May 5, 2026 By Garrett Neese 4 min read

Traffic fatalities decreased in Pennsylvania in 2025 while holding steady or decreasing in the region, according to state statistics.

The statewide total dropped to 1,047, 80 people fewer than in 2024 and the lowest number since record keeping began in 1928, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said in a release.

For all of District 12 — which includes Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties — fatalities dropped slightly from 82 to 81 over the same span, said Emily Stambaugh, PennDOT’S safety press officer for the district.

“We’re excited about some of the improvements that we’ve seen, but of course, one fatality is always too many, so we’re looking to continue to make progress in all areas and make the roadways in District 12 as safe as they can be for everyone who uses them,” she said.

Washington County saw 20 fatalities in 2025, down from 30 the year before. Most of that decline came from the reduction of deaths in crashes where people weren’t wearing seatbelts, which accounted for 10 deaths in 2024 and only two in 2025.

In Greene County, there were six fatalities in 2025, up from five in 2024. The number of traffic deaths also rose by one in Fayette County, which recorded 19 last year.

District-wide, Stambaugh said, there were meaningful reductions across a number of categories. Alcohol-related fatalities fell from 20 to 10, while unrestrained fatalities likewise decreased from 25 to 18.

Not all categories decreased. The 24 motorcycle crashes last year marked an increase of five. More fatalities were also seen in both young drivers and drivers over 65, Stambaugh said.

The largest portion of fatal crashes continue to result from lane departures, which stood at 48 last year, down from 51 the year before.

Jennifer Kuntch, deputy communications director for PennDOT, said the statewide decline has several factors behind it.

Across Pennsylvania, there have been $350.7 million in federal Highway Safety Improvement Program funds from 2023 to 2025, paired with another $30 million in state funding for low-cost safety improvements such as rumble strips or high-friction surface treatments.

The state also invests in behavioral safety, such as enforcement campaigns. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides millions of dollars each year for high-visibility enforcement, Kuntch said.

“We want everyone to know that our police are out there; they’re doing enforcement of these laws,” she said. “Sometimes that will grab attention … like, ‘Oh, OK, they’re going to be doing speeding enforcement in my area. I’m going to slow down.’ And that gets people to slow down all over.”

In District 12, PennDOT partners with local and state police on aggressive driving weeks, part of a statewide push to curb a category where crashes have risen 31% since 2020.

They also work to educate the public about the dangers of distracted or impaired driving.

“Especially this time of year, we’re going into a lot of local high schools participating in teen expos, and we encourage the students to participate in some hands-on activities,” Stambaugh said.

PennDOT also makes trips to local senior centers to talk with older drivers about safety, Stambaugh said.

Those include impairment goggles, which students can put on to simulate the diminished senses they would experience if trying to drive under the influence.

The state is also promoting awareness of the Paul Miller Law, which prohibits the use of hand-held devices while driving, except with the use of hands-free technology. Beginning June 5, drivers convicted of violating the law will pay a $50 fine, plus additional fees.

Road projects are also constructed to keep safety in mind, Stambaugh said. She noted the work on the McClure/Kingview Interchange on Route 119 in Upper Tyrone and Bullskin townships in Fayette County. That project includes the addition of new turn lanes, roundabout and acceleration/deceleration lanes on Route 119, and is projected to be complete in 2029.