1996 Pennsylvania Crash Facts & Statistics

NHTSA · 1996 · ROSA P / Pennsylvania. Dept. of Transportation

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Summary

The 1996 Pennsylvania Crash Facts & Statistics report, published by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, provides a comprehensive statistical review of reportable motor vehicle traffic crashes in Pennsylvania for the calendar year 1996. The data is compiled from traffic crash reports submitted by state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies. The report aims to document the scope, severity, and characteristics of traffic incidents to inform safety analysis and policy. The methodology relies on administrative data defined by the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code. A "reportable crash" is defined as any incident resulting in death within 30 days, injury of any degree, or vehicle damage requiring towing. The report categorizes crashes by injury severity, crash type, environmental conditions, vehicle type, driver demographics, and geographic location. It also includes five-year trend analyses and economic cost estimates based on PennDOT figures. In 1996, Pennsylvania recorded 142,867 reportable crashes, resulting in 1,470 deaths and 136,949 injuries. This represented a 4.4% increase in total crashes and a 2.8% increase in injuries compared to 1995, though deaths decreased by 0.7%. The fatality rate was 1.52 deaths per 100 million vehicle-miles of travel, the lowest recorded in the state’s history. Passenger cars were involved in 68.2% of crashes, while light trucks accounted for 24.7%. Male drivers aged 16–20 were involved in more crashes than any other demographic group. Head-on collisions, though less frequent than other types, caused the second-highest number of deaths (362). Alcohol-related deaths decreased by 2.1% to 523. The estimated economic loss from traffic crashes was approximately $11.0 billion, equating to $915 per resident. The report highlights that the vast majority of crashes occurred under no adverse weather or road conditions, suggesting driver behavior rather than environmental factors is the primary contributor. Vehicle defects, particularly tire/wheel issues and engine failures, contributed to a significant portion of crashes. Work zone crashes totaled 2,026, with 64.1% resulting in injuries. The data indicates a long-term decline in fatality rates since 1935, with Pennsylvania’s rate consistently lower than the U.S. average since 1936. The findings underscore the continued impact of driver error, alcohol involvement, and specific crash types like head-on collisions on traffic safety outcomes.

Key finding

In 1996, Pennsylvania recorded 142,867 reportable traffic crashes resulting in 1,470 deaths and 136,949 injuries, with a fatality rate of 1.52 per hundred million vehicle-miles traveled.

Methodology

dataset

Provenance

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Topics

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• incidence prevalence
• demographic disparities
• fatality injury trends
• comparative international
• vru crash typology

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes, observational prevalence