Fatal Roads

States › Pennsylvania › 2021

2021

Pennsylvania · year

Pennsylvania in 2021

Deaths 1,230Fatal crashes 1,153Per 100,000 9.5US deaths 43,230

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 2021.

In 2021, 1,230 people died in 1,153 fatal crashes in Pennsylvania, 9.5 deaths per 100,000 residents against 13.0 nationally.

The death toll rose 9% from 1,129 in 2020 to 1,230 in 2021.

Pennsylvania accounted for 2.8% of the 43,230 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

24.1% 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 6pm to midnight; Friday was the most common day.

← 202020212022 →All years

Compared with 2020 and the nation

MeasurePennsylvania 2021Pennsylvania 2020United States 2021
Deaths1,2301,12943,230
Fatal crashes1,1531,06039,785
Deaths per 100,000 residents9.58.713.0
Crashes with a drinking driver24%25%26%

Counties in 2021

Every county with a fatal crash in 2021, 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 County1281338.51,196
Lancaster County697313.0503
Allegheny County67685.5686
Bucks County51558.5513
York County43469.8377
Berks County404610.5440
Luzerne County404112.4313
Dauphin County374114.0295
Montgomery County38394.4420
Westmoreland County313610.3349
Chester County34346.1319
Lehigh County26307.8296
Monroe County252716.2221
Schuylkill County252618.0208
Lebanon County242617.9190
Delaware County23254.3264
Cumberland County23248.7199
Washington County222310.9234
Erie County21217.8262
Lycoming County172118.5139
Lackawanna County18198.8200
Crawford County171923.1121
Butler County17189.0182
Franklin County13159.4207
Fayette County121512.1212
Clearfield County141417.9138
Bedford County121429.490
Northampton County13134.0213
Somerset County121216.6112
Venango County101224.371
Mercer County111110.2135
Adams County101110.2125
Armstrong County101117.394
Indiana County101113.3116
Lawrence County101113.197
Carbon County71116.7106
Beaver County10106.0117
Centre County10106.3129
Tioga County101024.668
Wayne County91019.486
Huntingdon County9920.862
Bradford County7915.1113
Blair County775.8123
Cambria County775.4108
Clinton County7718.569
Juniata County7729.942
Northumberland County777.8103
Wyoming County7727.238
Clarion County6719.060
Fulton County6641.544
Jefferson County6613.857
Susquehanna County6615.795
Union County6614.247
Columbia County557.679
McKean County5512.756
Mifflin County5510.956
Perry County5510.779
Warren County5513.455
Pike County446.478
Snyder County4410.154
Elk County3413.337
Greene County338.857
Potter County3318.830
Montour County1–21–2—32
Cameron County1–21–2—8
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

12am3.5%
1am3.6%
2am3.4%
3am2.3%
4am2%
5am2.4%
6am3.8%
7am2.9%
8am2.9%
9am2.7%
10am3.6%
11am4%
12pm3.2%
1pm5%
2pm6.2%
3pm4.9%
4pm5.8%
5pm6.2%
6pm4.9%
7pm5.8%
8pm6.4%
9pm5.6%
10pm4.3%
11pm4.7%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday13%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday12%
Thursday13%
Friday18%
Saturday16%

Road type

Other principal arterial28%
Minor arterial21%
Local20%
Major collector13%
Interstate11%
Minor collector4%
Other freeways and expressways3%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Pennsylvania in 2021?

1,230 people in 1,153 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2021 file, or 9.5 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Pennsylvania had the most crash deaths in 2021?

Philadelphia County with 133 deaths in 128 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2021 compare with 2020 in Pennsylvania?

1,230 deaths against 1,129 in 2020 (+9%). Nationally the 2021 total was 43,230.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2021 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.