GHSA maintains data on state laws surrounding a number of highway safety issues. Below is information regarding laws in the state of Pennsylvania. For more information, consult the State Highway Safety Office.
Bicycle helmets required for all riders under 12.
Helmets required for all riders under 21 or who have been licensed for less than 2 years, except those who complete a PennDOT- or Motorcycle Safety Foundation-approved safety course. Universal helmet law repealed 2003.
4 years
65 and over: choice of 2- or 4-year renewal
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Legal for medical use
Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
70
70
70
70
70
70
Yes
Yes
.10 and .16
None
Pennsylvania uses programs called Occupational Limited License (OLL) and Ignition Interlock Limited License (IILL)
Mandatory for high BAC (.10 or higher) and repeat convictions
Under 2 yrs (or until outgrows the top height or weight recommendations) in rear-facing child restraint
2-3 yrs in forward-facing child restraint
4-7 yrs booster seat
8-18 yrs
17 years with driver's ed. and 12 months free of crash or conviction 18 without driver's ed.
16
6
65 (10) + 5 in inclement weather
16 / 6
11 p.m. - 5 a.m.
First 6 months: no more than 1 under 18 Thereafter: no more than 3 under 18
Secondary; Primary for occupants ages 8-17
8 and over
8-17 yrs: All (primary enforcement)
Yes (effective June 5, 2025)
No
No
All drivers. Primary law.
Permitted by state law
Active work zones when workers are present; in Philadelphia
Permitted by state law and city ordinance
Specified jurisdictions
In 2020, through a grant from Responsibility.org and GHSA, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) created an additional Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) training class that was offered specifically to city police agencies within the state.
As part of their response to a yearslong rise in highway deaths, national and state organizations are taking aim at distracted driving, hoping to reduce what one official called “a plague on our roads.”
The Governors Highway Safety Association recently awarded $75,000 in grants to Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania’s State Highway Safety Offices to work with community-based groups to promote safe youth mobility options.
GHSA has awarded grants totaling $75,000 from the National Road Safety Foundation to State Highway Safety Offices in Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania to work with community-based groups to promote safe youth mobility options like walking, biking or riding a scooter.
GHSA has awarded grants totaling $75,000 from the National Road Safety Foundation to State Highway Safety Offices in Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania to work with community-based groups to promote safe youth mobility options like walking, biking or riding a scooter.
Jonathan Adkins, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, called it “extremely disappointing” that fatalities have continued to increase during the pandemic after three years from 2017 to 2019 when they decreased.
Atlee Hall focuses on tackling catastrophic and complex cases and works to ensure their clients receive justice by holding negligent organizations accountable.
“We don’t see speeding and aggressive driving as a safety issue as we do with drunk driving and even distracted driving,” says the Executive Director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, Jonathan Adkins.
Shortly after the pandemic started last March, traffic safety officials sounded a warning when they saw an increase in the rate of traffic deaths per 100 million miles driven despite less traffic on the roads.
