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2003

California · year

California in 2003

Deaths 4,224Fatal crashes 3,731Per 100,000 12.0US deaths 42,884

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 2003.

In 2003, 4,224 people died in 3,731 fatal crashes in California, 12.0 deaths per 100,000 residents against 14.8 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2002 (4,088) and 2003 (4,224).

California accounted for 9.8% of the 42,884 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

37.3% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

31% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 200220032004 →All years

Compared with 2002 and the nation

MeasureCalifornia 2003California 2002United States 2003
Deaths4,2244,08842,884
Fatal crashes3,7313,65438,477
Deaths per 100,000 residents12.011.714.8
Crashes with a drinking driver37%39%35%

Counties in 2003

Every county with a fatal crash in 2003, 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 County7238128.37,783
San Bernardino County30636316.43,509
Riverside County27730412.03,065
San Diego County2652958.92,735
Orange County1972136.72,088
Fresno County17621020.51,575
Kern County15517819.31,808
Sacramento County1361499.21,757
Alameda County1041146.9965
San Joaquin County9110112.41,237
Tulare County8710120.9793
Santa Clara County84914.71,195
Stanislaus County789016.2830
Ventura County72789.3576
Contra Costa County65706.0811
Monterey County535913.5481
Sonoma County555711.7389
Solano County485612.3465
Merced County475217.5594
San Francisco County47526.3356
Imperial County324524.8323
Madera County404426.6348
Santa Barbara County38429.4380
Kings County324227.1288
Placer County36419.5334
San Mateo County35364.8369
San Luis Obispo County303412.1308
Shasta County293418.8328
Tuolumne County233259.4130
Humboldt County253123.4249
El Dorado County263015.6240
Mendocino County233033.6224
Butte County222913.9382
Yolo County252511.1278
Santa Cruz County24259.5214
Yuba County192124.0159
Napa County172015.1152
Sutter County171717.3190
Lake County151725.1175
Tehama County141726.4171
Calaveras County131736.6131
Inyo County111475.785
Nevada County131312.7148
Siskiyou County111330.6138
Marin County10135.1122
Lassen County111242.390
Amador County81126.2117
Del Norte County91037.076
San Benito County91014.5113
Glenn County81035.382
Mono County9969.348
Colusa County7731.781
Plumas County5737.248
Alpine County56546.019
Trinity County4532.075
Mariposa County4423.531
Modoc County3335.330
Sierra County3396.414

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

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

Weekday

Sunday18%
Monday13%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday12%
Thursday12%
Friday14%
Saturday19%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in California in 2003?

4,224 people in 3,731 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2003 file, or 12.0 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in California had the most crash deaths in 2003?

Los Angeles County with 812 deaths in 723 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2003 compare with 2002 in California?

4,224 deaths against 4,088 in 2002 (+3%). Nationally the 2003 total was 42,884.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2003 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.