1992 Traffic Crash Facts and Statistics [Pennsylvania]

NHTSA · 1992 · ROSA P / Pennsylvania. Dept. of Transportation

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Summary

This document, published by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Center for Highway Safety, provides a comprehensive statistical review of reportable motor vehicle traffic crashes in Pennsylvania for the calendar year 1992. The report compiles data from traffic crash reports submitted by state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies, aiming to quantify the scope, severity, and economic impact of highway safety incidents within the Commonwealth. The methodology relies on aggregated administrative data, including 133,913 total reportable crashes, 8,018,694 licensed operators, and 8,915,621 registered motor vehicles. The analysis categorizes crashes by severity (fatal, injury, property damage only), vehicle type, operator demographics, geographic location, and contributing factors such as alcohol use and seat belt usage. Historical trends are examined using data spanning from 1928 to 1992, allowing for longitudinal comparisons of crash rates and fatalities. Economic losses are calculated using Federal Highway Administration estimates for fatalities, injuries, and property damage. Key findings indicate that 1,545 people were killed and 133,113 were injured in 1992, resulting in an estimated economic loss of $4.51 billion, or $377.42 per resident. Fatal crashes accounted for 1.03% of total crashes but involved 41.1% of alcohol-related incidents. Saturday was identified as the most dangerous day, accounting for 19.3% of fatal crashes, with the period between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. representing the highest risk window. Alcohol involvement was present in 10.4% of all crashes and 41.1% of fatal crashes. Seat belt data revealed that 59.25% of people involved in crashes had belts not available, while 15.05% had belts not in use. Passenger car occupants constituted the majority of fatalities (62.14%), followed by pedestrians (14.95%) and heavy truck occupants (13.46%). The report highlights a continuing downward trend in fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, which dropped to 1.74 in 1992, compared to 2.38 in 1988. However, the absolute number of crashes remained high, with property damage-only crashes comprising 64.45% of all incidents. The data underscores significant disparities in crash rates across counties and road types, with state highways and interstates showing varying fatality rates per vehicle mile. The findings serve as a baseline for evaluating highway safety interventions, particularly regarding alcohol impairment, seat belt compliance, and vulnerable road user protection.

Key finding

In 1992, Pennsylvania reported 133,913 reportable traffic crashes resulting in 1,545 fatalities and 133,113 injuries, with an estimated total economic loss of $4.5 billion.

Methodology

dataset

Provenance

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Topics

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

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes