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

Car accident deaths in Lancaster County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 41 in 2020 to 68 in 2021, then fell to 46 in 2022. The count remained unchanged at 46 in 2023 and 46 in 2024. The highest count was in 2021, and the lowest was in 2020. The 2024 count was 5 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 47 in 2020, 73 in 2021, 57 in 2022, 51 in 2023 and 52 in 2024. The car accident share was 87.2%, 93.2%, 80.7%, 90.2% and 88.5%, respectively. Although car accident deaths were unchanged from 2022 through 2024, their share of all traffic deaths differed in each of those years.^{[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 Lancaster County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 178 deaths, or 72.1% of car accident deaths in Lancaster County from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 34 deaths, or 13.8%, making it the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 35 deaths, or 14.2%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. The categories distinguish the people who died within those crashes; they do not restrict the count to occupants of the passenger vehicles.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) accounted for 72 car accident deaths, or 29.1%; Head-on accounted for 45, or 18.2%; Rear-end for 15, or 6.1%; and Sideswipe for 9, or 3.6%. Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 106 deaths, or 42.9%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. The latter row includes events such as a rollover or striking a fixed object, parked vehicle, pedestrian or cyclist. It means that event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport. A vehicle stopped in traffic can still be in transport; physical movement is not the test.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 136 car accident deaths, or 55.1%, during 2020 through 2024. Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 111 deaths, or 44.9%. The daytime count was higher than the nighttime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The urban classification recorded 141 deaths, or 57.1%, while the rural classification recorded 106, or 42.9%. Separately, car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 41, representing 16.6%. That figure counts deaths in the qualifying crashes, rather than a count of large trucks or a count of crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Pennsylvania and the United States

Lancaster County's car accident death rate was 8.9 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, rates were 8.7 in Berks County, 6.2 in York County, 4.9 in Chester County and 9.0 in Dauphin County. Dauphin County had the highest rate among the listed neighboring counties, while Chester County had the lowest. These rates divide deaths by the sum of annual population estimates and express the result per 100,000 residents per year. 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 Lancaster County, of any vehicle type. Shares use all traffic deaths, rather than car accident deaths. Speeding-related crashes recorded 96 deaths (34.3%); Roadway departure, 144 (51.4%); At an intersection, 88 (31.4%); and Pedestrian involved, 27 (9.6%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Motorcycle involved recorded 58 deaths (20.7%); Hit-and-run, 8 (2.9%); Driver distraction reported, 13 (4.6%); and In a work zone, 2 (0.7%). A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so these rows overlap and their shares cannot be added. The characteristics are recorded classifications, 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 a census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes on trafficways customarily open to the public, with a death within 30 days. It excludes nonfatal crashes and injuries. Counts follow crash location, not residence. When reading with a car accident lawyer in mind, keep that geographic grouping in view.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are Final Files; 2024 uses the Annual Report File and can change. Rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. The separately shown July 1, 2024 estimate of 562,062 is not the denominator. Rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

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