Traffic deaths hit low
Traffic deaths in Pennsylvania in 2014 reached an all-time low, continuing a favorable trend as safety advocates work toward the nationwide goal of zero fatalities, said acting PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards.
The 2014 number totaled 1,195, the lowest since record-keeping began in 1928.The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation also announced that the public can now search for finalized crash and traffic fatality data using its new Pennsylvania Crash Information Tool at
dotcrashinfo.pa.gov.Breakdowns for 2014 were not available.According to the data, in 2013, there were 16 crash fatalities in Carbon; 30 in Lehigh; 25 in Monroe; 18 in Northampton; and 23 in Schuylkill.PennDOT data shows that while the number of highway deaths dropped in many types of crashes, there were significant decreases in unbuckled, drinking-driver-related and hit-tree crashes last year when compared with 2013. Unbuckled fatalities dropped from 425 to 383.Deaths in drunken-driver related crashes declined to from 342 to 294. Fatalities in hit-tree crashes decreased from 254 to 221.Fatalities increased in some types of crashes, including those involving hit utility poles and drowsy or sleeping drivers.There were 113 fatalities in crashes involving hit utility poles, up from 103 in 2013.Also, deaths in drowsy or asleep crashes increased to 23 from 10 in 2013.PennDOT has invested $50 million over the past five years for safety improvements at approximately 4,000 locations.Types of low-cost safety countermeasures include centerline and edge-line rumble strips.PennDOT also invests about $20 million annually in state and federal funds for safety education and enforcement efforts statewide.Fatalities in crashes involving drivers ages 65 and older also increased, from 277 in 2013 to 300 in 2014.To help address safe driving in this age group, PennDOT offers information on approved Mature Driver Improvement courses available statewide, a brochure on talking with mature drivers and other safety tips at its highway safety information website,
www.JustDrivePA.com.The tool allows users to search data pulled from law enforcement crash reports involving passengers, drivers and different vehicle types.The tool will not provide access to specific police crash reports.To learn about PennDOT's highway safety efforts visit
www.JustDrivePA.com. Highway safety information is also shared on the department's Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaDepartmentofTransportation, on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/Penn-DOTNews and on YouTube at