Pa. highway deaths rose in 2020 despite less traffic
Statewide traffic deaths increased in 2020 from the record low set in 2019 despite a 20% decrease in traffic, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
PennDOT reported 1,129 highway fatalities in 2020, up 79 from the 1,059 recorded in 2019. That 6.6% increase is similar to the national estimate of 8% reported by the National Safety Council.
“We cannot definitively say why fatalities increased during the covid-19 pandemic even though it certainly had an impact on traffic volumes statewide,” PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said in a statement. “Over the long term, traffic fatalities are still trending down, but we must continue to work together to make our roads safer for all drivers.”
Allegheny County had the most highway fatalities in the region with 60, but that total was its lowest since reporting 54 in 2015. Westmoreland saw 39 fatalities, its highest number since 41 in 2015.
Armstrong (five) and Butler (10) each had their lowest total in the past 20 years. Here’s a look at totals for other counties in the region:
- Beaver: 13
- Fayette: 27
- Indiana: 15
- Somerset: 9
- Washington: 29
PennDOT also reported the lowest number of fatalities in alcohol-related crashes in 2020, with 292. For comparison, the highest mark in the past 20 years was 602 in 2002.
Mike Palm is a TribLive digital producer who also writes music reviews and features. A Westmoreland County native, he joined the Trib in 2001, where he spent years on the sports copy desk, including serving as night sports editor. He has been with the multimedia staff since 2013. He can be reached at mpalm@triblive.com.
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