Fatal Roads

States › Pennsylvania › 2020

2020

Pennsylvania · year

Pennsylvania in 2020

Deaths 1,129Fatal crashes 1,060Per 100,000 8.7US deaths 39,007

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 2020.

In 2020, 1,129 people died in 1,060 fatal crashes in Pennsylvania, 8.7 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.8 nationally.

The death toll rose 7% from 1,059 in 2019 to 1,129 in 2020.

Pennsylvania accounted for 2.9% of the 39,007 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

24.9% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

By FHWA road function class, the largest share was on other principal arterial roads (28%).

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

← 201920202021 →All years

Compared with 2019 and the nation

MeasurePennsylvania 2020Pennsylvania 2019United States 2020
Deaths1,1291,05939,007
Fatal crashes1,06099035,935
Deaths per 100,000 residents8.78.311.8
Crashes with a drinking driver25%27%27%

Counties in 2020

Every county with a fatal crash in 2020, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 66 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Philadelphia County15416610.51,196
Allegheny County57604.9686
Bucks County47528.0513
Lancaster County43478.3503
Westmoreland County363911.1349
Berks County36378.4440
Montgomery County35354.0420
Luzerne County343510.6313
Chester County30335.9319
Lehigh County30328.3296
Delaware County28295.0264
Washington County282913.8234
York County27285.9377
Fayette County242721.8212
Lackawanna County202210.1200
Lebanon County192215.1190
Northampton County20216.5213
Dauphin County18206.8295
Schuylkill County181913.1208
Adams County131614.8125
Clearfield County151519.2138
Franklin County15159.4207
Indiana County151518.1116
Erie County14155.6262
Centre County14148.8129
Cumberland County14145.1199
Beaver County13137.9117
Mercer County121312.0135
Lycoming County101210.6139
Lawrence County111113.197
Monroe County11116.6221
Northumberland County111112.2103
Susquehanna County111128.995
Mifflin County101123.956
Venango County91122.271
Butler County9105.0182
Blair County8108.3123
Carbon County9913.7106
Somerset County9912.5112
Columbia County8913.679
Wayne County8917.586
Snyder County8820.254
Clinton County7821.169
Perry County7817.179
Cambria County775.4108
Huntingdon County7716.162
Warren County6718.755
Bradford County6610.1113
Jefferson County6613.857
Pike County669.678
Armstrong County557.994
Crawford County556.1121
Tioga County5512.368
Union County4511.947
Bedford County448.490
Juniata County4417.142
Wyoming County4415.538
Clarion County338.160
McKean County337.656
Montour County1–2316.632
Fulton County1–21–2—44
Greene County1–21–2—57
Cameron County1–21–2—8
Elk County1–21–2—37
Potter County1–21–2—30
Sullivan County1–21–2—11

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

12am3.2%
1am3.8%
2am2.5%
3am2.2%
4am2.1%
5am2.8%
6am2.6%
7am3%
8am3.1%
9am3.1%
10am2.7%
11am4.6%
12pm4.8%
1pm4.6%
2pm5.3%
3pm7.1%
4pm4.7%
5pm5.9%
6pm4.7%
7pm6.3%
8pm5.7%
9pm4.6%
10pm6.2%
11pm4.2%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday11%
Tuesday15%
Wednesday14%
Thursday12%
Friday16%
Saturday17%

Road type

Other principal arterial28%
Minor arterial21%
Local20%
Major collector13%
Interstate10%
Minor collector4%
Other freeways and expressways4%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Pennsylvania in 2020?

1,129 people in 1,060 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2020 file, or 8.7 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Pennsylvania had the most crash deaths in 2020?

Philadelphia County with 166 deaths in 154 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2020 compare with 2019 in Pennsylvania?

1,129 deaths against 1,059 in 2019 (+7%). Nationally the 2020 total was 39,007.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2020 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.