Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of NHTSA data, California recorded 21,077 traffic deaths in 19,496 fatal crashes over the most recent five-year period — 10.8 per 100,000 residents per year, ranking #32 of 50 states (most dangerous first); the US average is 12.3.
Traffic Deaths (5-Yr Total)
21,077
19,496 fatal crashes
Deaths per 100K per Year
10.8
-12% vs avg
national: 12.3
State Rank
#32/50
most dangerous first
California Traffic Deaths by Year
The Most Dangerous California Cities to Drive In
All 220 ranked California cities by Road Danger Score (5-year traffic deaths per 100,000 residents, most dangerous first).
| # | City | Danger Score | Deaths (5-Yr) | Deaths per 100K/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barstow | 99/100 | 40 | 32.2 |
| 2 | Clearlake | 97/100 | 21 | 25.6 |
| 3 | Oroville | 95/100 | 21 | 21.8 |
| 4 | San Bernardino | 94/100 | 229 | 20.4 |
| 5 | Desert Hot Springs | 94/100 | 34 | 20.1 |
| 6 | Montclair | 93/100 | 36 | 19.2 |
| 7 | San Jacinto | 92/100 | 52 | 18.6 |
| 8 | Red Bluff | 92/100 | 13 | 18.1 |
| 9 | Colton | 91/100 | 47 | 17.7 |
| 10 | Rialto | 88/100 | 85 | 16.5 |
| 11 | California City | 88/100 | 11 | 16.4 |
| 12 | Blythe | 86/100 | 14 | 15.5 |
| 13 | Pomona | 86/100 | 108 | 15.0 |
| 14 | Bakersfield | 83/100 | 296 | 14.2 |
| 15 | Eureka | 83/100 | 18 | 14.1 |
| 16 | Rio Vista | 82/100 | 7 | 13.7 |
| 17 | Banning | 81/100 | 22 | 13.6 |
| 18 | Los Alamitos | 81/100 | 8 | 13.4 |
| 19 | National City | 80/100 | 36 | 13.1 |
| 20 | City Of Lemon Grove | 80/100 | 18 | 13.1 |
| 21 | San Pablo | 79/100 | 20 | 12.9 |
| 22 | Marysville | 78/100 | 8 | 12.7 |
| 23 | Tulare | 77/100 | 45 | 12.6 |
| 24 | Fresno | 77/100 | 343 | 12.5 |
| 25 | Anderson | 77/100 | 7 | 12.5 |
| 26 | Redlands | 77/100 | 45 | 12.4 |
| 27 | Orinda | 77/100 | 12 | 12.4 |
| 28 | Ontario | 76/100 | 114 | 12.3 |
| 29 | Riverside | 76/100 | 196 | 12.2 |
| 30 | Cathedral City | 76/100 | 32 | 12.2 |
| 31 | Redding | 76/100 | 56 | 12.1 |
| 32 | El Cajon | 75/100 | 61 | 12.0 |
| 33 | Sacramento | 75/100 | 314 | 11.9 |
| 34 | Fontana | 73/100 | 127 | 11.7 |
| 35 | Seal Beach | 73/100 | 14 | 11.6 |
| 36 | Westminster | 71/100 | 50 | 11.4 |
| 37 | Merced | 71/100 | 54 | 11.2 |
| 38 | Lafayette | 71/100 | 14 | 11.2 |
| 39 | Hemet | 70/100 | 52 | 11.2 |
| 40 | Perris | 70/100 | 45 | 11.1 |
| 41 | Vallejo | 69/100 | 67 | 11.0 |
| 42 | Turlock | 68/100 | 39 | 10.9 |
| 43 | Corona | 68/100 | 87 | 10.8 |
| 44 | Stockton | 67/100 | 168 | 10.5 |
| 45 | Newport Beach | 66/100 | 42 | 10.3 |
| 46 | Downey | 66/100 | 55 | 10.2 |
