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

Car accident deaths in Sonoma County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 28 in 2020 to 43 in 2021, then fell to 31 in 2022, 27 in 2023 and 22 in 2024. The highest count was in 2021, and the lowest was in 2024. The 2024 count was 6 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The annual shares of all traffic deaths were 84.8% in 2020, 86.0% in 2021, 81.6% in 2022, 93.1% in 2023 and 75.9% in 2024. All traffic deaths numbered 33, 50, 38, 29 and 29 in those respective years. Although all traffic deaths were unchanged from 2023 to 2024, car accident deaths fell from 27 to 22. The highest annual share was 93.1% in 2023.^{[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 Sonoma County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 101 deaths, or 66.9% of car accident deaths from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 11 deaths, or 7.3%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 39 deaths, or 25.8%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category includes deaths in fatal crashes involving a passenger vehicle. The categories describe the people counted within those selected crashes, rather than separate sets of crashes. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) follows the FARS classification and is not a literal test of whether someone was outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

By manner of collision, Angle (side impact) accounted for 25 deaths (16.6%), Head-on for 20 (13.2%), Rear-end for 10 (6.6%) and Sideswipe for 9 (6.0%). Unknown accounted for 1 death (0.7%). These car accident figures classify the crash's first harmful event.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 86 deaths (57.0%). 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; physical movement is not the classification test.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime, defined as 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 74 car accident deaths (49.0%). Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., also accounted for 74 deaths (49.0%). Time of day was unknown for 3 deaths (2.0%). The daytime and nighttime counts were equal for 2020 through 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The urban classification recorded 94 deaths (62.3%), while the rural classification recorded 57 (37.7%). Separately, car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 12, representing 7.9% of the selected deaths. The large-truck figure counts deaths in those crashes, not the number of crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with California and the United States

Sonoma County's car accident death rate was 6.2 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. California's rate was 9.3, and the national rate was 10.5. The county rate was lower than both. The corresponding death counts were 151 for Sonoma County, 18,231 for California and 176,219 for the United States.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, Contra Costa County had a rate of 6.7 and Solano County had a rate of 9.3. Sonoma County's rate was lower than each listed neighbor's rate. These rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates and multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors, and the deaths are assigned by crash location.^{[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 Sonoma County, of any vehicle type, rather than only the selected car accident crashes. As shares of all traffic deaths, Speeding-related was 24.0%, Roadway departure 55.9%, At an intersection 19.0%, Pedestrian involved 20.1%, and Motorcycle involved 20.7%. Hit-and-run was 5.6%, Driver distraction reported 6.7%, and In a work zone 2.2%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Roadway departure had the largest listed share; In a work zone had the smallest. A crash can carry several 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 vehicle occupant or nonoccupant dying within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. Counts use crash location, not residence. Readers searching for a car accident lawyer should keep that geographic grouping in mind.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates divide deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, and multiply by 100,000. The separately displayed 2024 population estimate is not the denominator. Rates express average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustment for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Contra Costa County, California (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Solano County, California (2020-2024)
• California car accident statistics (2020-2024)