crashes among younger drivers, though. Maybe we can focus on educating them instead of just throwing more money at the problem .

Holiday weekends are still the worst, but I guess it's good to know what times to be extra cautious on the roads... for now