| 47 | Fairfield | 65/100 | 60 | 9.9 |
| 48 | West Sacramento | 64/100 | 28 | 9.9 |
| 49 | Inglewood | 64/100 | 50 | 9.9 |
| 50 | West Covina | 63/100 | 51 | 9.8 |
| 51 | Shafter | 63/100 | 11 | 9.7 |
| 52 | Tehachapi | 63/100 | 5 | 9.7 |
| 53 | Modesto | 62/100 | 105 | 9.6 |
| 54 | Arcata | 61/100 | 9 | 9.4 |
| 55 | Upland | 61/100 | 37 | 9.4 |
| 56 | Long Beach | 60/100 | 209 | 9.4 |
| 57 | Placerville | 60/100 | 5 | 9.4 |
| 58 | Galt | 60/100 | 12 | 9.3 |
| 59 | Dixon | 60/100 | 9 | 9.3 |
| 60 | Pittsburg | 59/100 | 35 | 9.3 |
| 61 | Fountain Valley | 59/100 | 25 | 9.1 |
| 62 | Kingsburg | 58/100 | 6 | 9.1 |
| 63 | Healdsburg | 58/100 | 5 | 9.0 |
| 64 | Bell | 57/100 | 14 | 8.9 |
| 65 | Oceanside | 57/100 | 75 | 8.9 |
| 66 | Orange | 57/100 | 61 | 8.8 |
| 67 | Oakland | 56/100 | 189 | 8.7 |
| 68 | Antioch | 56/100 | 51 | 8.7 |
| 69 | Richmond | 55/100 | 49 | 8.6 |
| 70 | Los Angeles | 55/100 | 1,637 | 8.6 |
| 71 | Indio | 54/100 | 40 | 8.5 |
| 72 | Ventura | 54/100 | 46 | 8.5 |
| 73 | Madera | 54/100 | 29 | 8.5 |
| 74 | Anaheim | 54/100 | 143 | 8.4 |
| 75 | Santa Ana | 54/100 | 131 | 8.4 |
| 76 | Paso Robles | 54/100 | 13 | 8.4 |
| 77 | La Mesa | 53/100 | 25 | 8.3 |
| 78 | Hercules | 53/100 | 11 | 8.2 |
| 79 | Burlingame | 52/100 | 12 | 8.1 |
| 80 | La Palma | 52/100 | 6 | 8.1 |
| 81 | Costa Mesa | 51/100 | 43 | 8.0 |
| 82 | Azusa | 51/100 | 19 | 8.0 |
| 83 | City Of Solana Beach | 51/100 | 5 | 7.9 |
| 84 | San Diego | 50/100 | 549 | 7.9 |
| 85 | Fullerton | 50/100 | 54 | 7.8 |
| 86 | Huntington Beach | 49/100 | 74 | 7.8 |
| 87 | Escondido | 49/100 | 57 | 7.7 |
| 88 | Pinole | 48/100 | 7 | 7.6 |
| 89 | Lodi | 48/100 | 26 | 7.6 |
| 90 | Moreno Valley | 48/100 | 81 | 7.6 |
| 91 | Chino | 47/100 | 35 | 7.5 |
| 92 | Atascadero | 47/100 | 11 | 7.4 |
| 93 | Murrieta | 46/100 | 41 | 7.3 |
| 94 | Manteca | 46/100 | 34 | 7.3 |
| 95 | Laguna Beach | 45/100 | 8 | 7.2 |
| 96 | Garden Grove | 44/100 | 59 | 7.1 |
| 97 | Porterville | 44/100 | 22 | 7.0 |
| 98 | San Fernando | 43/100 | 8 | 6.9 |
| 99 | San Leandro | 43/100 | 29 | 6.9 |
| 100 | Livermore | 43/100 | 28 | 6.9 |
| 101 | Claremont | 43/100 | 12 | 6.8 |
| 102 | San Jose | 42/100 | 326 | 6.8 |
| 103 | Selma | 41/100 | 8 | 6.6 |
| 104 | Watsonville | 39/100 | 16 | 6.4 |
| 105 | Hayward | 39/100 | 48 | 6.3 |
| 106 | Atwater | 38/100 | 10 | 6.2 |
| 107 | Gilroy | 38/100 | 18 | 6.2 |
| 108 | Chico | 38/100 | 31 | 6.1 |
| 109 | Brentwood | 38/100 | 20 | 6.1 |
| 110 | El Centro | 36/100 | 13 | 6.0 |
| 111 | South Gate | 35/100 | 26 | 5.8 |
| 112 | Tracy | 35/100 | 29 | 5.8 |
