Safety is a priority when taking to the Pennsylvania roads and highways. While it would be ideal for people to adhere to all traffic rules and laws, many drivers do not do so. People need to be aware of the potential dangers they may face. Part of that is understanding the current statistics for auto accidents.
Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released its initial 2024 crash numbers. It showed some worrisome trends for the Keystone State. For drivers who are using the state roads, it is wise to know how and why these accidents are happening and to be prepared. If there is a collision, the aftermath can be rife with problems, so being cognizant of the available options is critical.
Pennsylvania has seen a spike in fatal crashes compared to 2023
The NHTSA provides comprehensive data regarding auto accidents, what caused them, whether people were injured or killed and more. However, information for a full year takes time to accrue. To give the public, legislators and safety entities a gauge, it releases some information as it comes in. It found that for the first six months of 2024, most states saw a decrease in road fatalities. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania was one of 17 that had a rise when compared to the first half of 2023.
There were 537 deaths in the first half of 2023. Overall, there were 1,229 deaths in all of 2023. This was a rise of more than 4% from 2022. For 2024, that rose by 2.6% to 551. Nationally, the numbers had declined by 3.6% from 2022 to 2023. The 2024 increase came after there had been a decrease from January through March. Though it is little consolation for Pennsylvania drivers, the numbers show that there has been a national decline in fatalities for nine straight quarters. For 2024, there was a 3.2% decrease vs. 2023.
To combat the dangers, Pennsylvania received safety grants of nearly $29 million. Part of it will be used to increase the number of red light cameras. Some is for the implementation of Vision Zero – a program with the ambitious goal of ending traffic fatalities entirely. The state is also trying to educate drivers as to which behaviors contribute to auto crashes. That includes distraction, speeding and driving under the influence.
Knowing what to do after an auto accident is imperative
Myriad issues will arise after an auto accident and they go beyond the injuries, lost time at work, long-term damage and what a family will do if there was a fatality. It is possible that the other driver did not have proper insurance. There will be inevitable fear as to what will happen as medical bills accumulate.
Given the statistics and the ongoing fear that motor vehicle accidents will continue to impact people using the state roads, it is important to grasp what steps to take following a crash. Since there is so much to think about, having assistance can be a major factor in a full recovery. Having caring, compassionate guidance that gives the injured party and their family the attention they deserve is a key aspect in striving to reach a positive result.