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2012

California · year

California in 2012

Deaths 2,966Fatal crashes 2,733Per 100,000 7.8US deaths 33,782

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 2012.

In 2012, 2,966 people died in 2,733 fatal crashes in California, 7.8 deaths per 100,000 residents against 10.8 nationally.

The death toll rose 5% from 2,816 in 2011 to 2,966 in 2012.

California accounted for 8.8% of the 33,782 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

29.6% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

33% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 201120122013 →All years

Compared with 2011 and the nation

MeasureCalifornia 2012California 2011United States 2012
Deaths2,9662,81633,782
Fatal crashes2,7332,61731,006
Deaths per 100,000 residents7.87.510.8
Crashes with a drinking driver30%29%31%

Counties in 2012

Every county with a fatal crash in 2012, 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 County5756166.37,783
San Bernardino County21724311.03,509
San Diego County1992166.52,735
Riverside County2002138.43,065
Orange County1481534.82,088
Kern County11412713.81,808
Fresno County10611811.51,575
Sacramento County971106.81,757
Santa Clara County82874.51,195
Alameda County67724.4965
Tulare County616914.3793
San Joaquin County57637.71,237
Contra Costa County56605.1811
Ventura County46485.7576
Stanislaus County44458.1830
Merced County394515.2594
San Mateo County35395.2369
Sonoma County35377.6389
Imperial County293217.6323
Santa Barbara County30317.0380
San Francisco County30303.6356
Humboldt County283022.7249
Madera County243018.1348
San Luis Obispo County282910.3308
Monterey County26286.4481
Shasta County262815.5328
Placer County27276.2334
Yolo County192410.7278
Butte County222311.0382
El Dorado County192311.9240
Mendocino County182325.8224
Kings County212214.2288
Solano County17204.4465
Yuba County181921.7159
Lake County131725.1175
Nevada County161615.7148
Siskiyou County131432.9138
Santa Cruz County10103.8214
Tehama County101015.5171
Calaveras County91021.5131
San Benito County91014.5113
Marin County993.5122
Lassen County8931.890
Del Norte County7933.376
Plumas County8842.548
Sutter County888.1190
Inyo County7737.985
Napa County775.3152
Amador County6614.3117
Tuolumne County6611.1130
Colusa County5627.281
Mariposa County5635.231
Mono County5538.548
Glenn County4414.182
Sierra County34128.514
Trinity County3319.275
Alpine County1–21–2—19
Modoc County1–21–2—30

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

12am4.4%
1am4.3%
2am3.9%
3am3.1%
4am2.1%
5am3.4%
6am3.7%
7am3.7%
8am3.3%
9am2.8%
10am2.7%
11am3.8%
12pm3.8%
1pm2.9%
2pm4.5%
3pm4.7%
4pm4.1%
5pm6.1%
6pm6.3%
7pm6.1%
8pm6.2%
9pm5.4%
10pm4.3%
11pm4.4%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday13%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday13%
Thursday13%
Friday16%
Saturday18%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in California in 2012?

2,966 people in 2,733 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2012 file, or 7.8 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in California had the most crash deaths in 2012?

Los Angeles County with 616 deaths in 575 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2012 compare with 2011 in California?

2,966 deaths against 2,816 in 2011 (+5%). Nationally the 2012 total was 33,782.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2012 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.