State Highway 1 in California: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 491 fatal crashes on State Highway 1 in California killed 541 people, the 6th most of 255 numbered roads in California. In 2024 there were 48 fatal crashes and 50 deaths on the road.
A state highway running through 15 counties of California. All fatal crashes in California.
Deaths on State Highway 1 in California by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 48 | 50 |
| 2023 | 58 | 66 |
| 2022 | 66 | 77 |
| 2021 | 56 | 60 |
| 2020 | 55 | 58 |
| 2019 | 44 | 46 |
| 2018 | 44 | 47 |
| 2017 | 42 | 48 |
| 2016 | 41 | 46 |
| 2015 | 37 | 43 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on State Highway 1 in California: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Los Angeles County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 1 from 2015 to 2024: 138, with 148 deaths. Los Angeles, Monterey and Orange counties together held 54% of fatal crashes on State Highway 1 in California from 2015 to 2024; the 12 listed held 99%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles County | 14 | 138 | 148 |
| 2 | Monterey County | 7 | 65 | 69 |
| 3 | Orange County | 4 | 62 | 68 |
| 4 | San Mateo County | 4 | 43 | 52 |
| 5 | Santa Cruz County | 4 | 38 | 41 |
| 6 | Ventura County | 0 | 34 | 45 |
| 7 | Santa Barbara County | 6 | 33 | 37 |
| 8 | Mendocino County | 1 | 21 | 21 |
| 9 | San Luis Obispo County | 3 | 18 | 19 |
| 10 | Sonoma County | 1 | 18 | 19 |
| 11 | Marin County | 1 | 9 | 9 |
| 12 | San Francisco County | 2 | 9 | 9 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on State Highway 1 in California
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 25 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is May.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 2.9 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 19 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 0.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.1 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 12 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 14 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 13 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.1 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 21 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 19 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.6 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 25 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.9%
- Feb9.2%
- Mar7.7%
- Apr7.9%
- May10.2%
- Jun7.7%
- Jul8.4%
- Aug8.6%
- Sep10.0%
- Oct8.8%
- Nov6.1%
- Dec8.6%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on State Highway 1 in California first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 33%; a pedestrian in 28%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 23%, a rollover in 5.9%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 161 | 33% |
| Pedestrian | 138 | 28% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 115 | 23% |
| Rollover | 29 | 5.9% |
| Cyclist | 22 | 4.5% |
| Parked vehicle | 13 | 2.6% |
| Other | 13 | 2.6% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes on State Highway 1 in California compare with the state
The largest difference from California: from 2015 to 2024, 38% of fatal crashes on State Highway 1 in California were on rural roads, against 30% across California. Also above the California share: distracted drivers. Below it: unbelted occupants and hit-and-runs. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of California. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 491 crashes.
| State Highway 1 | California | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 38% | 30% | above the California share |
| At or near an intersection | 23% | 27% | about the same as the California share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 27% | 25% | about the same as the California share |
| A drinking driver | 26% | 28% | about the same as the California share |
| Speeding | 29% | 30% | about the same as the California share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 5.9% | 4.1% | above the California share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 31% | 38% | below the California share |
| Hit-and-run | 7.7% | 11% | below the California share |
| A motorcycle involved | 18% | 15% | about the same as the California share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 27% | 26% | about the same as the California share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes on State Highway 1 in California
- How many fatal crashes have there been on State Highway 1 in California?
- 491 fatal crashes killed 541 people on State Highway 1 in California from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 48 fatal crashes and 50 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on State Highway 1 in California do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Los Angeles County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 1 from 2015 to 2024: 138, with 148 deaths. Monterey County was second with 65.
- When do fatal crashes on State Highway 1 in California happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 25 fatal crashes.
Other roads in California with a page
All fatal crashes in California, with every road ranked.
Where the State Highway 1 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as State Highway 1 in California (filed under 40 spellings, such as "SR-1", "SR-1 PACIFIC COAST HWY", "SR-1 / PCH", "SR-1 19TH AV"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.