The number of people killed in traffic crashes reached a new low in 2025, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Last year’s fatalities in Pennsylvania dropped to 1,047 — the lowest since record keeping began in 1928 and 80 fewer than in 2024, PennDOT noted.

“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.

In 2025, there were 109,515 total reportable crashes, the second lowest on record only to 2020, when traffic volumes were down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The local region has mostly seen a decrease in fatalities since 2024.

Of the 648 reportable crashes in Carbon County in 2025, seven resulted in fatalities. Also locally, Schuylkill County logged 1,324 crashes, 17 of which had fatalities. Lehigh County saw 4,404 crashes and 33 fatalities; Monroe County had 2,047 crashes with 19 fatalities; and Northampton had 3,054 crashes with 18 fatalities.

All counties’ fatalities decreased from 2024, except for Northampton and Lehigh counties, which saw two and one more, respectively.

Carroll credited PennDOT’s education and outreach for helping to decrease deaths.

“But we will only reach zero when we all work together,” he said.

Under the administration of Gov. Josh Shapiro, PennDOT invested more than $70 million in federal grants in behavioral safety programs including impaired and distracted driving campaigns, aggressive driving enforcement and seat belt and child restraint programs.

The investment was made because drivers’ behavior is the cause of 83% of fatal crashes in Pennsylvania. The behaviors include driving distracted, impaired and aggressively.

The number of deaths in impaired driver crashes dropped from 342 in 2024 to 258 last year, the lowest number on record.

PennDOT distributes more than $6.7 million each year from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to impaired driving enforcement campaigns.

The Pennsylvania State Police partners with NHTSA on a number of them, including impaired driving enforcement details and safety checkpoints.

“The Pennsylvania State Police is committed to roadway safety,” Trooper Anthony Petroski III, of Troop N-Hazleton, said. “Through traffic stops, issuing citations and traffic safety checkpoints, we will continue to ensure safe travels for everybody on the roadways.”

For example, state police will again participate in NHTSA’s “Click It or Ticket” campaign between May 11 and 31. The high-visibility enforcement program urges drivers and passengers to always buckle up to avoid the potentially deadly consequences of not wearing a seat belt.

According to PennDOT, fatalities where a driver or passenger wasn’t wearing a seat belt dropped from 311 in 2024 to 259 last year, the lowest number since record keeping began. About 90% of unbelted occupants, or 233 people, who were killed in crashes could have survived if they had been buckled up.

In addition to behavioral safety, PennDOT focuses on infrastructure improvements to improve safety.

More than $357 million in federal Highway Safety Improvement Program funds were invested in 312 safety projects from 2023-25. Another $30 million was invested in low-cost safety improvements at hundreds of locations — things like centerline and edge-line rumble strips, warning signs and pavement markings, and high friction surface treatments.

While fatalities for most types of crashes were down in 2025, some types saw increases. Fatalities involving aggressive driving have gone up 31% since 2020, the year of the record low. Aggressive driving includes running a stop sign or red light, tailgating, sudden slowing or stopping, careless passing or passing in a no-passing zone, speeding and driving too fast for conditions.

“Aggressive driving crashes and fatalities are completely preventable,” Carroll said. “Slow down, pay attention, follow all traffic signs, and just be kind. If we all stay calm and courteous while driving, we can create a safer and more respectful driving culture, ultimately leading to fewer aggressive driving crashes and traffic deaths.”

While fatalities involving distracted drivers were up slightly, from 49 in 2024 to 54 last year, the long-term trend is decreasing, thanks in part to Pennsylvania’s new hands-free law. Effective in June 2025, Paul Miller’s Law prohibits the use of handheld devices while driving, even while stopped temporarily due to traffic, a red light or other delays.

Beginning on June 5, drivers convicted of using a handheld device while driving will pay a $50 fine, plus court costs and other fees.

Fatalities in crashes involving a driver age 65 to 74 years old increased from 162 in 2024 to 185 in 2025. Deaths in crashes involving 16- and 17-year-old drivers increased from 27 in 2024 to 31 last year, PennDOT said.