| 113 | South San Francisco | 35/100 | 18 | 5.8 |
| 114 | East Palo Alto | 35/100 | 8 | 5.8 |
| 115 | Pasadena | 34/100 | 38 | 5.8 |
| 116 | Palm Springs | 34/100 | 13 | 5.7 |
| 117 | Brea | 34/100 | 14 | 5.7 |
| 118 | Tustin | 34/100 | 22 | 5.7 |
| 119 | Culver City | 34/100 | 11 | 5.7 |
| 120 | Ridgecrest | 33/100 | 8 | 5.7 |
| 121 | Brawley | 33/100 | 8 | 5.7 |
| 122 | City Of Encinitas | 33/100 | 17 | 5.6 |
| 123 | Fremont | 33/100 | 63 | 5.6 |
| 124 | Concord | 31/100 | 33 | 5.4 |
| 125 | Roseville | 30/100 | 44 | 5.4 |
| 126 | Santa Barbara | 30/100 | 23 | 5.4 |
| 127 | Reedley | 30/100 | 7 | 5.3 |
| 128 | Beaumont | 29/100 | 16 | 5.3 |
| 129 | El Monte | 29/100 | 27 | 5.3 |
| 130 | Whittier | 29/100 | 22 | 5.3 |
| 131 | Woodland | 28/100 | 16 | 5.2 |
| 132 | Santa Cruz | 28/100 | 16 | 5.2 |
| 133 | Chula Vista | 28/100 | 71 | 5.2 |
| 134 | Santa Monica | 28/100 | 23 | 5.2 |
| 135 | Santa Clara | 27/100 | 34 | 5.2 |
| 136 | Carlsbad | 27/100 | 29 | 5.1 |
| 137 | Morgan Hill | 26/100 | 11 | 5.0 |
| 138 | Hanford | 26/100 | 15 | 5.0 |
| 139 | Martinez | 26/100 | 9 | 5.0 |
| 140 | Monrovia | 25/100 | 9 | 4.9 |
| 141 | Walnut Creek | 25/100 | 17 | 4.9 |
| 142 | Citrus Heights | 25/100 | 21 | 4.9 |
| 143 | Bell Gardens | 25/100 | 9 | 4.9 |
| 144 | Simi Valley | 25/100 | 30 | 4.8 |
| 145 | San Luis Obispo | 24/100 | 12 | 4.8 |
| 146 | San Rafael | 24/100 | 14 | 4.7 |
| 147 | San Francisco | 24/100 | 189 | 4.7 |
| 148 | Newark | 24/100 | 11 | 4.7 |
| 149 | Vacaville | 22/100 | 23 | 4.5 |
| 150 | Folsom | 22/100 | 19 | 4.4 |
| 151 | Clovis | 22/100 | 28 | 4.4 |
| 152 | Campbell | 22/100 | 9 | 4.4 |
| 153 | Pleasanton | 22/100 | 16 | 4.4 |
| 154 | Oakdale | 21/100 | 5 | 4.4 |
| 155 | La Habra | 21/100 | 13 | 4.3 |
| 156 | Daly City | 21/100 | 21 | 4.3 |
| 157 | Monterey | 20/100 | 6 | 4.2 |
| 158 | Torrance | 19/100 | 28 | 4.1 |
| 159 | La Verne | 19/100 | 6 | 4.1 |
| 160 | Novato | 18/100 | 10 | 3.9 |
| 161 | Delano | 17/100 | 10 | 3.8 |
| 162 | Santa Maria | 17/100 | 21 | 3.8 |
| 163 | Benicia | 17/100 | 5 | 3.8 |
| 164 | Dinuba | 17/100 | 5 | 3.8 |
| 165 | Yuba City | 17/100 | 13 | 3.8 |
| 166 | San Mateo | 17/100 | 19 | 3.8 |
| 167 | City Of Poway | 17/100 | 9 | 3.8 |
| 168 | Berkeley | 17/100 | 22 | 3.7 |
| 169 | Santa Paula | 17/100 | 6 | 3.7 |
| 170 | Paradise | 16/100 | 5 | 3.7 |
| 171 | Glendora | 16/100 | 9 | 3.7 |
| 172 | Oxnard | 16/100 | 36 | 3.6 |
| 173 | Elk Grove | 15/100 | 32 | 3.6 |
| 174 | Hollister | 15/100 | 8 | 3.5 |
| 175 | Redwood City | 15/100 | 14 | 3.5 |
| 176 | Irvine | 15/100 | 55 | 3.5 |
| 177 | Placentia | 15/100 | 9 | 3.5 |
