Car accident statistics for Kern County, California (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Kern County by year

Annual car accident deaths rose from 170 in 2020 to 203 in 2021, then fell to 191 in 2022 and 156 in 2023. The count rose to 166 in 2024. Across the period, 2021 had the highest count and 2023 had the lowest. The 2024 count was 4 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed the same direction of change: 206 in 2020, 225 in 2021, 220 in 2022, 183 in 2023 and 194 in 2024. Car accident deaths accounted for 82.5%, 90.2%, 86.8%, 85.2% and 85.6% of those respective yearly totals. Their share was highest in 2021 and lowest in 2020.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Deaths within 30 days in crashes on public roads. 2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised.

Who died in Kern County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 594 car accident deaths, or 67.0%, during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 63 deaths, or 7.1%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 229 deaths, or 25.8%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These categories describe the people who died in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. The Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) label follows the FARS classification rather than a literal test of position relative to a vehicle. Readers searching for a car accident lawyer should keep these person categories distinct when interpreting the counts.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

The manner-of-collision breakdown records car accident deaths by the crash's first harmful event. Angle (side impact) accounted for 188 deaths (21.2%); Head-on, 127 (14.3%); Rear-end, 55 (6.2%); and Sideswipe, 23 (2.6%). Other accounted for 3 deaths (0.3%), and Unknown for 4 (0.5%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 486 deaths (54.9%). This means the first harmful event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport. Examples include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. A motor vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic; the classification does not test whether another vehicle was physically moving.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 530 car accident deaths (59.8%) in Kern County during 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 337 deaths (38.0%). Time of day was unknown for 19 deaths (2.1%). Nighttime had the largest death count in this breakdown.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 455 deaths (51.4%) as Urban and 430 (48.5%) as Rural. Unknown land use accounted for 1 death (0.1%). Separately, car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 111, representing 12.5% of the passenger-vehicle-involved death count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with California and the United States

Kern County's car accident death rate was 19.4 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. California's rate was 9.3, and the United States rate was 10.5. Kern County's rate was higher than both. These rates use deaths at the crash location and population estimates, rather than counts based on the deceased person's residence.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The listed neighboring counties had rates of 6.9 in Los Angeles County, 15.9 in San Bernardino County, 15.7 in Tulare County and 6.5 in Ventura County. Kern County's rate was higher than each. Among the listed neighboring counties, San Bernardino County had the highest rate and Ventura County the lowest. The rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates, so they show deaths per 100,000 residents per year. They do not adjust for miles driven or for visitors.

Recorded characteristics of all fatal crashes

Recorded characteristics cover all fatal crashes in Kern County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident deaths. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related, 26.1%; Roadway departure, 41.7%; At an intersection, 24.8%; Pedestrian involved, 23.6%; Motorcycle involved, 12.0%; Hit-and-run, 10.9%; Driver distraction reported, 3.6%; and In a work zone, 2.8%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Roadway departure had the largest share among the listed characteristics, while In a work zone had the smallest. A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These classifications are not findings of fault or cause.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can carry several characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These are recorded characteristics, not findings of fault.

About these figures

FARS is NHTSA's census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Inclusion requires a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and a death within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. County counts follow crash location, not residence. Records for 2020 through 2023 are Final Files; 2024 uses the Annual Report File and may change when finalized.^[8][6][7]

The car accident death rate divides 2020 through 2024 deaths by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates for those years, using Vintage 2025, then multiplies by 100,000. It measures average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustment for miles driven or visitors. The separately displayed July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the rate's denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Kings County, California (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Los Angeles County, California (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for San Bernardino County, California (2020-2024)
• California car accident statistics (2020-2024)

On related publications

• Truck accident statistics for Kern County, California (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyer.wiki)