Crime & Safety
Traffic Deaths Rise in PA
The number of fatal crashes in Pennsylvania involving alcohol impairment also increased.
Traffic deaths increased nationwide and jumped slightly in Pennsylvania in 2012, according to a recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
There were 1,310 traffic fatalities in Pennsylvania last year, up from 1,286 in 2011. That represents a 2 percent increase. Four hundred and eight of those fatalities involved alcohol impairment, up from 398 the year before.
Highway fatalities also increased nationwide in 2012, from 32,479 to 33,561. The majority of the increase in deaths (72 percent) occurred in the first quarter of the year, and most of those involved were motorcyclists and pedestrians.
While the newly released data marks the first increase since 2005, highway deaths over the past five years continue to remain at historic lows. Early estimates on crash fatalities for the first half of 2013 indicate a decrease in deaths compared to the same time frame in 2012.
"As a public health and safety agency, any increase in the number of deaths is cause for concern. While we're seeing some unfortunate trends, we're also seeing progress in some parts of the country," NHTSA Administrator David L. Strickland said in a press release. "We will continue to work closely with our federal, state and local partners to change the way motorists behave on our roadways and build public awareness of key issues that have the potential to save many lives."
Other key 2012 statistics include:
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- Fatalities among pedestrians increased for the third consecutive year (6.4 percent increase over 2011). The data showed the large majority of pedestrian deaths occurred in urban areas, at non-intersections, at night and many involved alcohol.
- Fatalities involving motorcyclists increased for the third consecutive year (7.1 percent increase over 2011). Ten times as many riders died not wearing a helmet in states without a universal helmet law than in states with such laws.
- Large-truck occupant fatalities increased for the third consecutive year (8.9 percent over 2011).
- Deaths in crashes involving drunk drivers increased 4.6 percent in 2012, taking 10,322 lives compared to 9,865 in 2011. The majority of those crashes involved drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 or higher – nearly double the legal limit.
- The number of people killed in distraction-affected crashes decreased slightly from 3,360 in 2011 to 3,328, while an estimated 421,000 people were injured, a 9 percent increase from the estimated 387,000 people injured in 2011.
- Nighttime seat belt use continues to be a challenge. In nighttime crashes in 2012, almost two-thirds of the people that died were unrestrained.
The full NHTSA report is attached as a PDF above.
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