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

Car accident deaths in Bucks County by year

Car accident deaths declined each year: 49 in 2020, 48 in 2021, 47 in 2022, 44 in 2023 and 39 in 2024. The highest count was in 2020, and the lowest was in 2024. The 2024 count was 10 deaths lower than the 2020 count. These figures count deaths in qualifying crashes, rather than the number of fatal crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed a different yearly sequence, rising from 52 in 2020 to 55 in 2021, then falling to 51 in 2022, 49 in 2023 and 45 in 2024. The share attributed to car accidents was 94.2%, 87.3%, 92.2%, 89.8% and 86.7%, respectively. That share was highest in 2020 and lowest in 2024.^{[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 Bucks County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 149 deaths, or 65.6% of car accident deaths from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 28 deaths, or 12.3%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 50 deaths, or 22.0%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in crashes involving a passenger vehicle, even when the person was classified in another category. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, the grouping to keep in mind is crash location, rather than where the people killed lived.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) accounted for 65 car accident deaths, or 28.6%; Head-on for 32, or 14.1%; Rear-end for 12, or 5.3%; and Sideswipe for 5, or 2.2%. Other recorded 1 death, or 0.4%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport recorded 112 deaths, or 49.3%. Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. This row means that event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport; examples include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. A motor vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic, 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 114 car accident deaths, or 50.2%, during 2020 through 2024. Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 113 deaths, or 49.8%. The daytime count was higher than the nighttime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 197 deaths as Urban, or 86.8%, and 29 as Rural, or 12.8%. Unknown accounted for 1 death, or 0.4%. Separately, car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 15, representing 6.6% of the county's car accident deaths.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Pennsylvania and the United States

Bucks County's car accident death rate was 7.0 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 lower than both. These rates use deaths divided by the sum of annual Census population estimates and multiplied by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania had a rate of 7.6; Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 4.9; Burlington County, New Jersey, 8.1; and Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, 6.8. Bucks County's rate was lower than Philadelphia's and Burlington's and higher than Montgomery's and Lehigh's. Burlington had the highest rate among the listed neighboring counties, while Montgomery had the lowest.^{[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 Bucks County, of any vehicle type. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related recorded 94 deaths (37.3%); Roadway departure, 107 (42.5%); At an intersection, 63 (25.0%); Pedestrian involved, 45 (17.9%); Motorcycle involved, 43 (17.1%); Hit-and-run, 16 (6.3%); Driver distraction reported, 7 (2.8%); and In a work zone, 3 (1.2%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

These figures use a broader crash population than the car accident counts. A crash can carry several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap and their shares do not add to 100%. The characteristics are not findings of fault or cause.^{[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 is NHTSA's census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Inclusion requires a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and an occupant or nonoccupant death within 30 days. Counts follow crash location, not residence. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File can change when replaced by the Final File. Rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000 to express average annual deaths per 100,000 residents. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The separate July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the rate denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Burlington County, New Jersey (2020-2024)
• Pennsylvania car accident statistics (2020-2024)