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

Car accident deaths in Montgomery County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 32 in 2020 to 36 in 2021, then to 47 in 2022 and 50 in 2023. The count fell to 47 in 2024. The highest count was 50 in 2023, and the lowest was 32 in 2020. The 2024 count was 15 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The annual shares of all traffic deaths were 91.4% in 2020, 92.3% in 2021, 88.7% in 2022, 96.2% in 2023 and 94.0% in 2024. All traffic deaths reached their highest count in 2022 at 53, while the highest car accident death count occurred in 2023. The share was lowest in 2022 and highest 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 Montgomery County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 130 deaths, or 61.3% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 29 deaths, or 13.7%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 53 deaths, or 25.0%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These labels classify people killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) follows the FARS classification and can include occupants of parked motor vehicles. Readers searching for a car accident lawyer should keep these person categories distinct when reading the counts.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

By manner of collision, Angle (side impact) accounted for 39 deaths (18.4%), Head-on for 31 (14.6%), Rear-end for 10 (4.7%), Sideswipe for 8 (3.8%) and Other for 2 (0.9%). Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 122 deaths (57.5%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event in a car accident. The latter category 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; physical movement is not the test.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime, defined as 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 105 car accident deaths (49.5%) from 2020 through 2024. Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 107 deaths (50.5%). The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 190 deaths (89.6%) as Urban and 21 (9.9%) as Rural. Unknown accounted for 1 death (0.5%). These classifications describe crash locations, not where the people killed lived. Car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 15, representing 7.1% of the selected deaths.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Pennsylvania and the United States

Montgomery County's car accident death rate was 4.9 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 lower than both.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, Philadelphia County had a rate of 7.6, Bucks County 7.0, Berks County 8.7 and Chester County 4.9. Montgomery County's rate matched Chester County's and was lower than the other listed neighbors' rates. Berks County had the highest rate among the listed neighboring counties. These rates use deaths divided by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates, multiplied 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 Montgomery County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident deaths. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related had 92 deaths (40.2%); Roadway departure, 97 (42.4%); At an intersection, 67 (29.3%); and Pedestrian involved, 53 (23.1%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Motorcycle involved recorded 38 deaths (16.6%); Hit-and-run, 11 (4.8%); Driver distraction reported, 12 (5.2%); and In a work zone, 4 (1.7%). A crash can carry several recorded characteristics, so these rows overlap and their percentages do not add to 100%. The entries are recorded characteristics, 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. Inclusion requires a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and a death within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. Car accident counts use crash location, not the deceased person's residence.^[8][6][7]

Data for 2020 through 2023 come from 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. The separately displayed July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the denominator. Rates express average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustments for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

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

On related publications

• Truck accident statistics for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyer.wiki)