Fall is the most dangerous time for pedestrian crashes in Centre County. See the data
Two pedestrians were hit by drivers in the past month — one was killed, another was seriously injured — in Centre County, adding to the hundreds who’ve been hit over the years.
It brought about a question: What can state Transportation Department data tell us?
One answer was clear. As autumn approaches and there’s less and less daylight with each passing day, no season is more dangerous for pedestrians.
The unadjusted data used by the Centre Daily Times is publicly available. You can search for yourself using any number of the dozens of filters listed.
The data dates back to 2003. This article relied on the most recent decade of data available, 2013 through 2022.
It also uses meteorological seasons: Spring includes March through May; summer includes June through August; fall includes September through November; and winter includes December through February.
How many serious or fatal pedestrian crashes happen in Centre County?
No pattern or distinct trend has emerged from the data. The county reported as few as one such crash in a year (2021), but also as many as 11 (2018).
When do serious or fatal pedestrian crashes happen in Centre County?
Twenty such crashes occurred in the fall, the most of any season. Thirteen occurred in both spring and winter, while 12 occurred in the summer.
Where do these crashes happen?
Most serious or fatal pedestrian crashes occur in the Centre Region, the most populated set of municipalities in Centre County.
Nineteen were reported in State College, more than twice as many as any other municipality. Seven were reported in Patton Township.
How do fatal pedestrian crashes compare to other fatal crashes?
Only about 3% of crashes during the past decade in Centre County involved pedestrians, yet they made up more than 10% of all fatal crashes.
How does Centre County stack up to counties of a similar size?
Centre County is one of nine fourth-class counties in Pennsylvania, those with a population of 145,000 to 209,999.
The county was middle of the pack during the past decade, slotting in fifth.