2005 Pennsylvania Crash Facts and Statistics

NHTSA · 2005 · ROSA P / Pennsylvania. Dept. of Transportation

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Summary

The 2005 Pennsylvania Crash Facts and Statistics report, published by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), provides a comprehensive statistical review of reportable motor vehicle crashes in the Commonwealth for the calendar year 2005. The data is compiled from traffic crash reports submitted by state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies. The report notes that 2002 data is excluded due to a backlog caused by the implementation of a new crash reporting system in 2001 and subsequent changes in 2003. The document aims to provide detailed insights into crash frequencies, severity, contributing factors, and demographic trends to inform highway safety efforts. The methodology relies on analyzing 132,829 reportable crashes, defined as incidents involving injury, fatality, or vehicle damage requiring towing. The report categorizes data by injury severity, crash type, vehicle type, driver demographics, environmental conditions, and geographic location. It also calculates economic losses based on PennDOT estimates for deaths, injuries, and property damage. Historical comparisons are made using five-year trends and long-term data dating back to 1936, adjusted for vehicle-miles of travel to determine fatality rates. In 2005, there were 1,616 fatalities and 100,381 injuries. While total reportable crashes decreased by 3.3% compared to 2004, fatalities increased by 8.5%, resulting in a fatality rate of 1.51 deaths per 100 million vehicle-miles, up from 1.40 in 2004. The economic loss from these crashes was estimated at $12.5 billion, or approximately $1,006 per resident. "Hit fixed object" crashes were the most common type (32.4% of all crashes), while head-on collisions, though less frequent, accounted for a significant portion of deaths. Passenger cars were involved in the majority of crashes, but light trucks, vans, and SUVs saw increased involvement and occupant deaths, correlating with vehicle purchasing trends. Male drivers aged 16–20 were involved in more crashes than any other demographic group. Alcohol-related deaths totaled 580, and speed-related deaths reached 505. The report highlights that while overall crash numbers have declined over decades, specific risks such as SUV run-off-the-road crashes and alcohol involvement remain significant concerns.

Key finding

In 2005, Pennsylvania recorded 132,829 reportable traffic crashes resulting in 1,616 deaths and 100,381 injuries, with a fatality rate of 1.51 deaths per hundred million vehicle-miles of travel.

Methodology

dataset

Sample size: 132829

Provenance

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Topics

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

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes, observational prevalence