Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of NHTSA data, the most dangerous city to drive in in California is Barstow, CA with 32.2 traffic deaths per 100,000 residents per year (2020–2024; Road Danger Score 99/100), vs a US average of 12.3.
Highest Traffic-Fatality Rates in California
Cities ranked by Road Danger Score — 5-year traffic deaths per 100,000 residents from NHTSA FARS.
| # | City | Danger Score | Deaths per 100K/yr | Deaths 2020–2024 | Alcohol % | Speeding % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barstow | 99/100 | 32.2 | 40 | 13% | 32% |
| 2 | Clearlake | 97/100 | 25.6 | 21 | 10% | 33% |
| 3 | Oroville | 95/100 | 21.8 | 21 | 21% | 37% |
| 4 | San Bernardino | 94/100 | 20.4 | 229 | 29% | 40% |
| 5 | Desert Hot Springs | 94/100 | 20.1 | 34 | 39% | 36% |
| 6 | Montclair | 93/100 | 19.2 | 36 | 34% | 31% |
| 7 | San Jacinto | 92/100 | 18.6 | 52 | 44% | 26% |
| 8 | Red Bluff | 92/100 | 18.1 | 13 | 8% | 23% |
| 9 | Colton | 91/100 | 17.7 | 47 | 23% | 30% |
| 10 | Rialto | 88/100 | 16.5 | 85 | 29% | 43% |
| 11 | California City | 88/100 | 16.4 | 11 | 33% | 22% |
| 12 | Blythe | 86/100 | 15.5 | 14 | 29% | 29% |
| 13 | Pomona | 86/100 | 15.0 | 108 | 22% | 26% |
| 14 | Bakersfield | 83/100 | 14.2 | 296 | 23% | 26% |
| 15 | Eureka | 83/100 | 14.1 | 18 | 11% | 33% |
| 16 | Rio Vista | 82/100 | 13.7 | 7 | 67% | 67% |
| 17 | Banning | 81/100 | 13.6 | 22 | 29% | 38% |
| 18 | Los Alamitos | 81/100 | 13.4 | 8 | 63% | 63% |
| 19 | National City | 80/100 | 13.1 | 36 | 31% | 34% |
| 20 | City Of Lemon Grove | 80/100 | 13.1 | 18 | 33% | 33% |
| 21 | San Pablo | 79/100 | 12.9 | 20 | 33% | 44% |
| 22 | Marysville | 78/100 | 12.7 | 8 | 13% | 25% |
| 23 | Tulare | 77/100 | 12.6 | 45 | 32% | 34% |
| 24 | Fresno | 77/100 | 12.5 | 343 | 26% | 36% |
| 25 | Anderson | 77/100 | 12.5 | 7 | 17% | 0% |
| 26 | Redlands | 77/100 | 12.4 | 45 | 24% | 41% |
| 27 | Orinda | 77/100 | 12.4 | 12 | 36% | 46% |
| 28 | Ontario | 76/100 | 12.3 | 114 | 34% | 43% |
| 29 | Riverside | 76/100 | 12.2 | 196 | 29% | 26% |
| 30 | Cathedral City | 76/100 | 12.2 | 32 | 41% | 38% |
| 31 | Redding | 76/100 | 12.1 | 56 | 29% | 24% |
| 32 | El Cajon | 75/100 | 12.0 | 61 | 24% | 22% |
| 33 | Sacramento | 75/100 | 11.9 | 314 | 29% | 27% |
| 34 | Fontana | 73/100 | 11.7 | 127 | 25% | 36% |
| 35 | Seal Beach | 73/100 | 11.6 | 14 | 77% | 54% |
| 36 | Westminster | 71/100 | 11.4 | 50 | 19% | 35% |
| 37 | Merced | 71/100 | 11.2 | 54 | 25% | 26% |
| 38 | Lafayette | 71/100 | 11.2 | 14 | 25% | 17% |
| 39 | Hemet | 70/100 | 11.2 | 52 | 22% | 26% |
| 40 | Perris | 70/100 | 11.1 | 45 | 39% | 39% |
| 41 | Vallejo | 69/100 | 11.0 | 67 | 27% | 36% |
| 42 | Turlock | 68/100 | 10.9 | 39 | 21% | 26% |
| 43 | Corona | 68/100 | 10.8 | 87 | 39% | 41% |
| 44 | Stockton | 67/100 | 10.5 | 168 | 27% | 29% |
