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2001

California · year

California in 2001

Deaths 3,956Fatal crashes 3,543Per 100,000 11.5US deaths 42,196

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. Final FARS file for 2001.

In 2001, 3,956 people died in 3,543 fatal crashes in California, 11.5 deaths per 100,000 residents against 14.8 nationally.

The death toll rose 5% from 3,753 in 2000 to 3,956 in 2001.

California accounted for 9.4% of the 42,196 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

37.6% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

30% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Sunday was the most common day.

← 200020012002 →All years

Compared with 2000 and the nation

MeasureCalifornia 2001California 2000United States 2001
Deaths3,9563,75342,196
Fatal crashes3,5433,34837,862
Deaths per 100,000 residents11.511.014.8
Crashes with a drinking driver38%37%35%

Counties in 2001

Every county with a fatal crash in 2001, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 58 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Los Angeles County7107657.87,783
San Bernardino County29134215.43,509
San Diego County2662898.82,735
Riverside County24526510.53,065
Orange County1852056.52,088
Fresno County14115214.81,575
Kern County11814715.91,808
Sacramento County1311469.11,757
San Joaquin County10011914.61,237
Santa Clara County1061145.91,195
Alameda County1041116.7965
Stanislaus County788916.0830
Tulare County748217.0793
Ventura County66738.7576
Merced County637324.6594
Monterey County566514.9481
Sonoma County575811.9389
Contra Costa County47564.8811
Imperial County394625.3323
Madera County374426.6348
San Luis Obispo County314415.6308
Shasta County374223.2328
Santa Barbara County35419.2380
Solano County36408.8465
San Francisco County38394.7356
Butte County333617.3382
Kings County303623.2288
Placer County31347.8334
San Mateo County32334.4369
Mendocino County212629.2224
El Dorado County242513.0240
Santa Cruz County23259.5214
Yolo County192410.7278
Humboldt County192115.9249
Napa County151612.1152
Yuba County131618.3159
Inyo County111686.685
Calaveras County141532.3131
Nevada County131514.7148
Sutter County141414.2190
Tehama County131421.7171
San Benito County121420.2113
Marin County12124.7122
Mono County101292.448
Siskiyou County101228.2138
Tuolumne County101222.3130
Lake County101014.8175
Glenn County91035.382
Lassen County91035.390
Amador County8819.0117
Plumas County6737.248
Trinity County6744.875
Del Norte County5622.276
Colusa County4522.781
Mariposa County4423.531
Sierra County44128.514
Alpine County34364.019
Modoc County3335.330

Per 100,000 uses the 2024 population estimate for every year, so early-year rates are understated where a county has grown.

Hour of day

12am4.2%
1am4.4%
2am2.9%
3am3%
4am2.6%
5am3.1%
6am4%
7am3.5%
8am2.8%
9am2.9%
10am2.8%
11am4%
12pm3.7%
1pm4.2%
2pm4.6%
3pm5.4%
4pm4.9%
5pm6.9%
6pm5.2%
7pm5.8%
8pm5.7%
9pm4.7%
10pm5.2%
11pm3.6%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday13%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday12%
Thursday13%
Friday15%
Saturday17%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in California in 2001?

3,956 people in 3,543 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2001 file, or 11.5 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in California had the most crash deaths in 2001?

Los Angeles County with 765 deaths in 710 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2001 compare with 2000 in California?

3,956 deaths against 3,753 in 2000 (+5%). Nationally the 2001 total was 42,196.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2001 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.