Fatal Roads

States › California › San Bernardino County

FIPS06071

California · county

San Bernardino County

Residents 2,214,281Deaths 2024 350Deaths 2015–2024 3,509Latest data year 2024

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Latest data year: 2024. Figures are aggregates from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System; no individual crash is identified.

NHTSA's FARS file lists 3,509 people killed in 3,191 fatal crashes in San Bernardino County, California, between 2015 and 2024, 350 of them in 2024.

With 2,214,281 residents, that is 16.2 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 60% higher than the California rate of 10.1 and above the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll rose 18% from 2,971 in 2005–2014 to 3,509 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is speeding: 31.7% against 30.2% for California.

38% of the county's fatal crashes happened between 6pm to midnight, and Saturday was the most common day (17%).

350deaths in 2024310 fatal crashes
1,988deaths, 2020–20243,509 over ten years
16.2per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 15.8
+60%vs California ratestate 10.1 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

0231461197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 220 deaths1976: 221 deaths1977: 276 deaths1978: 351 deaths1979: 326 deaths1980: 385 deaths1981: 363 deaths1982: 308 deaths1983: 284 deaths1984: 325 deaths1985: 349 deaths1986: 357 deaths1987: 452 deaths1988: 396 deaths1989: 427 deaths1990: 398 deaths1991: 337 deaths1992: 343 deaths1993: 372 deaths1994: 349 deaths1995: 362 deaths1996: 336 deaths1997: 313 deaths1998: 304 deaths1999: 300 deaths2000: 324 deaths2001: 342 deaths2002: 334 deaths2003: 363 deaths2004: 406 deaths2005: 427 deaths2006: 405 deaths2007: 360 deaths2008: 293 deaths2009: 241 deaths2010: 220 deaths2011: 235 deaths2012: 243 deaths2013: 262 deaths2014: 285 deaths2015: 260 deaths2016: 273 deaths2017: 345 deaths2018: 322 deaths2019: 321 deaths2020: 369 deaths2021: 422 deaths2022: 461 deaths2023: 386 deaths2024: 350 deaths
People killed in crashes in San Bernardino County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 350 deaths.

Ten-year total up 18% (2,971 in 2005–2014, 3,509 in 2015–2024). The shaded band is the ten-year window used for rates and shares. County codes are matched to today's Census county list; a few historic code changes are merged.

Compared with California and the nation

MeasureSan BernardinoCaliforniaUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202416.210.111.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202415.89.811.5
Deaths, 2015–20243,50939,702389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–20243,19136,640358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years+18%+17%+7%
Crashes on rural roads29%30%43%

Rates divide deaths by Census Bureau population estimates for each year (residents, not road users; through traffic on major routes raises the rate of small counties). Population 2,214,281 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking26.4%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver31.7%
Pedestriansshare of people killed24.6%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed12.8%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used44.2%
In darknesscrashes after dark61.2%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads28.9%

tick marks the California share. Bars are shares of fatal crashes (alcohol, speeding, darkness, rural) or of people killed (pedestrians, motorcyclists, unrestrained occupants) over the ten-year window.

"Alcohol" counts crashes where police reported at least one driver as drinking (FARS DR_DRINK), not the BAC-based alcohol-impaired measure NHTSA publishes separately. "Speeding" counts crashes with a driver coded as racing, exceeding the limit or too fast for conditions. Details in the methodology. Factor pages: alcohol, speeding, pedestrians, motorcycles, unrestrained occupants.

Time of day and day of week

12am3am6am9am12pm3pm6pm9pm
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat

Fatal crashes in San Bernardino County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 3,146 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Saturday17%
Sunday17%
Friday16%
Monday13%
Wednesday13%
Thursday12%
Tuesday12%

Light condition

Daylight35%
Dark, lighted31%
Dark, not lighted29%
Dawn2%
Dusk2%
Dark, lighting unknown1%

Road type

Minor arterial27%
Interstate23%
Other principal arterial22%
Major collector11%
Other freeways and expressways9%
Local7%
Minor collector2%

FHWA functional classes as coded in FARS (FUNC_SYS), share of fatal crashes with a reported class; tick marks the California share. Interstates and other principal arterials carry the most traffic, so a high share there is expected. See what the road classes mean.

Weather

Clear90%
Cloudy6%
Rain3%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%
Fog, smog or smoke0%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in San Bernardino

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1Interstate 15Interstate36662069932%35%
2Interstate 10Interstate15860567526%34%
3State Route 210State highway11712814337%35%
4Interstate 40Interstate10110111114%18%
5State Route 18State highway9610111521%23%
6State Route 62State highway78949927%22%
7Interstate 215Interstate7718319532%37%
8State Route 138State highway6117319821%20%
9US Route 395US highway5516722029%20%
10State Route 247State highway52526015%15%

Signed routes (Interstate, US and state highways) that have a page on this site, ranked by fatal crashes in this county over 2015–2024; "fatal crashes" and "deaths" columns are the statewide totals for the route. Local streets and county roads are not listed.

By year, 2015–2024

YearFatal crashesDeathsDrinking-driver crashesPer 100,000
20243103506815.8CA 2024
20233603869517.4CA 2023
202241946110320.8CA 2022
202138742210319.1CA 2021
20203273697316.7CA 2020
20192963218114.5CA 2019
20182933228014.5CA 2018
20173103458315.6CA 2017
20162542738212.3CA 2016
20152352607511.7CA 2015

Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule). Per-100,000 uses the 2024 population for every year in this table; the ten-year rate above uses each year's estimate.

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in San Bernardino County, California?

350 people died in 310 fatal crashes in 2024; 1,988 over 2020–2024 and 3,509 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does San Bernardino compare with California?

16.2 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 10.1 for California and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in San Bernardino involved alcohol?

26.4% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 27.9% in California. The factor furthest above the state share was speeding at 31.7%.

Which roads in San Bernardino see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, Interstate 15 (366 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), Interstate 10 (158 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route 210 (117 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in San Bernardino?

Most often between 6pm to midnight (38% of crashes) and on Saturdays (17%); 61.2% happened after dark.

Where does this data come from?

NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System annual files (1975–2024) and Census Bureau county population estimates. Figures are aggregates; no individual crash is identified. See the methodology page for definitions.

Provenance

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System, annual national CSV files 1975–2024 (accident table for every year; vehicle and person tables for 2015–2024), public domain. Population: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals (vintages 2000–2010, 2010–2020 and 2020–2024). Data through 31 Dec 2024; page generated 30 Sep 2026. Processing errors are corrected at the next build; see corrections and sources.