| 178 | Palo Alto | 14/100 | 11 | 3.4 |
| 179 | Arcadia | 14/100 | 9 | 3.4 |
| 180 | Santa Rosa | 14/100 | 29 | 3.3 |
| 181 | Alhambra | 14/100 | 13 | 3.3 |
| 182 | Los Banos | 14/100 | 8 | 3.2 |
| 183 | San Gabriel | 14/100 | 6 | 3.2 |
| 184 | Lincoln | 14/100 | 9 | 3.2 |
| 185 | Milpitas | 13/100 | 12 | 3.1 |
| 186 | Union City | 13/100 | 10 | 3.1 |
| 187 | Gardena | 13/100 | 9 | 3.1 |
| 188 | Napa | 13/100 | 12 | 3.1 |
| 189 | Petaluma | 13/100 | 9 | 3.1 |
| 190 | Davis | 12/100 | 10 | 3.1 |
| 191 | Redondo Beach | 12/100 | 10 | 3.0 |
| 192 | Mountain View | 11/100 | 12 | 2.9 |
| 193 | Hawthorne | 11/100 | 12 | 2.9 |
| 194 | Cypress | 11/100 | 7 | 2.9 |
| 195 | Pacifica | 10/100 | 5 | 2.8 |
| 196 | Burbank | 10/100 | 14 | 2.8 |
| 197 | Montebello | 10/100 | 8 | 2.7 |
| 198 | Glendale | 10/100 | 24 | 2.6 |
| 199 | Seaside | 9/100 | 4 | 2.6 |
| 200 | Foster City | 9/100 | 4 | 2.5 |
| 201 | San Bruno | 9/100 | 5 | 2.5 |
| 202 | Manhattan Beach | 9/100 | 4 | 2.4 |
| 203 | San Ramon | 8/100 | 9 | 2.4 |
| 204 | Sanger | 8/100 | 3 | 2.3 |
| 205 | Salinas | 8/100 | 18 | 2.3 |
| 206 | Lemoore | 8/100 | 3 | 2.2 |
| 207 | Rocklin | 7/100 | 7 | 1.9 |
| 208 | Alameda | 7/100 | 7 | 1.9 |
| 209 | Lompoc | 6/100 | 4 | 1.9 |
| 210 | Pleasant Hill | 6/100 | 3 | 1.8 |
| 211 | South Pasadena | 5/100 | 2 | 1.6 |
| 212 | Dublin | 4/100 | 5 | 1.5 |
| 213 | Windsor | 4/100 | 2 | 1.4 |
| 214 | Suisun City | 4/100 | 2 | 1.4 |
| 215 | Danville | 4/100 | 3 | 1.4 |
| 216 | City Of Santee | 4/100 | 4 | 1.3 |
| 217 | Calexico | 3/100 | 2 | 1.0 |
| 218 | Covina | 3/100 | 2 | 0.8 |
| 219 | Belmont | 3/100 | 1 | 0.8 |
| 220 | Los Altos | 2/100 | 1 | 0.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many car accidents happen in California?
NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System recorded 19,496 fatal car accidents in California over the most recent five-year period, killing 21,077 people — an average of 4,215 traffic deaths per year.
How dangerous are California roads compared to other states?
California averages 10.8 traffic deaths per 100,000 residents per year, ranking #32 of 50 states (most dangerous first). The US average is 12.3 per 100,000.
What causes fatal car accidents in California?
Of California's fatal crashes over the most recent five-year period, 28% involved a drinking driver, 32% involved speeding, and 59% happened in dark conditions.
Which California city is the most dangerous to drive in?
Among ranked California cities, Barstow has the highest Road Danger Score (99/100) at 32.2 traffic deaths per 100,000 residents per year.