What Philly can – and can’t – do to reduce the number of people killed in car crashes

Philadelphia has the highest number of traffic deaths per capita compared to cities like Boston, Chicago, New York, and Washington. In 2024, there were 101 traffic deaths in Philadelphia, a decrease from 137 in 2024. The majority of these fatalities involve pedestrians and bicyclists, with the problem concentrated in poorer neighborhoods such as Hunting Park, Juniata Park, and Upper Kensington.

Philadelphia is far from reaching its Vision Zero goal of zero traffic deaths annually. Vision Zero, originating from Sweden, aims to reduce road traffic deaths to zero through policy strategies. While Philadelphians walk less and drive more than other peer cities, the vehicle fleet in crashes is similar across all five cities. Fatal crashes in Philadelphia are more likely to be speeding incidents, hit-and-runs, or occur at night on major roadways, but less likely to involve alcohol compared to its peers.

Several initiatives have been implemented in Philadelphia to address road safety, including the installation of automated speed enforcement cameras on Roosevelt Boulevard, which reduced crashes by 11% since their installation in 2020. The Slow Zone Program, a collaboration between city planners, engineers, and neighborhood residents, has been introduced to design traffic safety solutions.

Additionally, speed cushions and other traffic-calming measures have been installed, as well as expanding the bike network with protected lanes. These measures, based on evidence from other cities, have the potential to improve safety for all road users.