Traffic Accident Facts and Statistics, 1987

NHTSA · 1987 · ROSA P / Pennsylvania. Dept. of Transportation

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Summary

This document is a statistical report published by the Center for Highway Safety of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, detailing motor vehicle traffic accidents in Pennsylvania for the calendar year 1987. The data is compiled from accident reports submitted by state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies. The report aims to provide a comprehensive review of accident severity, trends, geographic distribution, and specific characteristics such as seat belt usage and alcohol involvement. In 1987, Pennsylvania recorded 152,631 total accidents, resulting in 2,006 fatalities and 151,457 injuries. The economic loss attributed to these reportable accidents was estimated at $5.64 billion, equating to approximately $473.37 per resident. The fatality rate was 2.54 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles, a slight increase from 2.50 in 1986. Alcohol was involved in 14.0% of all accidents and 42.9% of fatal accidents. Saturday was identified as the most dangerous day, accounting for 19.5% of all fatal accidents, while 42.9% of fatal accidents occurred on weekends between 6 PM Friday and midnight Sunday. The report provides granular data on accident demographics and causes. Male drivers comprised 65.7% of all accident drivers and 77.2% of those in fatal accidents. Regarding seat belt usage, among people with known belt status, 38.1% were wearing belts, 29.2% had belts not available, and 32.7% had belts not in use. The data indicates that seat belt use significantly reduced injury severity; for instance, 87.8% of those with belts in use suffered no injury, compared to 55.5% of those with belts not in use. Pedestrian fatalities totaled 252, while motorcycle fatalities reached 153. The report also breaks down statistics by county, vehicle type, and time of day, noting that 52.8% of fatal accidents occurred in dark conditions. The significance of this report lies in its detailed baseline data for highway safety policy and enforcement in Pennsylvania. By highlighting the disproportionate impact of alcohol, lack of seat belt usage, and specific high-risk times and demographics, the document supports targeted safety interventions. The comparison of Pennsylvania’s fatality and injury rates with neighboring states provides context for regional safety performance, while the historical trends section allows for the assessment of long-term safety progress since 1928.

Key finding

There were 152,631 total accidents in Pennsylvania in 1987, resulting in 2,006 fatalities and 151,457 injuries.

Methodology

dataset

Provenance

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Topics

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• incidence prevalence
• fatality injury trends
• demographic disparities
• comparative international

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes, observational prevalence