Fatal Roads

States › California › 2022

2022

California · year

California in 2022

Deaths 4,539Fatal crashes 4,218Per 100,000 11.6US deaths 42,721

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 2022.

In 2022, 4,539 people died in 4,218 fatal crashes in California, 11.6 deaths per 100,000 residents against 12.8 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2021 (4,513) and 2022 (4,539).

California accounted for 10.6% of the 42,721 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

26.7% 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 (30%).

36% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 202120222023 →All years

Compared with 2021 and the nation

MeasureCalifornia 2022California 2021United States 2022
Deaths4,5394,51342,721
Fatal crashes4,2184,19639,422
Deaths per 100,000 residents11.611.512.8
Crashes with a drinking driver27%27%26%

Counties in 2022

Every county with a fatal crash in 2022, 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 County8178668.97,783
San Bernardino County41946120.83,509
Riverside County34135714.13,065
San Diego County2722868.72,735
Orange County2382507.92,088
Kern County19722023.81,808
Sacramento County20421713.51,757
Fresno County17820419.91,575
San Joaquin County12813416.41,237
Santa Clara County1081135.91,195
Alameda County1061106.7965
Stanislaus County788815.8830
Tulare County798317.2793
Solano County667516.5465
Merced County627123.9594
Contra Costa County64695.9811
Ventura County51576.8576
Monterey County495713.1481
San Mateo County43486.5369
Madera County414829.0348
San Francisco County41425.1356
Imperial County364022.0323
Kings County334025.8288
Santa Barbara County36398.8380
Sonoma County38387.8389
Placer County33388.8334
San Luis Obispo County333512.4308
Yolo County293415.1278
Butte County313215.4382
Shasta County303117.1328
El Dorado County272814.5240
Santa Cruz County252710.3214
Humboldt County242518.9249
San Benito County182231.8113
Tehama County171929.5171
Lake County181826.6175
Nevada County171817.6148
Mendocino County171719.1224
Siskiyou County171740.0138
Tuolumne County171731.5130
Yuba County171719.4159
Calaveras County161634.4131
Marin County15166.2122
Sutter County151515.2190
Colusa County91254.481
Inyo County91264.985
Napa County10118.3152
Amador County7716.7117
Glenn County7724.782
Lassen County7724.790
Trinity County6638.475
Del Norte County5518.576
Plumas County5526.548
Mono County4430.848
Modoc County3335.330
Alpine County1–21–2—19
Sierra County1–21–2—14
Mariposa County1–21–2—31

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

12am5.3%
1am4.4%
2am4.9%
3am3.4%
4am3.2%
5am4.1%
6am3.8%
7am2.5%
8am2.4%
9am2.6%
10am2.3%
11am2.5%
12pm3.3%
1pm2.5%
2pm3.4%
3pm3.9%
4pm4.3%
5pm4.6%
6pm6.1%
7pm5.5%
8pm7%
9pm6.5%
10pm5.9%
11pm5.5%

Weekday

Sunday18%
Monday12%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday12%
Thursday13%
Friday15%
Saturday18%

Road type

Other principal arterial30%
Minor arterial24%
Interstate14%
Major collector13%
Other freeways and expressways10%
Local7%
Minor collector1%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in California in 2022?

4,539 people in 4,218 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2022 file, or 11.6 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in California had the most crash deaths in 2022?

Los Angeles County with 866 deaths in 817 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2022 compare with 2021 in California?

4,539 deaths against 4,513 in 2021 (+1%). Nationally the 2022 total was 42,721.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2022 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.