The total number of traffic deaths across the state decreased in 2019 over the year prior to 1,059.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, 2019 highway fatalities were the lowest number since record keeping began in 1928.
The number of unrestrained fatalities dropped from 398 in 2018 to 330 last year which is the lowest number this century. 2019 also saw decreases in fatalities in aggressive driving crashes and fatal crashes involving senior citizens, as well as pedestrian fatalities.
Unfortunately, PennDOT says that motorcyclist fatalities increased by 10 last year and fatalities involving failure to obey a stop sign increased as well. Since the majority of crashes are caused by driver behavior, PennDOT continues to invest millions of dollars of federal grant funds in behavioral safety education programs.