OUT BY THEN THEY COULD FACE TRESPASSING CHARGES. NEW AT NOON. PENNDOT SAYS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED IN TRAFFIC CRASHES REACHED A NEW LOW IN 2025. THE TOTAL OF 1047 FATAL TRAFFIC CRASHES LAST YEAR IS THE LOWEST SINCE RECORD KEEPING BEGAN IN 1928, AND 80 FEWER THAN 2024. ALSO NEW AT NOON. THE NUMBER OF FATALITIES IN IMPAIRED DRIVER CRASHES IN PENNSYLVANIA DROPPED FROM 342 IN
PennDOT says deadly crashes fell to historic low in 2025
Updated: 12:42 PM EDT Apr 29, 2026
The total number of people killed in state crashes in 2025 reached a record low, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. PennDOT said 1,047 people died in crashes across the state last year, marking the lowest number of fatalities since record-keeping began in 1928. “Even one life lost is one too many, so while this decrease is good news, Pennsylvania remains committed to moving toward zero deaths on our roadways,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said. Total crashes also declined PennDOT reported 109,515 total crashes in 2025, the second-lowest yearly total on record behind only 2020, when traffic volumes dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of those crashes, 979 were deadly, down from 1,060 in 2024, according to the agency. PennDOT said driver behavior remains the leading factor in 83 percent of deadly crashes statewide, including distraction, impairment and aggressive driving. Where fatalities dropped PennDOT said fatalities in impaired-driving crashes dropped from 342 in 2024 to 258 in 2025, the lowest number on record.Lane-departure crash deaths also fell, dropping from 537 to 492, while fatalities involving people not wearing seat belts declined from 311 to 259, also a record low, according to the agency. PennDOT said about 90 percent of unbelted passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes last year, or 233 people, could have survived if they had been buckled up. Some crash categories saw increasesDespite the overall decline, PennDOT said several crash categories saw increases in 2025. Aggressive-driving deaths rose 31 percent since 2020, according to the agency. Bicyclist deaths increased from 19 in 2024 to 28 in 2025, and distracted-driving deaths rose slightly from 49 to 54. PennDOT also reported increases in deaths involving drivers ages 65 to 74, which rose from 162 to 185, and teen drivers ages 16 to 17, which increased from 27 to 31.The complete 2025 crash data book is expected to be released at the beginning of June, according to PennDOT.
The total number of people killed in state crashes in 2025 reached a record low, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
PennDOT said 1,047 people died in crashes across the state last year, marking the lowest number of fatalities since record-keeping began in 1928.
“Even one life lost is one too many, so while this decrease is good news, Pennsylvania remains committed to moving toward zero deaths on our roadways,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said.
Total crashes also declined
PennDOT reported 109,515 total crashes in 2025, the second-lowest yearly total on record behind only 2020, when traffic volumes dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of those crashes, 979 were deadly, down from 1,060 in 2024, according to the agency.
PennDOT said driver behavior remains the leading factor in 83 percent of deadly crashes statewide, including distraction, impairment and aggressive driving.
Where fatalities dropped
PennDOT said fatalities in impaired-driving crashes dropped from 342 in 2024 to 258 in 2025, the lowest number on record.
Lane-departure crash deaths also fell, dropping from 537 to 492, while fatalities involving people not wearing seat belts declined from 311 to 259, also a record low, according to the agency.
PennDOT said about 90 percent of unbelted passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes last year, or 233 people, could have survived if they had been buckled up.
Some crash categories saw increases
Despite the overall decline, PennDOT said several crash categories saw increases in 2025.
Aggressive-driving deaths rose 31 percent since 2020, according to the agency. Bicyclist deaths increased from 19 in 2024 to 28 in 2025, and distracted-driving deaths rose slightly from 49 to 54.
PennDOT also reported increases in deaths involving drivers ages 65 to 74, which rose from 162 to 185, and teen drivers ages 16 to 17, which increased from 27 to 31.
The complete 2025 crash data book is expected to be released at the beginning of June, according to PennDOT.