US 101 in California: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 956 fatal crashes on US 101 in California killed 1,029 people, the 2nd most of any numbered road in California. In 2024 there were 92 fatal crashes and 96 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 14 counties of California. All fatal crashes in California.
Deaths on US 101 in California by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 100 | 106 |
| 2016 | 86 | 91 |
| 2017 | 97 | 108 |
| 2018 | 91 | 101 |
| 2019 | 91 | 104 |
| 2020 | 82 | 84 |
| 2021 | 111 | 119 |
| 2022 | 98 | 104 |
| 2023 | 108 | 116 |
| 2024 | 92 | 96 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 101 in California: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Santa Clara County had the most fatal crashes on US 101 from 2015 to 2024: 160, with 172 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Clara | 16 | 160 | 172 |
| 2 | Los Angeles | 16 | 109 | 111 |
| 3 | Santa Barbara | 8 | 100 | 107 |
| 4 | Humboldt | 5 | 94 | 106 |
| 5 | Monterey | 12 | 84 | 93 |
| 6 | San Luis Obispo | 8 | 77 | 81 |
| 7 | Mendocino | 3 | 75 | 86 |
| 8 | Sonoma | 3 | 57 | 58 |
| 9 | Ventura | 7 | 51 | 57 |
| 10 | San Mateo | 3 | 48 | 48 |
| 11 | Marin | 3 | 36 | 37 |
| 12 | San Francisco | 3 | 28 | 34 |
| 13 | Del Norte | 2 | 25 | 27 |
| 14 | San Benito | 3 | 12 | 12 |
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 US 101 in California
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am, with 59 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 2 am to 3 am; the worst month is November.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 6.3 percent, 59 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 32 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 28 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.5 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 25 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.7 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 27 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.1 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 21 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.8 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 23 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.7 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 29 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 5.6 percent, 52 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 44 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.5%
- Feb7.1%
- Mar8.6%
- Apr8.7%
- May6.9%
- Jun7.5%
- Jul8.1%
- Aug9.1%
- Sep8.4%
- Oct9.0%
- Nov9.7%
- Dec9.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 101 in California first hit
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 332 | 35% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 281 | 29% |
| Pedestrian | 212 | 22% |
| Rollover | 62 | 6.5% |
| Other | 36 | 3.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 17 | 1.8% |
| Cyclist | 16 | 1.7% |
| 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 US 101 in California compare with the state
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of California. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| US 101 | California | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 33% | 30% | above the California share |
| At or near an intersection | 4.8% | 27% | below the California share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 40% | 25% | above the California share |
| A drinking driver | 28% | 28% | about the same as the California share |
| Speeding | 26% | 30% | below the California share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 33% | 38% | below the California share |
| Hit-and-run | 9.8% | 11% | below the California share |
| A motorcycle involved | 12% | 15% | below the California share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 24% | 26% | below the California share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Other roads in California with a page
All fatal crashes in California, with every road ranked.
Where the US 101 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 101 in California (filed under 40 spellings, such as "US- 101", "US-101", "US-101 VENTURA FREEWAY", "US-101 VENTURA FWY"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.