Car accident statistics for Berks County, Pennsylvania (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Berks County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 30 in 2020 to 41 in 2021, fell to 40 in 2022, rose to 41 in 2023 and fell to 37 in 2024. The highest count was shared by 2021 and 2023, while 2020 had the lowest count. The 2024 count was 7 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 37 in 2020, 46 in 2021, 47 in 2022, 51 in 2023 and 47 in 2024. The car accident share was 81.1%, 89.1%, 85.1%, 80.4% and 78.7%, respectively. That share was highest in 2021 and lowest in 2024. All traffic deaths reached their highest count in 2023.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Deaths within 30 days in crashes on public roads. 2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised.

Who died in Berks County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 135 deaths, or 71.4% of car accident deaths in Berks County from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 26 deaths, or 13.8%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 28 deaths, or 14.8%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These labels classify the people killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) is a classification that can include occupants of parked vehicles; it does not establish whether someone was physically outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

By manner of collision, Angle (side impact) accounted for 47 car accident deaths, or 24.9%; Head-on for 27, or 14.3%; Rear-end for 17, or 9.0%; and Sideswipe for 9, or 4.8%. Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 89 deaths, or 47.1%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. The latter category includes events such as striking a parked vehicle, pedestrian, cyclist or fixed object, or a rollover, rather than a collision between motor vehicles in transport. A vehicle stopped in traffic can be in transport, so physical movement is not the distinction.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime, defined as 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 102 car accident deaths, or 54.0%. Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 86 deaths, or 45.5%. Time of day was unknown for 1 death, or 0.5%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 107 deaths in urban areas, or 56.6%, and 80 in rural areas, or 42.3%. Land use was unknown for 2 deaths, or 1.1%. Separately, crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 22 car accident deaths, or 11.6%, during 2020 through 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Pennsylvania and the United States

Berks County's car accident death rate was 8.7 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Pennsylvania's rate was 7.5, and the national rate was 10.5. The county rate was higher than the state rate and lower than the national rate.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, Lancaster County had a rate of 8.9, Montgomery County 4.9, Chester County 4.9 and Lehigh County 6.8. Berks County's rate was lower than Lancaster County's and higher than those of the other listed neighbors. These rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates and multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates, so they show deaths per 100,000 residents per year. They do not adjust for miles driven or for visitors.

Recorded characteristics of all fatal crashes

Recorded characteristics cover all fatal crashes in Berks County, of any vehicle type. Their percentages use all traffic deaths, rather than only car accident deaths. Speeding-related accounted for 40.8%; Roadway departure, 51.8%; At an intersection, 28.1%; Pedestrian involved, 12.7%; Motorcycle involved, 24.1%; Hit-and-run, 3.5%; Driver distraction reported, 7.0%; and In a work zone, 2.6%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These entries are not findings of fault or cause. For a reader searching for a car accident lawyer, the distinction to retain is that this table covers all vehicle types.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can carry several characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These are recorded characteristics, not findings of fault.

About these figures

FARS includes fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes on trafficways customarily open to the public when a vehicle occupant or nonoccupant dies within 30 days. It excludes nonfatal crashes and injuries. County counts follow crash location, not the home address of the person killed. Data for 2020 through 2023 use FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the Annual Report File and may change when the Final File replaces it.^[8][6][7]

Rates use 2020 through 2024 deaths divided by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, multiplied by 100,000. The separately displayed July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the denominator. These are average annual deaths per 100,000 residents, without adjustments for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (2020-2024)
• Pennsylvania car accident statistics (2020-2024)