The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation recently announced the number of people who lost their lives on the state’s highways decreased to 1,127 in 2024, the second lowest since record keeping began in 1928 and 82 less than in 2023.

“While this decrease in fatalities is certainly good news, even one life lost is one too many,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said in a recent news release.

“PennDOT will continue to work with our partners to decrease traffic deaths through education and outreach, but we will only get to zero fatalities when everyone works together.

“Please pay attention when you are driving, always follow the speed limit and never drive impaired. And buckle up! Your seat belt can save your life in a crash.”

PennDOT annually invests approximately $32.4 million statewide in federal grant funds in behavioral safety programs to reduce fatalities and serious injuries, according to the news release.

In addition to behavioral safety, PennDOT focuses on infrastructure improvements. Approximately $591 million in federal Highway Safety Improvement Program funds were invested in 392 unique safety projects from 2020 to 2024.

During that same time, another $50 million in state funds was invested in low-cost safety improvements at more than 1,000 locations. Improvements include centerline and edge-line rumble strips, warning signs and pavement markings and high friction surface treatments.

Fatalities in impaired driver crashes dropped from 429 in 2023 to 342 in 2024, according to authorities.

PennDOT annually distributes more than $6.2 million from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for impaired driving enforcement. Impaired driving mobilizations include coordinated enforcement as well as education campaigns focused on eliminating driving under the influence.

Impaired driving enforcement checks for alcohol impairment, identifies motorists impaired by illegal drugs and prescription medication or some combination of these.

Pennsylvania has more than 260 Drug Recognition Experts or specially trained officers who look for impaired drivers and assist in DUI investigations when drug-impaired driving is suspected.

Fatalities in lane departure crashes dropped from 629 in 2023 to 537, a continuing trend of reducing lane departure fatalities.

PennDOT’s Low-Cost Safety Improvement Program has implemented proven safety countermeasures at thousands of locations over the last 15 years, according to the news release. Countermeasures include rumble strips, high friction surface treatments, high-tension cable median barriers and advanced curve warning through signs and pavement markings.

While fatalities for most types of crashes were down in 2024, some types of fatalities did increase.

Fatalities in intersection crashes increased to 321, up from 301 in 2023.

Fatalities in crashes at intersections with a stop sign also increased from 98 in 2023 to 111.

PennDOT regularly reviews factors in fatal crashes at intersections and works to improve safety at intersections with stop signs by addressing issues like sight and stopping distance.

Additionally, PennDOT is currently in the process of installing pedestrian countdown timers at nearly 800 intersections across the state.

Driver behavior is the leading factor in 83% of the crashes occurring annually in Pennsylvania, according to authorities.

Such behaviors include driving distracted, impaired or aggressively. These behaviors are choices. Drivers may not intend to cause a crash, but “their choices kill innocent victims every day,” authorities noted in the news release.

For more information on reportable crash data, visit crashinfo.penndot.pa.gov, PennDOT’s Pennsylvania Crash Information Tool website.

For more information on PennDOT’s highway safety initiatives, visit penndot.pa.gov/safety.