Below is the clearest, most current picture of pedestrian safety in California using finalized 2023 statewide totals, detailed 2022 breakdowns, and credible 2024 indicators. Where 2024 statewide totals are still being finalized by California, I note that clearly and rely on the best preliminary sources.
Key findings
- California pedestrian deaths fell in 2023. State OTS “Quick Stats” show 1,106 pedestrian fatalities in 2023, −8.8% from 1,213 in 2022. ots.ca.gov
- Early 2024 points to further improvement. GHSA’s state-reported, adjusted projection lists California 2024 pedestrian deaths at 928 (preliminary), down 15.6% from 1,099 in 2023 on GHSA’s count. (Small differences vs. OTS reflect method/definition and timing.) Governors Highway Safety Association
- National backdrop improved in 2024. NHTSA estimates 39,345 U.S. traffic deaths in 2024 (−3.8% YoY), with the fatality rate down to 1.20 per 100M VMT—the lowest since 2019. CrashStats+2CrashStats+2
- Risk concentrates on urban arterials after dark. In California’s latest full profile (2022), 92% of fatal pedestrian crashes were urban; principal arterials were most common (36%); and 50.2% of fatal crashes happened 6 p.m.–midnight (peak: Saturday 6–9 p.m.). Safe Trans Research Center
- County hot spots (2022). By count: Los Angeles (305), San Bernardino (102), San Diego (95), Sacramento (86), Riverside (72); by rate: Humboldt (6.0 per 100k) led. Safe Trans Research Center
California pedestrian fatalities, 2021–2024
Sources differ slightly (SWITRS/OTS vs. FARS/GHSA). Use OTS for finalized 2023 statewide totals; use GHSA for 2024 preliminary and for easy state-by-state comparisons.
| Year | California pedestrian fatalities | YoY change | Source/notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,108 | — | FARS preliminary final (OTS FY24 HSP C-10). NHTSA |
| 2022 | 1,213 | +9.5% vs. 2021 | OTS Quick Stats (SWITRS/FARS blend). ots.ca.gov |
| 2023 | 1,106 | −8.8% vs. 2022 | OTS Quick Stats (updated July 2025). ots.ca.gov |
| 2024 | 928 (prelim) | −15.6% vs. 2023 | GHSA 2024 preliminary (adjusted). Governors Highway Safety Association |
How to read the table: OTS is California’s official state snapshot; GHSA aggregates preliminary counts from state safety offices (and adjusts slightly for underreporting). That’s why GHSA’s 2023 California total (1,099) differs a bit from OTS (1,106). Both are official, just compiled differently. Governors Highway Safety Association+1
What the detailed record says about California risk (latest full profile: 2022)
- Where fatalities occur: Urban 92%, rural 8%. By facility class: Principal arterials 36%, minor arterials 24%, interstates 14%, other classes 26%. Safe Trans Research Center
- When they happen: 50.2% of fatal pedestrian crashes occurred between 6 p.m. and midnight; peak window Saturday 6–9 p.m. Safe Trans Research Center
- Intersections: In 2022, 27% of California pedestrian fatalities occurred at intersections/other or unknown (vs. 24% nationally). Safe Trans Research Center
- Primary crash factors (FSI): In 2022 pedestrian violations were coded in 52.1% of FSI crashes, followed by pedestrian right-of-way (16.5%), unsafe speed (7.9%), unknown (7.1%), improper turning (3.9%). (Coding does not assign fault by itself.) Safe Trans Research Center
- Who is most affected: Men comprised 70% of pedestrian fatalities; ages 15–34 were the largest group by fatality share (≈19.8%). Race was recorded for only 36.1% of pedestrian fatalities. Safe Trans Research Center
- County view (fatalities, 2022): Los Angeles 305, San Bernardino 102, San Diego 95, Sacramento 86, Riverside 72. By rate/100k: Humboldt 6.0, Lake 5.9, Sacramento 5.5, Inyo 5.3, Kern 5.3. Safe Trans Research Center
2024 trend signals to watch
- Statewide trajectory: GHSA’s 2024 preliminary puts California at 928 pedestrian deaths, a double-digit decline from 2023. Nationally GHSA projects 7,148 pedestrian deaths in 2024 (−4.3% YoY), aligning with NHTSA’s overall 2024 improvement. Governors Highway Safety Association
- City snapshots (illustrative, not a statewide roll-up):
- Los Angeles: 2024 pace remained high; by Jan–Sept 2024 there were 126 pedestrian deaths per LAPD/Crosstown. Crosstown
- San Francisco: 24 pedestrian deaths in 2024, the most since 2007 (city and media tallies). CBS News
- Policy shifts touching pedestrian risk (late 2024–2025):
- AB 645 speed-safety cameras (pilot in LA, Glendale, Long Beach, SF, San Jose, Oakland) progressed from planning in 2024 to 2025 activation; SF began issuing citations Aug 5, 2025. SFMTA
- AB 413 “daylighting” (no parking within 20 ft of crosswalk approach) took effect Jan 1, 2025 statewide to improve visibility at intersections; cities began education then enforcement phases during early 2025. cityofsthelena.gov+2City of Pasadena
Expect the policy impacts (speed cameras, daylighting) to show up mostly in 2025 data and beyond; 2024 trends were driven more by exposure, enforcement, and general post-pandemic normalization.
