Fatal Roads

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Bucks County

Residents 650,131Deaths 2024 45Deaths 2015–2024 513Latest data year 2024

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Latest data year: 2024. Figures are aggregates from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System; no individual crash is identified.

Bucks County, Pennsylvania, recorded 45 deaths in 41 fatal crashes in 2024, the latest FARS data year, and 513 deaths in 487 fatal crashes over 2015–2024.

With 650,131 residents, that is 8.0 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, close to the Pennsylvania rate of 9.0 and below the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll fell 12% from 581 in 2005–2014 to 513 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is pedestrians: 18.3% against 14.3% for Pennsylvania.

32% of the county's fatal crashes happened between 6pm to midnight, and Friday was the most common day (18%).

45deaths in 202441 fatal crashes
252deaths, 2020–2024513 over ten years
8.0per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 6.9
-11%vs Pennsylvania ratestate 9.0 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

056111197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 110 deaths1976: 73 deaths1977: 89 deaths1978: 102 deaths1979: 106 deaths1980: 102 deaths1981: 77 deaths1982: 96 deaths1983: 84 deaths1984: 100 deaths1985: 95 deaths1986: 96 deaths1987: 111 deaths1988: 89 deaths1989: 71 deaths1990: 61 deaths1991: 67 deaths1992: 73 deaths1993: 67 deaths1994: 51 deaths1995: 79 deaths1996: 75 deaths1997: 64 deaths1998: 52 deaths1999: 73 deaths2000: 60 deaths2001: 64 deaths2002: 65 deaths2003: 73 deaths2004: 53 deaths2005: 74 deaths2006: 72 deaths2007: 60 deaths2008: 54 deaths2009: 63 deaths2010: 45 deaths2011: 60 deaths2012: 65 deaths2013: 44 deaths2014: 44 deaths2015: 56 deaths2016: 52 deaths2017: 51 deaths2018: 54 deaths2019: 48 deaths2020: 52 deaths2021: 55 deaths2022: 51 deaths2023: 49 deaths2024: 45 deaths
People killed in crashes in Bucks County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 45 deaths.

Ten-year total down 12% (581 in 2005–2014, 513 in 2015–2024). The shaded band is the ten-year window used for rates and shares. County codes are matched to today's Census county list; a few historic code changes are merged.

Compared with Pennsylvania and the nation

MeasureBucksPennsylvaniaUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–20248.09.011.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 20246.98.611.5
Deaths, 2015–202451311,650389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–202448710,864358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years-12%-15%+7%
Crashes on rural roads21%45%43%

Rates divide deaths by Census Bureau population estimates for each year (residents, not road users; through traffic on major routes raises the rate of small counties). Population 650,131 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking25.1%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver36.3%
Pedestriansshare of people killed18.3%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed17.2%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used58%
In darknesscrashes after dark48.6%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads20.6%

tick marks the Pennsylvania share. Bars are shares of fatal crashes (alcohol, speeding, darkness, rural) or of people killed (pedestrians, motorcyclists, unrestrained occupants) over the ten-year window.

"Alcohol" counts crashes where police reported at least one driver as drinking (FARS DR_DRINK), not the BAC-based alcohol-impaired measure NHTSA publishes separately. "Speeding" counts crashes with a driver coded as racing, exceeding the limit or too fast for conditions. Details in the methodology. Factor pages: alcohol, speeding, pedestrians, motorcycles, unrestrained occupants.

Time of day and day of week

12am3am6am9am12pm3pm6pm9pm
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat

Fatal crashes in Bucks County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 487 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Friday18%
Saturday17%
Sunday16%
Thursday14%
Wednesday13%
Tuesday11%
Monday11%

Light condition

Daylight49%
Dark, not lighted26%
Dark, lighted22%
Dusk2%
Dawn1%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Other principal arterial43%
Minor arterial19%
Local13%
Major collector12%
Interstate7%
Other freeways and expressways5%
Minor collector2%

FHWA functional classes as coded in FARS (FUNC_SYS), share of fatal crashes with a reported class; tick marks the Pennsylvania share. Interstates and other principal arterials carry the most traffic, so a high share there is expected. See what the road classes mean.

Weather

Clear83%
Rain10%
Cloudy5%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain1%
Fog, smog or smoke1%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Bucks

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1State Route 132State highway38383924%24%
2US Route 13US highway30858812%28%
3State Route 611State highway1811211822%37%
4Interstate 95Interstate1810211233%55%
5State Route 309State highway18818919%33%
6US Route 1US highway1313414621%43%
7US Route 202US highway10434714%42%
8State Route 2029State highway10232322%26%
9State Route 2006State highway8262915%35%
10State Route 2002State highway7252824%32%

Signed routes (Interstate, US and state highways) that have a page on this site, ranked by fatal crashes in this county over 2015–2024; "fatal crashes" and "deaths" columns are the statewide totals for the route. Local streets and county roads are not listed.

By year, 2015–2024

YearFatal crashesDeathsDrinking-driver crashesPer 100,000
20244145126.9PA 2024
20234749117.5PA 2023
2022495197.8PA 2022
2021515578.5PA 2021
20204752108.0PA 2020
20194448107.4PA 2019
20185354188.3PA 2018
20175151137.8PA 2017
20165052168.0PA 2016
20155456168.6PA 2015

Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule). Per-100,000 uses the 2024 population for every year in this table; the ten-year rate above uses each year's estimate.

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Bucks County, Pennsylvania?

45 people died in 41 fatal crashes in 2024; 252 over 2020–2024 and 513 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Bucks compare with Pennsylvania?

8.0 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 9.0 for Pennsylvania and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Bucks involved alcohol?

25.1% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 25.4% in Pennsylvania. The factor furthest above the state share was pedestrians at 18.3%.

Which roads in Bucks see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, State Route 132 (38 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), US Route 13 (30 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route 611 (18 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Bucks?

Most often between 6pm to midnight (32% of crashes) and on Fridays (18%); 48.6% happened after dark.

Where does this data come from?

NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System annual files (1975–2024) and Census Bureau county population estimates. Figures are aggregates; no individual crash is identified. See the methodology page for definitions.

Provenance

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System, annual national CSV files 1975–2024 (accident table for every year; vehicle and person tables for 2015–2024), public domain. Population: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals (vintages 2000–2010, 2010–2020 and 2020–2024). Data through 31 Dec 2024; page generated 30 Sep 2026. Processing errors are corrected at the next build; see corrections and sources.