What Philly can – and can’t – do to reduce the number of people killed in car crashes
A long exposure photo shows traffic driving on Roosevelt Boulevard, one of the most dangerous roads for traffic accidents in Philadelphia. AP Photo/Matt Rourke Philadelphians die in traffic crashes more than people who live in Chicago, Boston, Washington and New York.
Philadelphia has a significantly higher rate of traffic deaths compared to other major U.S. cities like Chicago, Boston, Washington, and New York. In 2024, three times more Philadelphians died in traffic crashes than New Yorkers, according to a report from the Philadelphia city controller’s office. Despite a decrease from 137 deaths in 2024 to 101 in 2025, Philadelphia remains an outlier. The city’s traffic fatality rate exceeds that of its peer cities, even though residents do not drive, walk, or bike more frequently than in those cities. The Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths, has not yet been achieved in Philadelphia. Vision Zero is a policy strategy originating in Sweden that seeks to reduce road traffic deaths to zero annually.
Half of Philadelphia’s traffic deaths since 2020 involve pedestrians and bicyclists, though drivers and motorcyclists also face higher fatality rates than in peer cities. Fatal crashes are concentrated in poorer neighborhoods, with Hunting Park, Juniata Park, and Upper Kensington experiencing the highest increases in frequency. Areas like Franklinville, Tioga, and Allegheny West have some of the highest fatality rates overall. Census data shows that Philadelphia’s higher fatality rate is not due to residents walking, biking, or driving more than in other cities. Instead, fatal crashes in Philadelphia are more likely to involve speeding, hit-and-runs, and occur at night or on major roadways. Unlike in some other cities, fatal crashes in Philadelphia are less likely to involve alcohol.
Philadelphia has implemented several traffic safety programs that may be contributing to a reduction in fatal crashes. In 2025, fatal crashes dropped by 27% compared to the previous year, mirroring a national trend. Automated speed enforcement cameras, installed on Roosevelt Boulevard in 2020, have made the road safer, reducing fatal and serious crashes by 11% despite a 16% citywide increase. The Slow Zone Program involves city planners and residents in designing traffic safety solutions, while the city also installs speed cushions and expands protected bike lanes to separate cyclists from traffic. Other measures include pedestrian-safety measures like leading pedestrian intervals and automated speed enforcement in school zones and on major streets like Baltimore Avenue.
Peer cities like New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Boston have adopted similar traffic safety measures on a broader scale. New York achieved a record low of 205 traffic fatalities in 2025, its lowest since 1910, through policies such as school speed cameras covering 750 school zones, lowered speed limits to 20 mph in some areas, and intelligent speed assistance on city vehicles, which reduced speeding by 64%. New York also implemented congestion pricing in January 2025, which may have contributed to a 40% reduction in crashes in the congestion zone. Other cities have adopted turn calming to reduce turning speeds and sharp turns, lowering pedestrian injury risks by 16% and pedestrian fatalities by 80%. These cities have also expanded automated speed enforcement and traffic calming measures.
Philadelphia faces challenges in reducing traffic deaths due to state-level restrictions. The state of Pennsylvania holds preemption over changing speed limits or installing speed cameras, despite 74% of Philadelphia’s traffic deaths occurring on state roads. The deadliest 15 roads in the city are all state-designated, making it difficult for the city to implement changes independently. Another persistent issue is the high rate of hit-and-run crashes, which account for over three-quarters of such incidents in Philadelphia and often occur at night. While city and state agencies collaborate on road safety, the preemption rule complicates efforts to address these challenges effectively.
Achieving *Vision Zero*, or zero traffic deaths, is possible as demonstrated by cities globally and in the U.S. However, Philadelphia must address key inequities, particularly the gap in traffic safety between its richest and poorest neighborhoods. Expanding automated speed enforcement and traffic calming measures are high-value policies that could help the city catch up to its peers. Improving lighting in high-risk areas may also reduce hit-and-run crashes, which predominantly occur at night. The goal is to ensure streets are designed to safely accommodate all residents, whether they walk, bike, drive, or use public transit, to and from work, school, home, or other destinations.
