Traffic Accident Facts and Statistics: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation 1988

NHTSA · 1988 · ROSA P / Pennsylvania. Dept. of Transportation

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Summary

This report, published by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Center for Highway Safety, provides a comprehensive statistical review of motor vehicle traffic accidents in Pennsylvania for the calendar year 1988. The data is compiled from traffic accident reports submitted by state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies. The document aims to quantify the scope, severity, and characteristics of traffic incidents, offering a baseline for safety analysis and policy evaluation. The report analyzes 152,906 total accidents, resulting in 1,932 fatalities and 154,018 injuries. The economic loss attributed to these reportable accidents was estimated at $5.48 billion, equating to $460.21 per resident. The analysis categorizes accidents by severity, type, and contributing factors, including alcohol involvement, seat belt usage, and vehicle type. It also presents historical trends from 1928 to 1988 and compares Pennsylvania’s fatality and injury rates against neighboring states. Geographic data is provided at the county level, detailing accident frequencies and rates per 10,000 population. Key findings indicate that 65.2% of accidents resulted in property damage only, while 33.6% involved injuries and 1.2% were fatal. Alcohol was a factor in 12.2% of all accidents but accounted for 44.6% of fatalities. Fatal accidents were disproportionately likely to occur during dark conditions (53.0%) and on weekends, with Saturday identified as the most dangerous day and 2:00 AM as the most dangerous hour. Male drivers were involved in 65.3% of all accidents and 78.0% of fatal accidents. Passenger cars were the most involved vehicle type, accounting for 82.9% of highway deaths, followed by light trucks at 10.7%. Pedestrians and motorcyclists represented 8.8% and 6.8% of fatalities, respectively. The report also highlights that seat belt usage statistics and alcohol-related data show significant variations by county and time of day. The significance of this report lies in its detailed characterization of traffic safety risks in Pennsylvania during the late 1980s. By identifying high-risk periods, demographics, and behaviors—such as the strong correlation between alcohol use and fatalities, and the higher risk associated with nighttime driving—the data supports targeted safety interventions. The inclusion of economic cost estimates underscores the substantial financial burden of traffic accidents on the Commonwealth. The comparative data with neighboring states and historical trends provide context for evaluating the effectiveness of existing highway safety measures and identifying areas requiring further regulatory or educational focus.

Key finding

Pennsylvania recorded 152,906 traffic accidents in 1988, resulting in 1,932 fatalities and 154,018 injuries, with an estimated total economic loss of $5.48 billion.

Methodology

dataset

Sample size: 152906

Provenance

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Topics

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• incidence prevalence
• fatality injury trends

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes, observational prevalence