Fatal crashes in California
In 2024, 3,876 people died in 3,583 fatal crashes on California roads, 7.0% fewer than in 2023. That is about 11 deaths a day, and 9.9% of all road deaths in the United States.
California ranks 2nd of 51 by road deaths in 2024.
Road deaths in California since 1975
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads in California
I-5 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in California from 2015 to 2024: 1,214, with 1,396 deaths. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (890 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-5 | 1,214 | 1,396 | 371 | San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange |
| 2 | US 101 | 956 | 1,029 | 298 | Santa Clara, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara |
| 3 | State Highway 99 | 694 | 781 | 227 | Kern, Sacramento, Stanislaus |
| 4 | I-15 | 586 | 663 | 187 | San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside |
| 5 | I-10 | 556 | 622 | 198 | Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino |
| 6 | State Highway 1 | 491 | 541 | 172 | Los Angeles, Monterey, Orange |
| 7 | I-80 | 404 | 454 | 112 | Solano, Contra Costa, Placer |
| 8 | State Highway 91 | 235 | 247 | 88 | Riverside, Los Angeles, Orange |
| 9 | State Highway 60 | 225 | 240 | 74 | Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino |
| 10 | State Highway 4 | 212 | 239 | 65 | Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Calaveras |
| 11 | State Highway 74 | 208 | 220 | 51 | Riverside, Orange |
| 12 | I-405 | 204 | 222 | 68 | Los Angeles, Orange |
| 13 | I-8 | 192 | 209 | 50 | San Diego, Imperial |
| 14 | State Highway 138 | 176 | 201 | 63 | Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern |
| 15 | State Highway 20 | 170 | 191 | 50 | Lake, Nevada, Colusa |
| 16 | I-215 | 168 | 178 | 57 | Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego |
| 17 | US 395 | 167 | 220 | 49 | San Bernardino, Lassen, Inyo |
| 18 | State Highway 41 | 162 | 186 | 44 | Fresno, Madera, Kings |
| 19 | State Highway 49 | 154 | 166 | 50 | Nevada, Placer, Calaveras |
| 20 | I-580 | 147 | 156 | 58 | Alameda, San Joaquin, Contra Costa |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest counties in California
Los Angeles County had the most fatal crashes in California from 2015 to 2024: 7,312, with 7,783 deaths. 58 counties in California recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 20 with the most are listed.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | 726 | 7,312 | 7,783 |
| 2 | San Bernardino | 310 | 3,191 | 3,509 |
| 3 | Riverside | 275 | 2,860 | 3,065 |
| 4 | San Diego | 282 | 2,565 | 2,735 |
| 5 | Orange | 194 | 1,982 | 2,088 |
| 6 | Sacramento | 154 | 1,633 | 1,757 |
| 7 | Kern | 173 | 1,630 | 1,808 |
| 8 | Fresno | 150 | 1,394 | 1,575 |
| 9 | Santa Clara | 96 | 1,138 | 1,195 |
| 10 | San Joaquin | 123 | 1,128 | 1,237 |
| 11 | Alameda | 93 | 909 | 965 |
| 12 | Contra Costa | 64 | 753 | 811 |
| 13 | Stanislaus | 76 | 751 | 830 |
| 14 | Tulare | 67 | 718 | 793 |
| 15 | Ventura | 55 | 527 | 576 |
| 16 | Merced | 42 | 526 | 594 |
| 17 | Monterey | 43 | 444 | 481 |
| 18 | Solano | 40 | 435 | 465 |
| 19 | Sonoma | 27 | 372 | 389 |
| 20 | Butte | 33 | 352 | 382 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in California
The heaviest slot is Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 1,532 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 8 pm to 9 pm; the worst month is October.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.2 percent, 1,515 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 714 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 530 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 772 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 1,197 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 1,267 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.1 percent, 746 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 698 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 493 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 658 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 970 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 1,033 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.4 percent, 509 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 717 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 472 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 697 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 1,007 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 994 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.5 percent, 552 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 690 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 479 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 713 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 1,001 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 1,025 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.7 percent, 613 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 734 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 505 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 674 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 1,036 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 1,207 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.1 percent, 741 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 717 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 520 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 723 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 1,331 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 1,532 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.6 percent, 1,296 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 721 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 578 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 850 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 1,206 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 1,515 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.9%
- Feb7.3%
- Mar7.7%
- Apr7.8%
- May8.0%
- Jun8.2%
- Jul8.6%
- Aug8.8%
- Sep8.8%
- Oct9.2%
- Nov9.0%
- Dec8.9%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in California: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| California | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 30% | 43% | below the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 27% | 25% | above the US share |
| In daylight | 38% | 46% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 32% | 21% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 25% | 28% | below the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on California roads in 2024
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 2,041 | 53% |
| Pedestrians | 1,090 | 28% |
| Motorcyclists | 522 | 14% |
| Cyclists | 163 | 4.2% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 60 | 1.5% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes happen in California: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (19,019 in California).
| California | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 28% | 26% | above the US share |
| Speeding | 30% | 27% | above the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 38% | 49% | below the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 11% | 6.5% | above the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 15% | 16% | about the same as the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 12,377 | 34% |
| Pedestrian | 9,503 | 26% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 8,708 | 24% |
| Rollover | 2,289 | 6.2% |
| Other | 1,544 | 4.2% |
| Cyclist | 1,486 | 4.1% |
| Parked vehicle | 728 | 2.0% |
| Not reported | 5 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Vehicles in fatal crashes in California
Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type (53,183 vehicles).
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 24,887 | 47% |
| SUVs | 9,037 | 17% |
| Pickups | 7,524 | 14% |
| Motorcycles | 5,773 | 11% |
| Truck-tractors | 2,240 | 4.2% |
| Vans | 1,904 | 3.6% |
| Other trucks | 1,640 | 3.1% |
| Buses | 178 | 0.3% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road pages for California
Every numbered road in California with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
- I-10
- I-105
- I-110
- I-15
- I-210
- I-215
- I-280
- I-40
- I-405
- I-5
- I-580
- I-605
- I-680
- I-710
- I-8
- I-80
- I-805
- I-880
- State Highway 1
- State Highway 108
- State Highway 111
- State Highway 118
- State Highway 12
- State Highway 120
- State Highway 126
- State Highway 132
- State Highway 138
- State Highway 14
- State Highway 152
- State Highway 160
- State Highway 168
- State Highway 17
- State Highway 178
- State Highway 18
- State Highway 180
- State Highway 198
- State Highway 2
- State Highway 20
- State Highway 210
- State Highway 22
- State Highway 247
- State Highway 29
- State Highway 299
- State Highway 33
- State Highway 39
- State Highway 4
- State Highway 41
- State Highway 43
- State Highway 46
- State Highway 49
- State Highway 57
- State Highway 58
- State Highway 60
- State Highway 62
- State Highway 65
- State Highway 67
- State Highway 70
- State Highway 74
- State Highway 76
- State Highway 78
- State Highway 79
- State Highway 86
- State Highway 88
- State Highway 91
- State Highway 94
- State Highway 99
- US 101
- US 395
- US 50
Where the California numbers come from
Every figure on this page is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I35 FRONTAGE" and "I-35" are the same road; frontage roads and ramps are left out of road counts). Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". The full method.