Southeastern PA Fatal Crashes Decreased From 2020 To 2021

HARRISBURG, PA — Fatal crashes increased statewide by 9% from 1,129 in 2020 to 1,230 in 2021, according to PennDOT's recently released 2021 crash report.

But the good local news is that fatal crashes decreased in Chester, Delaware, and Philadelphia counties.

"Safety on our roadways is a shared responsibility," PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said in a statement. "Whether you are a driver, passenger, pedestrian, or bicyclist, we can all do our part to prevent crashes and fatalities."

Motorists are driving less since the pandemic broke out in Pennsylvania in March 2020.

The decrease in traffic fatalities in Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia counties is a good start to PennDOT’s Strategic Highway plan to reduce traffic fatalities to zero.

The plan calls for reducing fatal crashes by implementing roadway designs that emphasize minimizing the risk of injury to all road users, reducing inequities in the transportation network, and using cost-effective, data-driven methods.

According to PennDOT's 2021 crash records:

• Chester County fatal crashes decreased by 3% from 34 in 2020 to 33 in 2021
• Delaware County fatal crashes decreased by 13% from 29 in 2020to 25 in 2021
• Philadelphia fatal crashes decreased by 19% from 166 in 2020 to 133 in 2021

Not all good news

This increase statewide and in two of Philadelphia's collar counties is in line with a recently released report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, projecting a national increase of approximately 12% in fatal crashes in the first nine months of 2021.

According to PennDOT's 2021 crash records:

• Bucks County fatal crashes increased 5% from 52 in 2020 to 55 in 2021.
• Montgomery County fatal crashes increased 11% from 35 in 2020 to 39 in 2021.

Here are PennDOT safe driving tips

• Buckle up every time you are in a vehicle.
• Always cross the road at an intersection or crosswalk.
• Always wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle or bicycle.
• Never drive, ride, or walk impaired or distracted.

"Let's work together to reduce traffic deaths, because even one fatality is one too many," Gramian said.