2023 SafeTREC Traffic Safety Facts: Speeding-Related and Other Crashes

Introduction 

A speeding-related crash is defined as one in which a driver is racing, driving too fast for the conditions, or driving in excess of the posted speed limit. Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around curves or objects, reduces the amount of time a driver has to react to a dangerous situation, and extends safe stopping distances.  

Designing streets to limit the impact of speeding-related crashes and protecting people even when they make unsafe decisions are part of the Safe Roads and Safe Road Users elements of the United States Department of Transportation’s Safe System Approach. It also includes eliminating speeding and other unsafe behavior through enforcement.

Breakdown of Speeding-Related Fatalities Nationwide and in California in 2021

Break-down of speeding versus non-speeding related fatalities nationwide and in California in 2021. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data sources: i) Stewart, T. (2023). Overview of motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2021. DOT HS 813 435. NHTSA. Table 4, page 14;  ii) State Traffic Safety Information (STSI). Traffic Safety Performance (Core Outcome) Measures for California. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, C1 - C6 

Summary 

  • In 2021, 29 percent (or 12330) of all motor vehicle fatalities nationwide were speeding-related. 

  • In 2021, 35 percent (or 1509) of all motor vehicle fatalities in California were speeding-related.

Speeding-Related Fatality Trends Nationwide and in California from 2017 to 2021

Trend-line chart detailing speeding-related fatalities nationally and in California from 2017 to 2021. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2017 – 2020 Final File & 2021 ARF

Summary 

  • Nationally, 12330 people were killed in speeding-related crashes in 2021.

  • In California, there were 1509 people killed in speeding-related traffic crashes in 2021.

  •  Speeding-related fatalities increased nationally by 7.9  percent between 2020 and 2021.

  • Speeding-related fatalities increased in California 16.5 percent between 2020 and 2021.

Nationwide Summary

Breakdown of Speeding versus Non-Speeding Drivers by Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Nationally in 2021

National comparison of speeding versus non-speeding drivers in 2021 with regards to blood alcohol content levels and seat belt restraint use. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data source:  Stewart, T. (2023). Overview of motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2021. DOT HS 813 435. NHTSA. Figure 8, page 15 

Summary

  • In 2021, 39 percent of speeding drivers in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or above, compared to 18 percent non-speeding drivers who had a BAC of 0.08 percent or above.

  • In 2021, 45 percent of speeding drivers in fatal crashes were unrestrained compared to 21 percent of non-speeding drivers.

California Summary 

The information in this section refers to all victims including drivers, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians, fatally or seriously injured (FSI) in a speeding-related crash in California in 2021.

Speeding-Related Fatalities and Serious Injuries by County in 2021

Top 5 Counties in California by Fatalities

RankingCountiesFatalities
1Los Angeles336
2San Bernardino152
3Riverside115
4San Diego106
5Sacramento75

Top 5 Counties in California by Fatalities Per 100k Population

RankingCountyFatalities Per 100k Population
1Lassen18.7
2Plumas15.3
3Trinity12.4
4Mendocino10.9
5Butte10.4

Top 5 Counties in California by Serious Injuries

RankingCountySerious Injuries
1Los Angeles1308
2San Bernardino351
3San Diego344
4Riverside260
5Orange255

Top 5 Counties in California by Serious Injuries Per 100k Population

RankingCountySerious Injuries Per 100k Population
1Alpine333.6
2Sierra92.8
3Inyo52.7
4Lassen46.8
5Plumas45.8

Data sources: i) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2021; ii) Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2021 iii) 2020 Census State Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171) Summary File, U.S. Census Bureau

Primary Crash Factors and Crash Types for Speeding-Related Fatal and Serious Injury (FSI) Crashes

Speeding-related crashes are defined as crashes where speed was a primary or contributing factor. Therefore the majority of speeding-related crashes will have unsafe speed as a primary crash factor but some may have a different primary crash factor listed.

Top Five Primary Crash Factors of Speeding-Related Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes in California (2021)

Bar chart detailing the top five most common primary crash factors in speeding-related fatal and serious injury crashes in California in 2021. For more information, go to the following summary.

Note: For more information on the different Crash Types, please see the Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) Help FAQ page, in the Codebook - Crash Level Section

Data source: Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2021

Summary 

  • Unsafe speed was the most common primary crash factor in speeding-related FSI crashes in 2021 making up 71.4 percent, followed by driving or bicycling under the influence of alcohol or drugs (15.4 percent) and improper turning (4.8 percent.) 

  • Traffic signals and signs followed by automobile right of way made up the fourth and fifth most common primary crash factor in speeding-related FSI crashes in 2021 accounting for 2.2  and 1.8 percent respectively. 

