Pennsylvania is a wonderful place, full of rich history and beautiful landmarks. Like any state, it has its fair share of dangerous roads that lead to car accidents and deaths. In 2017, 1,083 fatal crashes occurred in Pennsylvania. The law firm Dallas W. Hartman P.C. wanted to find out where these crashes were occurring and whether certain roads seemed to be disproportionately afflicted.

Deadliest Roads Study

Dallas W. Hartman P.C. analyzed three years of data from the NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) Encyclopedia. They were looking specifically for roads and highways where four or more fatal crashes had occurred in close proximity during the three year time period (2015-2017).

In all, their analysis found 82 total road segments with at least 4 fatal crashes in the three years, accounting for 465 crashes and 513 total fatalities.

Interactive Map

This interactive map includes all 82 of the road segments. See their precise locations in the state by zooming in and hovering over each section of road to reveal more information. If viewing on a mobile device, rotate the device for best experience. You can also view all the data from the deadly Pennsylvania roads study here.

Top 5 Deadliest Roads in Pennsylvania

The road segments with the highest fatality rates in the study–making them the most deadly–were:

  1. Roosevelt Blvd (30 fatalities), Philadelphia
  2. Delaware Ex (16 fatalities), Philadelphia
  3. American Legion Memorial Hwy I-81 (17 fatalities), Mechanicsburg
  4. Street Road (15 fatalities), Bensalem
  5. State Route 33 (14 fatalities), Easton

Additional Findings

  • The deadliest roads are not always in high-traffic, urban areas. While many of the segments that ranked in the study were in cities, plenty of rural highways and roads also made the list.
  • Harrisburg, with a population 30 times less than that of Philadelphia, was the location of five deadly segments. A total of 22 fatal crashes (23 fatalities) took place on these five sections of road between 2015 and 2017.
  • The city of Philadelphia had the highest number of deadly roads and highways. 24 deadly segments were in Philadelphia, which was more than a quarter of the list. These segments combined for 155 total fatal collisions, leading to 167 deaths.

Stay Safe on the Road

Whether you’re enjoying a summer road trip or driving for work, it is always important to drive safely. Be sure to give your full attention to the road, and never drive drunk, drowsy, or distracted.