California has one of the highest numbers of annual traffic fatalities in the United States. In 2022, it saw more than 21,000 deaths related to car accidents, more than any other state.
Certain demographics in California might be more susceptible to traffic crashes. Here’s what to consider when driving in the state:
Age
A driver’s age is likely to play a factor in California traffic crashes. Those in the 25- to 34-year-old age range comprise the largest number of victims of fatal and serious injury collisions, data shows. Those who fall between the ages of 15 and 34 represent nearly half of all fatal and serious injury collisions in the state.
This is a number that continues to grow. In fact, teenage driver deaths increased by about 23 percent in 2023 over the previous year.
Gender
Gender frequently plays a role in California traffic crashes. About 72 percent of fatal traffic crashes involved male drivers, while just 28 percent involved female drivers. In Los Angeles County, where car accidents are more prevalent than anywhere else, about 60 percent are caused by men, data shows.
Location
Where you live or are visiting in California could also influence your likelihood of getting into a crash. 70% of all California car accidents occur in urban areas. Data shows that those in the Los Angeles region, in southern California, represented nearly half of the state’s traffic fatalities between 2008 and 2017 with 15,530. This far exceeds other parts of the state. During this same time period, the Redding region saw 1,429 fatalities, the Sacramento area saw 2,872 fatalities, the Fresno area saw 4,816 fatalities and the San Diego region saw 2,564 fatalities.
Los Angeles sees about 55,000 vehicle accidents each year with the riskiest areas of the city being downtown, Hollywood and Interstate 405. The primary causes for these crashes are heavy traffic and reckless drivers.
Reckless Drivers
Bad driving habits frequently are a factor in California car accidents. In 2021, 140 people were killed in crashes that involved a distracted driver – someone who was texting or emailing, taking pictures, reviewing GPS maps, or using social media. This was a 27.3 percent increase over the previous year, data shows. In a 2023 survey, more than 74 percent of Californians said that distracted driving was their biggest concern about traffic safety in the state.
Speeding also played a significant role in California crashes. From 2021 to 2022, speeding caused about 40 percent of accidents in the state. This resulted in more than 400 deaths and 42,000 injuries.
Impaired Drivers
Traffic fatalities involving drivers impaired by alcohol, drugs and even certain medications, causes serious accidents in California. From 2011 to 2020, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities increased by nearly 50 percent and drug-impaired driving fatalities increased by nearly 72 percent. Half of all California drivers who die in a wreck were under the influence of drugs at the time of a crash.