| 45 | Newport Beach | 66/100 | 10.3 | 42 | 40% | 58% |
| 46 | Downey | 66/100 | 10.2 | 55 | 15% | 38% |
| 47 | Fairfield | 65/100 | 9.9 | 60 | 21% | 33% |
| 48 | West Sacramento | 64/100 | 9.9 | 28 | 39% | 54% |
| 49 | Inglewood | 64/100 | 9.9 | 50 | 16% | 34% |
| 50 | West Covina | 63/100 | 9.8 | 51 | 32% | 40% |
| 51 | Shafter | 63/100 | 9.7 | 11 | 22% | 33% |
| 52 | Tehachapi | 63/100 | 9.7 | 5 | 40% | 20% |
| 53 | Modesto | 62/100 | 9.6 | 105 | 25% | 36% |
| 54 | Arcata | 61/100 | 9.4 | 9 | 33% | 56% |
| 55 | Upland | 61/100 | 9.4 | 37 | 38% | 47% |
| 56 | Long Beach | 60/100 | 9.4 | 209 | 16% | 34% |
| 57 | Placerville | 60/100 | 9.4 | 5 | 75% | 25% |
| 58 | Galt | 60/100 | 9.3 | 12 | 18% | 46% |
| 59 | Dixon | 60/100 | 9.3 | 9 | 22% | 33% |
| 60 | Pittsburg | 59/100 | 9.3 | 35 | 50% | 63% |
| 61 | Fountain Valley | 59/100 | 9.1 | 25 | 20% | 28% |
| 62 | Kingsburg | 58/100 | 9.1 | 6 | 17% | 17% |
| 63 | Healdsburg | 58/100 | 9.0 | 5 | 20% | 40% |
| 64 | Bell | 57/100 | 8.9 | 14 | 14% | 21% |
| 65 | Oceanside | 57/100 | 8.9 | 75 | 41% | 34% |
| 66 | Orange | 57/100 | 8.8 | 61 | 31% | 38% |
| 67 | Oakland | 56/100 | 8.7 | 189 | 28% | 43% |
| 68 | Antioch | 56/100 | 8.7 | 51 | 26% | 49% |
| 69 | Richmond | 55/100 | 8.6 | 49 | 34% | 43% |
| 70 | Los Angeles | 55/100 | 8.6 | 1,637 | 15% | 39% |
| 71 | Indio | 54/100 | 8.5 | 40 | 45% | 40% |
| 72 | Ventura | 54/100 | 8.5 | 46 | 38% | 33% |
| 73 | Madera | 54/100 | 8.5 | 29 | 39% | 36% |
| 74 | Anaheim | 54/100 | 8.4 | 143 | 27% | 31% |
| 75 | Santa Ana | 54/100 | 8.4 | 131 | 22% | 23% |
| 76 | Paso Robles | 54/100 | 8.4 | 13 | 23% | 46% |
| 77 | La Mesa | 53/100 | 8.3 | 25 | 40% | 36% |
| 78 | Hercules | 53/100 | 8.2 | 11 | 20% | 50% |
| 79 | Burlingame | 52/100 | 8.1 | 12 | 40% | 40% |
| 80 | La Palma | 52/100 | 8.1 | 6 | 33% | 17% |
| 81 | Costa Mesa | 51/100 | 8.0 | 43 | 21% | 40% |
| 82 | Azusa | 51/100 | 8.0 | 19 | 41% | 41% |
| 83 | City Of Solana Beach | 51/100 | 7.9 | 5 | 20% | 100% |
| 84 | San Diego | 50/100 | 7.9 | 549 | 23% | 28% |
| 85 | Fullerton | 50/100 | 7.8 | 54 | 24% | 22% |
| 86 | Huntington Beach | 49/100 | 7.8 | 74 | 25% | 24% |
| 87 | Escondido | 49/100 | 7.7 | 57 | 25% | 40% |
| 88 | Pinole | 48/100 | 7.6 | 7 | 43% | 14% |
| 89 | Lodi | 48/100 | 7.6 | 26 | 33% | 33% |
| 90 | Moreno Valley | 48/100 | 7.6 | 81 | 40% | 42% |
| 91 | Chino | 47/100 | 7.5 | 35 | 31% | 50% |
| 92 | Atascadero | 47/100 | 7.4 | 11 | 30% | 30% |
| 93 | Murrieta | 46/100 | 7.3 | 41 | 30% | 38% |
| 94 | Manteca | 46/100 | 7.3 | 34 | 29% | 58% |
| 95 | Laguna Beach | 45/100 | 7.2 | 8 | 25% | 38% |
| 96 | Garden Grove | 44/100 | 7.1 | 59 | 29% | 38% |
| 97 | Porterville | 44/100 | 7.0 | 22 | 55% | 25% |
| 98 | San Fernando | 43/100 | 6.9 | 8 | 29% | 43% |
| 99 | San Leandro | 43/100 | 6.9 | 29 | 27% | 54% |
| 100 | Livermore | 43/100 | 6.9 | 28 | 28% | 48% |