Crash Location of Speeding-Related Fatal Crashes 

Crash Location of Speeding-Related Fatal Crashes in California in 2021

Infographic detailing the breakdown of speeding-related fatal crashes by location in California in 2021. For more information, go to the following summary.

Note: Urban and Rural areas are defined in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) based on the boundaries decided by the US Census Bureau which considers population and housing density. 

Data source: i) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2021; ii) California Public Road Data 2020. pp. 15-17, Table 4 2020 HPMS.

https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/research-innovation-system-information/documents/california-public-road-data/prd-2020-a11y.pdf

Summary

  • Urban crashes accounted for three quarters (76 percent) of all speeding-related fatal crashes in 2021, compared to the 24 percent that occurred on rural roads. For comparison, 18.5 percent of travel in 2020 occurred on rural roads. 

  • Principal arterials were the most common location for speeding-related fatal crashes in 2021 accounting for 29 percent. 

  • Minor arterials, followed by interstates made up the second and third most common crash locations in speeding-related fatal crashes in 2021 accounting for 21 and 15 percent respectively. 

  • The fourth most common crash location was major collectors which made up 13 percent of speeding-related fatal crashes in 2021. 

  • Other Freeways and Expressways, Local streets, and Minor Collectors constitute the remaining 22 percent. 

Victim Demographics for Speeding-Related Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes

Gender, Age and Race in Victims in Fatal and Serious Injury Speeding-Related Crashes in California in 2021

Infographic detailing the gender, age and race of victims in fatal and serious injury speeding-related crashes in California in 2021. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data sources: i) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2021; ii) Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2021

Summary

  • Male victims made up 74 percent of all fatally injured victims in 2021, while also making up 70 percent of all seriously injured victims in speeding-related crashes.

  • Male victims aged 15-34 were the most represented group in speeding-related crashes in 2021, making up 36.5 percent of fatalities and 35.5 of serious injuries in speeding-related crashes. 

  • Race was reported in only 29 percent of speeding-related fatalities in 2021.

  • Of the 444 fatalities in speeding-related crashes with a known race in 2021, 77 percent were white.

Top Five Crash Types of Speeding-Related Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes in California (2021)

Bar chart detailing the top five most common crash types in speeding-related fatal and serious injury crashes in California in 2021. For more information, go to the following summary.

Note: For more information on the different Crash Types, please see the Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) Help FAQ page, in the Codebook - Crash Level Section

Data source: Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2021

Summary

  • Rear end crashes were the most common type of speeding-related FSI crashes in 2021 making up 35.7 percent, followed by hit object (22.0 percent) and broadside crashes (10.5 percent.)

  • Overturned crashes followed by vehicle/pedestrian crashes made up the fourth and fifth most common type of speeding-related FSI crashes in 2021 accounting for 10.3  and 6.7  percent respectively. 

Time and Day of Speeding-Related Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes

Time and Day of Speeding-Related Fatal Crashes in California in 2021

Infographic detailing the most common day and time of day in fatal speeding-related crashes in California in 2021. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2021

Summary

  • The peak period of all speeding-related fatal crashes in 2021 was between Saturday at midnight and 3 am on Sunday.

  • 35.5 percent of all speeding-related fatal crashes in 2021 occurred between 9pm and 3 am. 

Time and Day of Speeding-Related Serious Injury Crashes in California in 2021

Infographic detailing the most common day and time of day in serious injury speeding-related crashes in California in 2021. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data source: Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2021

Summary

  • The peak period of all speeding-related serious injury crashes in 2021 was between 3pm and 6pm on Friday.

  • 17.4 percent of all speeding-related serious injury crashes in 2021 occurred between 3pm and 6pm. 

Time and Day of Speeding-Related Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes in California in 2021

Infographic detailing the most common day and time of day in fatal and serious injury speeding-related crashes in California in 2021. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data sources: i) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2021; ii) Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2021

Summary

  • 36 percent of all fatal and serious injury speeding-related crashes occurred on Saturday and Sunday in 2021.

References

  1. State Traffic Safety Information (STSI) Traffic Safety Performance (Core Outcome) Measures for California. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://cdan.dot.gov/stsi.htm#. Accessed on 8/30/2023.

  2. Stewart, T. (2023, April). Overview of motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2021 (Report No. DOT HS 813 435). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

  3. Federal Highway Administration. (2023, August 4). Zero deaths and safe system. Zero Deaths and Safe System | FHWA. https://highways.dot.gov/safety/zero-deaths 

  4. U.S. Census Bureau. (2021, October 8). 2020 census: Redistricting file (public law 94-171) dataset. Census.gov. https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/2020/dec/2020-census-redistricting-... 

  5. California Department of Transportation. (2021, December). California Public Road Data 2020.

Data definitions expressed as queries are available in the data dictionary on google sheets. 

This report was prepared in cooperation with the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). The opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of OTS.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.