HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Division of Transportation stories that in 2021, site visitors fatalities statewide rose to 1,230 from 1,129 the 12 months earlier than.
Fatalities on Pennsylvania highways are up about 9%, in keeping with a not too long ago launched report from the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration, which tasks a nationwide enhance of about 12% within the first 9 months of 2021.
“Security on our roads is a shared duty”, stated PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “Whether or not you’re a driver, passenger, pedestrian or bicyclist, we will all do our half to stop accidents and fatalities. Buckle up each time you are in a automobile. All the time cross the road at an intersection or crosswalk. All the time put on a helmet when using a bike or bicycle. By no means drive, bike or stroll distracted or distracted. Let’s work collectively to scale back site visitors deaths, as a result of even one fatality is just too many.”
Up to date Pennsylvania Strategic Freeway Security Plan 2022 lays groundwork for progress “In direction of Zero Deaths” specializing in each infrastructure-based and conduct change methods to scale back crash frequency and severity. That is achieved by implementing highway designs that emphasize minimizing damage danger for all highway customers, lowering inequities in our transportation community, and utilizing cost-effective, data-driven strategies.
The plan seeks to considerably cut back traffic-related deaths and critical accidents by addressing a number of security focus areas, together with three precedence areas of emphasis: lane departure crashes, drunk driving, and pedestrian security.
In 2021, deaths in crashes involving lane modifications elevated to 596, up from 551 in 2020, accounting for almost half of all highway deaths statewide. Methods to fight these crashes intention to maintain automobiles on the highway, inside the correct journey lanes, and embody low-cost security enhancements resembling centerline or shoulder rumble strips, high-friction floor therapies and median cable barrier.
Dashing, drunk driving and distraction are main elements in lane departure accidents.
Drunk driving-related fatalities decreased from 471 in 2020 to 450 in 2021, however nonetheless account for greater than 35% of fatalities.
Pedestrian deaths elevated to 182, up from 146 in 2020.
Different kinds of accidents with notable will increase in fatalities in 2021 embody:
• Crashes involving a 16- to 17-year-old driver
• Crashes involving aggressive driving
• Bike fatalities
• Crashes involving heavy vehicles
• Kills with out restrictions
Based on nationwide information, driver conduct is an element in additional than 90% of accidents.
For extra info on reportable crash information, go to PennDOT’s Pennsylvania Crash Info Device web site, www.crashinfo.penndot.gov.
For extra info on the division’s freeway security initiatives, go to www.penndot.pa.gov/security.
