Apr 9, 2015 3 min read

Traffic deaths in Pennsylvania reached an all-time low in 2014, according to a report released by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Across the state, there were 1,195 traffic fatalities, the lowest since record-keeping began in 1928.

In Washington and Greene counties, however, the numbers increased slightly, with 28 fatalities in Washington, up from 27 in 2013, and 11 fatalities in Greene, up from eight in 2013.

State Trooper Matt Jardine credits traffic safety initiatives for the statewide decline, particularly educating and encouraging motorists and their passengers to use a seat belt for every car trip.

“Surviving a crash dramatically increases when you use a seat belt,” Jardine said.

He also credits regular speed limit and driving under the influence checkpoints in lowering the number of fatalities. DUI accidents are also on the decline.

While traffic accidents have decreased in general, PennDOT reports an increase in fatalities in crashes involving drivers 65 years and older, and an increase in deaths of drowsy or sleeping motorists.

To help decrease crashes caused by tired or distracted drivers, PennDOT invested $50 million over the last five years for safety improvements like center-line and edge-line rumble strips.

“People need to pay attention,” said Jay Ofsanik, PennDOT safety press officer. “Unfortunately we see a lot more distracted driving … people using a phone or texting. Slow down, pay attention and don’t be distracted. Driving is a full-time operation.”

Ofsanik said that while older driver accidents are on the rise, the statistic is not reflective of poor driving.

“Our older generations are growing,” he said. “By virtue of having a greater senior population, the trend of unsafe drivers is not necessarily true.”

In Washington and Greene counties, “heavy truck related” accidents are also increasing. Last year, there were 6,596 statewide heavy truck related accidents, with 6,136 in 2013; there were 175 in Washington County, compared to 152 in 2013, and 40 in Greene County, as compared to 32 in 2013.

“We have motor carrier inspectors throughout the troop who are responsible (for) inspecting and performing spot safety checks on trucks,” Jardine stated in an email. “In addition, our patrol unit is constantly responding to citizen concerns regarding truck traffic. When that happens, a trooper is usually assigned to monitor the area of concern and take enforcement action for observed violations.”

A new search tool is available on PennDOT’s website is a search tool that can be customized to include a time frame, county or municipality and death and injury crash statistics. It can be viewed at dotcrashinfo.pa.gov.

“We still know there are things we can do better,” Ofsanik said. “That’s still 1,195 lives lost. That number is too high.”