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San Diego County
Residents 3,298,799Deaths 2024 303Deaths 2015–2024 2,735Latest 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.
In 2024, the latest year in FARS, San Diego County (California) had 282 fatal crashes with 303 deaths. Across the ten years 2015–2024 the county recorded 2,565 fatal crashes and 2,735 deaths.
With 3,298,799 residents, that is 8.3 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 18% lower than the California rate of 10.1 and below the national rate of 11.8.
The ten-year death toll rose 12% from 2,435 in 2005–2014 to 2,735 in 2015–2024.
Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is motorcyclists: 18.5% against 14.1% for California.
38% of the county's fatal crashes happened between 6pm to midnight, and Sunday was the most common day (18%).
Trend since 1975
Ten-year total up 12% (2,435 in 2005–2014, 2,735 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
| Measure | San Diego | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–2024 | 8.3 | 10.1 | 11.8 |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 9.2 | 9.8 | 11.5 |
| Deaths, 2015–2024 | 2,735 | 39,702 | 389,190 |
| Fatal crashes, 2015–2024 | 2,565 | 36,640 | 358,460 |
| Deaths per fatal crash | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Change vs previous ten years | +12% | +17% | +7% |
| Crashes on rural roads | 19% | 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 3,298,799 in 2024.
Factors
"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
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Fatal crashes in San Diego County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 2,529 crashes with a known hour and weekday.
By weekday
Light condition
Road type
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
Routes with the most fatal crashes in San Diego
| # | Route | Type | In county | Fatal crashes | Deaths | Alcohol | Speeding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interstate 5 | Interstate | 264 | 1,337 | 1,526 | 28% | 32% |
| 2 | Interstate 8 | Interstate | 140 | 211 | 229 | 28% | 29% |
| 3 | Interstate 15 | Interstate | 127 | 620 | 699 | 32% | 35% |
| 4 | State Route 78 | State highway | 110 | 128 | 144 | 36% | 26% |
| 5 | State Route 94 | State highway | 105 | 105 | 112 | 20% | 21% |
| 6 | Interstate 805 | Interstate | 95 | 95 | 104 | 26% | 28% |
| 7 | State Route 76 | State highway | 65 | 65 | 74 | 46% | 25% |
| 8 | State Route 67 | State highway | 40 | 40 | 41 | 23% | 40% |
| 9 | State Route 79 | State highway | 29 | 98 | 103 | 21% | 19% |
| 10 | State Route 163 | State highway | 28 | 29 | 33 | 31% | 38% |
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
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths | Drinking-driver crashes | Per 100,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 282 | 303 | 92 | 9.2 | CA 2024 |
| 2023 | 271 | 288 | 76 | 8.7 | CA 2023 |
| 2022 | 272 | 286 | 73 | 8.7 | CA 2022 |
| 2021 | 298 | 316 | 87 | 9.6 | CA 2021 |
| 2020 | 270 | 293 | 67 | 8.9 | CA 2020 |
| 2019 | 240 | 253 | 60 | 7.7 | CA 2019 |
| 2018 | 252 | 267 | 61 | 8.1 | CA 2018 |
| 2017 | 223 | 240 | 67 | 7.3 | CA 2017 |
| 2016 | 229 | 243 | 76 | 7.4 | CA 2016 |
| 2015 | 228 | 246 | 61 | 7.5 | CA 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 Diego County, California?
303 people died in 282 fatal crashes in 2024; 1,486 over 2020–2024 and 2,735 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
How does San Diego compare with California?
8.3 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 Diego involved alcohol?
28.1% 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 motorcyclists at 18.5%.
Which roads in San Diego see the most fatal crashes?
Among signed routes with a page on this site, Interstate 5 (264 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), Interstate 8 (140 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and Interstate 15 (127 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).
When do fatal crashes happen in San Diego?
Most often between 6pm to midnight (38% of crashes) and on Sundays (18%); 59.0% 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.