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1978

Pennsylvania · year

Pennsylvania in 1978

Deaths 2,081Fatal crashes 1,878Per 100,000 —US deaths 50,331

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. Final FARS file for 1978.

In 1978, 2,081 people died in 1,878 fatal crashes in Pennsylvania.

The death toll was about level between 1977 (2,067) and 1978 (2,081).

Pennsylvania accounted for 4.1% of the 50,331 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

36.4% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

32% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 197719781979 →All years

Compared with 1977 and the nation

MeasurePennsylvania 1978Pennsylvania 1977United States 1978
Deaths2,0812,06750,331
Fatal crashes1,8781,85644,433
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver36%33%36%

Counties in 1978

Every county with a fatal crash in 1978, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 67 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Allegheny County16618314.9686
Philadelphia County1071127.11,196
Bucks County9510215.7513
Chester County829016.1319
Berks County688018.2440
Westmoreland County606919.7349
York County656714.2377
Montgomery County61677.6420
Lancaster County616611.7503
Lehigh County485013.0296
Delaware County43488.2264
Luzerne County434513.6313
Cumberland County394215.2199
Fayette County384233.9212
Dauphin County364214.3295
Erie County334215.7262
Washington County324019.0234
Beaver County363923.6117
Northampton County343811.8213
Clearfield County363747.4138
Lackawanna County333616.6200
Adams County313532.4125
Butler County313417.1182
Lycoming County293329.1139
Schuylkill County273322.8208
Blair County273024.9123
Crawford County272935.3121
Franklin County262918.2207
Tioga County212971.368
Centre County232515.6129
Mercer County232523.1135
Cambria County202317.7108
Indiana County222226.5116
Somerset County212230.5112
Lebanon County192013.8190
Venango County192040.471
Armstrong County181929.894
Lawrence County171922.697
Pike County141930.578
Clarion County151848.860
Monroe County171710.2221
Columbia County151522.779
Bradford County131525.1113
Susquehanna County131539.495
Northumberland County101516.7103
Bedford County141429.490
Wayne County131427.286
Warren County131334.855
McKean County121230.456
Clinton County101231.769
Jefferson County111125.457
Carbon County91116.7106
Huntingdon County91023.162
Perry County91021.479
Potter County8956.330
Union County6921.347
Fulton County7855.444
Snyder County7820.254
Mifflin County6817.456
Montour County6738.632
Elk County5723.237
Wyoming County6623.338
Greene County5514.757
Cameron County1–2369.08
Juniata County1–21–2—42
Sullivan County1–21–2—11
Forest County1–21–2—14

Per 100,000 uses the 2024 population estimate for every year, so early-year rates are understated where a county has grown.

Hour of day

12am5.8%
1am6%
2am7.1%
3am3.9%
4am2.4%
5am2%
6am2.1%
7am2.6%
8am1.7%
9am1.5%
10am2.3%
11am3%
12pm2.1%
1pm3.5%
2pm4.7%
3pm5.2%
4pm6.4%
5pm5.7%
6pm5.2%
7pm4.3%
8pm5.4%
9pm5.5%
10pm4.9%
11pm6.7%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday11%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday12%
Thursday11%
Friday17%
Saturday21%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Pennsylvania in 1978?

2,081 people in 1,878 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1978 file.

Which county in Pennsylvania had the most crash deaths in 1978?

Allegheny County with 183 deaths in 166 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1978 compare with 1977 in Pennsylvania?

2,081 deaths against 2,067 in 1977 (+1%). Nationally the 1978 total was 50,331.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1978 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates (no county estimates before 2000 are used, so no rate is shown for this year). Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.