Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that the number of people who lost their lives on Pennsylvania highways decreased to 1,127 in 2024, the second lowest since record keeping began in 1928 and 82 less than in 2023.

“While this decrease in fatalities is certainly good news, even one life lost is one too many,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “PennDOT will continue to work with our partners to decrease traffic deaths through education and outreach, but we will only get to zero fatalities when everyone works together. Please pay attention when you are driving, always follow the speed limit, and never drive impaired. And buckle up! Your seat belt can save your life in a crash.”

As part of Governor Josh Shapiro’s mission to provide a safe transportation system for all Pennsylvanians, PennDOT annually invests approximately $32.4 million statewide in federal grant funds in behavioral safety programs to reduce fatalities and serious injuries. In addition to behavioral safety, PennDOT focuses on infrastructure improvements. Approximately $591 million in federal Highway Safety Improvement Program funds were invested in 392 unique safety projects from 2020 to 2024. During that same time, another $50 million in state funds was invested in low-cost safety improvements at over a thousand locations – which include centerline and edge-line rumble strips, warning signs and pavement markings, and high friction surface treatments.

The number of fatalities in impaired driver crashes dropped from 429 in 2023 to 342 last year. PennDOT annually distributes more than $6.2 million from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for impaired driving enforcement. Impaired driving mobilizations include coordinated enforcement as well as education campaigns that aim to eliminate driving under the influence (DUI). Impaired driving enforcement goes beyond checking for alcohol impairment. Law enforcement also work to identify motorists impaired by illegal drugs and prescription medication or some combination of these. Pennsylvania has more than 260 Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) or specially trained officers who look for impaired drivers and assist in DUI investigations when drug-impaired driving is suspected.

Fatalities in lane departure crashes dropped from 629 in 2023 to 537 last year. This decrease continues a long-term trend of reducing lane departure fatalities. PennDOT’s Low-Cost Safety Improvement Program has implemented proven safety countermeasures at thousands of locations over the last 15 years. These include rumble strips, high friction surface treatments, high-tension cable median barriers, and advanced curve warning through signs and pavement markings.

While fatalities for most types of crashes were down in 2024, some types saw increases. Fatalities in intersection crashes increased to 321, up from 301 in 2023. Fatalities in crashes at intersections with a stop sign also increased from 98 in 2023 to 111 last year. PennDOT regularly reviews factors in fatal crashes at intersections and works to improve safety at intersections with stop signs by addressing issues like sight and stopping distance. Additionally, PennDOT is currently in the process of installing pedestrian countdown timers at nearly 800 signalized intersections across Pennsylvania. This safety improvement is expected to decrease crashes by about 8%.

It’s crash, not accident. Driver behavior is the leading factor in 83% of the crashes that occur annually in Pennsylvania. These behaviors include driving distracted, impaired, or aggressive. These behaviors are choices. Drivers don’t intend to cause a crash, but their choices kill innocent victims every day. Choose to do the right thing because your choices are no accident.

For more information on reportable crash data, visit PennDOT’s Pennsylvania Crash Information Tool (PCIT) website, crashinfo.penndot.pa.gov. All crash download spreadsheets and the “Custom Query Tool” are updated with 2024 data. The 2024 “Facts Book” and “Public Crash Databases” will be available by June 1.

For more information on PennDOT’s highway safety initiatives, visit penndot.pa.gov/safety.