Highway Deaths Hit 62 Year Low Nationally, but Some Categories Increase

Nationally, traffic deaths dropped almost 2% in 2011 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but the number of deaths involving bicyclists rose nearly 9 percent and there was a 20% jump in deaths of occupants of large trucks.

Erin Waters of PennDOT says Pennsylvania did not follow those trends. Deaths of drivers and passengers in heavy trucks held about steady.  Deaths of bicyclists fell by over 50% from 2010 to 2011. This was before the new law requiring drivers to give bike riders a wider berth when passing them took effect.

The overall number of traffic deaths dropped nearly 3% in Pennsylvania from 2010 to 2011. But the state actually hit its lowest level in 2009.  Nationally, the number of highway deaths was at its lowest level in 62 years in 2011.