Data table: California pedestrian safety at a glance
| Indicator | California value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pedestrian fatalities (final) | 1,106 | 2023 | OTS Quick Stats. ots.ca.gov |
| Pedestrian fatalities (final) | 1,213 | 2022 | OTS Quick Stats. ots.ca.gov |
| Pedestrian fatalities (prelim) | 928 | 2024 | GHSA preliminary (adjusted). Governors Highway Safety Association |
| Urban share of fatal ped crashes | 92% | 2022 | SafeTREC (FARS/SWITRS). Safe Trans Research Center |
| Peak time window (fatal) | 6 p.m.–midnight (Sat 6–9 p.m. peak) | 2022 | SafeTREC. Safe Trans Research Center |
| Top facility class (fatal) | Principal arterials (36%) | 2022 | SafeTREC. Safe Trans Research Center |
| Top FSI factor (coding) | Pedestrian violation (52.1%) | 2022 | SafeTREC. Safe Trans Research Center |
| LA city pedestrian deaths | 126 (Jan–Sept) | 2024 | Crosstown/LAPD. Crosstown |
| SF city pedestrian deaths | 24 (full year) | 2024 | SFMTA/press reports. CBS News |
| U.S. traffic deaths (all) | 39,345 (est.) | 2024 | NHTSA early estimate. CrashStats |
How California compares to the U.S.
- Share of all traffic deaths: Pedestrians accounted for 18% of all U.S. traffic deaths in 2023—near a modern-era high. California’s 2022 share was 26% of California’s traffic deaths, underlining how concentrated pedestrian risk is in the state’s urban networks. Traffic Safety Marketing
- U.S. trend: GHSA reports two straight years of national pedestrian-death declines (2023 and 2024 prelim) after a long rise since 2009. Nighttime and hit-and-run remain dominant contexts nationally. Governors Highway Safety Association
Why 2024 statewide California totals aren’t “final” yet
- Timing: California’s SWITRS person-type rollups and NHTSA’s FARS final files publish on a delay. GHSA bridges the gap using preliminary counts from state safety offices; OTS “Quick Stats” update annually. Small numerical differences between GHSA and OTS are normal and narrow as records finalize. Governors Highway Safety Association
What this means (practical takeaways)
- Progress, but vigilance: California’s 2023 drop and GHSA’s 2024 preliminary decline are encouraging, yet the risk remains concentrated on fast urban arterials and after dark. Targeting speeds, lighting, crossing priority, and driver yielding where people actually walk is still the highest-leverage strategy. Safe Trans Research Center
- Near-term policy levers: Expect speed cameras (AB 645) and daylighting (AB 413) to improve visibility and compliance at high-injury locations—especially where arterial speeds and long crossings coincide with transit and retail destinations. SFMTA
- Local monitoring matters: City-level dashboards (e.g., LA’s Crosstown/LAPD updates; SF’s Vision Zero reports) can diverge from statewide trends in the short run. For 2025 planning, pair state totals with city corridor metrics for precise targeting. Crosstown
Sources and methodology
- California statewide counts: Office of Traffic Safety Quick Stats (updated July 2025): pedestrians 1,106 (2023) vs 1,213 (2022). ots.ca.gov
- 2024 preliminary (California & U.S.): GHSA Spotlight (July 2025): CA 928 (prelim) and U.S. 7,148 projected pedestrian deaths in 2024. Governors Highway Safety Association
- Detailed profile (California 2022): UC Berkeley SafeTREC 2024 Pedestrian Safety fact sheet (FARS 2022 ARF; SWITRS 2022). Safe Trans Research Center
- National overall 2024: NHTSA Early Estimate of 2024 traffic fatalities and rate. CrashStats
- City snapshots: LA Crosstown/LAPD 2024 partial-year; San Francisco 2024 annual pedestrians via SFMTA/media reports. Crosstown
- Policy: AB 645 speed-safety cameras (city pages/SFMTA program timeline); AB 413 daylighting (city/government explainer pages). SFMTA+2SFMTA
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