PennDOT Releases 2016 Crash Statistics
Each year, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) releases a report on the prior year’s crash statistics. “In 2016, Pennsylvania saw the lowest number of traffic fatalities on record—1,188,” according to PennDOT. “To add some perspective, the 2016 total of reportable traffic crashes is the thirteenth lowest total since 1950 when 113,748 crashes were reported.”
Here are some of the 2016 report highlights on motor vehicle accidents in Pennsylvania:
- On average, about 15 motor vehicle crashes happen every hour in Pennsylvania.
- When comparing the amount of car accidents in Philadelphia and the surrounding region, Philadelphia County is among the top ten counties with the most reported crashes and the most traffic-related fatalities.
- One out of every 43 people was involved in a reportable traffic crash in Pennsylvania, and one out of every 154 people was injured.
- The vast majority of crashes were not fatal. One out of 10,761 people was fatally injured in a motor vehicle accident in Pennsylvania.
- Passenger cars were involved in more crashes than all other vehicle types combined.
- The total number of crashes increased 1.8 percent in 2016 as compared to 2015, but fatalities decreased by 1.0 percent.
The 2016 report breaks out the data in many interesting ways, such as who was involved (by gender and age), the types of vehicles, which days of the week and hours of the day had the most crashes, and crashes involving alcohol. There’s also a section on seat belts, child safety seats and air bags in crashes. If you’d like to find out more, you can create your own custom searches with the Pennsylvania Crash Information Tool.
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