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

Car accident deaths in Ventura County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 51 in 2020 to 57 in 2021, then fell to 51 in 2022. The count rose to 61 in 2023 before falling to 50 in 2024. The highest count was in 2023, and the lowest was in 2024. The 2024 count was 1 death lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The corresponding shares of all traffic deaths were 86.4% in 2020, 93.4% in 2021, 89.5% in 2022, 84.7% in 2023 and 86.2% in 2024. The highest share occurred in 2021, while the lowest occurred in 2023. All traffic deaths numbered 59, 61, 57, 72 and 58 in those respective years.^{[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 Ventura County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 168 deaths, or 62.2% of car accident deaths in Ventura County during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 30 deaths, or 11.1%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 72 deaths, or 26.7%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. The categories describe FARS person groupings, and the county assignment follows crash location. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) is not a literal test of a person's position outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

For car accident deaths, Head-on recorded 41 deaths (15.2%); Angle (side impact), 31 (11.5%); Rear-end, 11 (4.1%); and Sideswipe, 9 (3.3%). Other recorded 1 death (0.4%). Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 177 deaths (65.6%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. The latter category means that 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 test.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime (6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.) accounted for 110 car accident deaths, or 40.7%, during 2020 through 2024. Nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) accounted for 157 deaths, or 58.1%. The Unknown time category contained 3 deaths, or 1.1%. Nighttime had the largest share of these deaths.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 203 deaths in Urban settings, or 75.2%, and 67 in Rural settings, or 24.8%. Separately, crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 16 car accident deaths, or 5.9%. That truck figure counts deaths in the selected crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with California and the United States

Ventura County's car accident death rate was 6.5 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. The county rate was lower than each of those rates.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The listed neighboring county rates were 6.9 for Los Angeles County, 19.4 for Kern County and 8.0 for Santa Barbara County. Among the listed neighboring counties, Kern County had the highest rate and Los Angeles County the lowest. Ventura County's rate was lower than each listed neighbor's rate. These rates use deaths divided by the sum of annual Census population estimates, multiplied by 100,000. They 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 Ventura County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident deaths. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related, 102 deaths (33.2%); Roadway departure, 174 (56.7%); At an intersection, 54 (17.6%); and Pedestrian involved, 65 (21.2%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Motorcycle involved recorded 56 deaths (18.2%); Hit-and-run, 17 (5.5%); Driver distraction reported, 19 (6.2%); and In a work zone, 3 (1.0%). A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These records 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. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, these counts are grouped by crash location, not the deceased person's residence.^[8][6][7]

Data for 2020 through 2023 are Final Files; the 2024 Annual Report File remains subject to revision. Rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. This gives average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustment for miles driven or visitors. The separate July 1, 2024 estimate of 833,431 is not the rate denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Kern County, California (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Los Angeles County, California (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Santa Barbara County, California (2020-2024)
• California car accident statistics (2020-2024)

On related publications

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