Five California cities are in the top 50 American cities with a population of at least 150,000 when it comes to fatality rates from motor vehicle crashes in 2020, according to data from the Department of Transportation.
Those cities are San Bernardino (9th), Lancaster (18th), Palmdale (20th), Fresno (38th), and Bakersfield (39th).
In addition, American roadways appear to be getting more dangerous. The NHTSA estimated that 10.5 percent more Americans died in motor vehicle accidents in 2021 compared to in 2020. An estimated 42,915 motor vehicle accident deaths occurred in 2021, which was the largest number since 2005. The 10.5 percent increase was the largest increase over one year in the history of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
The types of crashes which saw the largest increase in incidence, according to the NHTSA estimates, were crashes on city roads and accidents which involved multiple vehicles.
Risky driving may play a role in the increases. An AAA survey found that 50.7 percent of drivers admitted to driving 15 miles per hour faster than the speed limit on freeways in 2021, 36.2 percent of people admitted to driving while reading an email or text on their phone, and a stunning 23.7 percent of people admitted to driving while they thought their blood alcohol level was over the legal limit.
Most Dangerous Cities For California Drivers:
San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA ranked 9th among American cities with a population of over 150,000 in terms of motor vehicle accident fatality rates. The city saw 20.69 residents per 100,000 residents die in auto accidents in 2020, or 45 total. The city saw 5.52 pedestrians per 100,000 residents die in auto accidents in 2020, or 12 total.
2,023 people were injured in auto accidents in the city in 2020, according to UC Berkeley data. Of those injuries, 105 were considered severe. The city saw 1,348 total crashes, 452 state highway crashes, 95 crashes involving pedestrians, 24 crashes involving bicycles and 72 crashes involving motorcycles in 2020.
Broadside accidents were the most common type of accident in the city, accounting for 31.16 percent of all accidents. Rear end accidents were the next most common type, accounting for 22.48 percent of all accidents.
The most common primary crash factor violation involved in accidents in the city was unsafe speed, accounting for 26.17 percent of accidents. Improper turning was the next most common violation involved in accidents, accounting for 23.98 percent of accidents.
Lancaster
Lancaster, CA ranked 18th among American cities with a population of over 150,000 when it comes to fatality rates in auto accidents. Lancaster saw 17.97 residents per 100,000 die in accidents in 2020, or 28 total. The city saw 5.13 pedestrians per 100,000 residents die in crashes in 2020, or 8 total.
1,292 people were injured in crashes in Lancaster in 2020, according to UC Berkeley data. 30 of those injuries were severe. Lancaster saw 822 total crashes, 49 state highway crashes, 40 crashes involving pedestrians, 21 crashes involving bicycles and 37 crashes involving motorcycles in 2020.
Broadside crashes were the most common crash type in Lancaster, accounting for 34.43 percent of crashes. Rear end accidents were the next most common, accounting for 22.99 percent of crashes.
The most common primary crash factor violation in Lancaster crashes was automobile right of way violations, accounting for 26.95 of crashes. Unsafe speed was the next most common violation, accounting for 16.93 percent of crashes.
Palmdale
Palmdale, CA ranked 20th among American cities with over 150,000 people in terms of auto accident fatality rates. The city saw 17.28 residents per 100,000 die in crashes, or 26 total. Palmdale saw 3.99 pedestrians per 100,000 residents die in accidents, or 6 total.
Palmdale saw 859 people injured in crashes in 2020, according to UC Berkeley data. 31 of those injuries were considered severe. The city saw 592 total crashes, 148 state highway crashes, 31 pedestrian accidents, 13 bicycle accidents and 25 motorcycle accidents in 2020.
Broadside accidents were the most common type of accident in Palmdale, accounting for 33.78 percent of total accidents. Rear end accidents were the next most common type, accounting for 27.03 percent of crashes.
The most common primary crash factor violation in Palmdale accidents was unsafe speed, accounting for 21.94 percent of accidents. Improper turning was the next most common, accounting for 18.2 percent of accidents, followed by automobile right of way violations, accounting for 18.03 percent of accidents.
Fresno
Fresno, CA ranked 38th among American cities with over 150,000 people when it comes to fatality rates regarding auto accidents. Fresno saw 13.39 residents per 100,000 die in accidents, or 71 total. The city saw 5.47 pedestrians per 100,000 residents die in crashes, or 29 total.
Fresno saw 1,594 people injured in 2020 crashes, according to UC Berkeley data. 98 of those injuries were considered severe. Fresno saw 1,204 total crashes, 436 state highway crashes, 116 pedestrian crashes, 48 bike crashes and 53 motorcycle accidents in 2020.
The most common type of crash was broadside crashes, accounting for 27.74 percent of crashes. Rear end crashes were the next most common, accounting for 26.74 percent of crashes.
Unsafe speed was by far the most common primary crash factor violation in Fresno in 2020, accounting for 28.04 percent of accidents. Failure to obey traffic signals and signs was the next most common violation involved in accidents, accounting for 13.17 percent of accidents.
Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA ranked 39th among American cities with over 150,000 residents in terms of auto accident fatality rates. The city saw 13.22 residents per 100,000 die in crashes, or 51 total. The city saw 3.63 pedestrians per 100,000 residents die in accidents, or 14 total.
Bakersfield saw 2,229 people injured in 2020 crashes, according to UC Berkeley data. 110 injuries were severe. The city saw 1,470 total crashes, 366 state highway crashes, 104 pedestrian accidents, 63 bike accidents and 96 motorcycle crashes in 2020.
Broadside crashes were the most common type of crash, accounting for 38.37 percent of accidents. Rear end accidents were the next most common, accounting for 25.71 percent of crashes.
The most common primary crash factor violation involved in crashes in Bakersfield was unsafe speed, accounting for 23.27 percent of accidents. Failure to obey traffic signals and signs was the next most common, accounting for 19.32 percent of accidents.
Jeffrey Nadrich
Jeffrey Nadrich is a nationally-recognized California plaintiff’s personal injury attorney. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley and UC Hastings College of the Law. He has successfully represented thousands of injury clients over the last 40 years.
