Fatal Roads

States › California › 2020

2020

California · year

California in 2020

Deaths 3,980Fatal crashes 3,673Per 100,000 10.1US deaths 39,007

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 2020.

In 2020, 3,980 people died in 3,673 fatal crashes in California, 10.1 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.8 nationally.

The death toll rose 7% from 3,719 in 2019 to 3,980 in 2020.

California accounted for 10.2% of the 39,007 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

27.9% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

By FHWA road function class, the largest share was on other principal arterial roads (31%).

37% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Sunday was the most common day.

← 201920202021 →All years

Compared with 2019 and the nation

MeasureCalifornia 2020California 2019United States 2020
Deaths3,9803,71939,007
Fatal crashes3,6733,42735,935
Deaths per 100,000 residents10.19.411.8
Crashes with a drinking driver28%26%27%

Counties in 2020

Every county with a fatal crash in 2020, 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 County7237607.87,783
San Bernardino County32736916.73,509
Riverside County29231112.33,065
San Diego County2702938.92,735
Kern County18420622.31,808
Orange County1861936.12,088
Fresno County16118217.81,575
Sacramento County1471599.91,757
San Joaquin County11011814.51,237
Santa Clara County1111176.11,195
Alameda County1011086.5965
Contra Costa County951048.9811
Stanislaus County788415.1830
Tulare County748317.2793
Ventura County53597.1576
Monterey County475011.5481
Butte County414722.6382
Merced County454615.5594
Solano County41429.2465
Shasta County374022.1328
San Mateo County38395.2369
Placer County33358.1334
Sonoma County32336.8389
San Francisco County30323.9356
Madera County283018.1348
Imperial County252916.0323
Santa Barbara County25286.3380
Kings County232717.4288
Yolo County232611.5278
Mendocino County222528.0224
San Luis Obispo County18227.8308
Napa County212115.8152
Humboldt County202115.9249
Tehama County172031.0171
El Dorado County18199.9240
Santa Cruz County17186.9214
Lake County161826.6175
Sutter County141616.2190
Amador County101638.1117
Nevada County141413.7148
Yuba County121314.9159
San Benito County121217.4113
Inyo County81264.985
Lassen County81138.890
Calaveras County8919.4131
Marin County883.1122
Colusa County6836.281
Trinity County7744.875
Tuolumne County6713.0130
Modoc County5782.430
Siskiyou County6614.1138
Glenn County5517.782
Del Norte County4414.876
Mono County4430.848
Plumas County4421.248
Alpine County1–21–2—19
Mariposa County1–21–2—31
Sierra County1–21–2—14

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

12am4.7%
1am4.2%
2am3.8%
3am3.1%
4am3.4%
5am3.9%
6am3.5%
7am2.5%
8am1.9%
9am2.5%
10am2.8%
11am2.3%
12pm2.8%
1pm3.6%
2pm3.9%
3pm4.4%
4pm4.5%
5pm5.2%
6pm6.2%
7pm6.6%
8pm6.4%
9pm6.8%
10pm5.4%
11pm5.5%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday12%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday12%
Thursday14%
Friday15%
Saturday17%

Road type

Other principal arterial31%
Minor arterial23%
Interstate14%
Major collector12%
Other freeways and expressways11%
Local7%
Minor collector3%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in California in 2020?

3,980 people in 3,673 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2020 file, or 10.1 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in California had the most crash deaths in 2020?

Los Angeles County with 760 deaths in 723 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2020 compare with 2019 in California?

3,980 deaths against 3,719 in 2019 (+7%). Nationally the 2020 total was 39,007.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2020 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.