2025 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 2023

Break-down of speeding versus non-speeding related fatalities nationwide and in California in 2023. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data sources: i) National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2025, April). Overview of motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2023 (Traffic Safety Facts Research Note. Report No. DOT HS 813 705). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Table 7, page 8 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 2023, 29 percent (or 11,775) of all motor vehicle fatalities nationwide were speeding-related. 

  • In 2023, 32 percent (or 1,303) of all motor vehicle fatalities in California were speeding-related.

Speeding-Related Fatality Trends Nationwide and in California from 2019 to 2023

Trend-line chart detailing speeding-related fatalities nationally and in California from 2019 to 2023. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2019 – 2022 Final File & 2023 Annual Report File (ARF) 

Summary 

  • Nationally, 11,775 people were killed in speeding-related crashes in 2023.

  • In California, there were 1,303 people killed in speeding-related traffic crashes in 2023.

  • Speeding-related fatalities reduced nationally by 3.1 percent between 2022 and 2023.

  • Speeding-related fatalities reduced in California 9.7 percent between 2022 and 2023.

Nationwide Summary

Breakdown of Speeding versus Non-Speeding Drivers by Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Nationally in 2023

National comparison of speeding versus non-speeding drivers in 2023 with regards to blood alcohol content levels and seat belt restraint use. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data source:  National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2025, June). Speeding: 2023 data (Traffic Safety Facts. Report No. DOT HS 813 721). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Table 2, page 5 & table 4, page 8

Summary

  • In 2023, 38 percent of speeding drivers in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or above, compared to 16 percent non-speeding drivers who had a BAC of 0.08 percent or above.

  • In 2023, 51 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 2023.

Speeding-Related Fatalities and Serious Injuries by County in 2023

Top 5 Counties in California by Fatalities

RankingCountiesFatalities
1Los Angeles299
2San Bernardino103
3Riverside103
4San Diego83
5Orange75

Top 5 Counties in California by Fatalities Per 100k Population

RankingCountyFatalities Per 100k Population
1Inyo16
2Amador15
3Glenn14
4Calaveras13.4
5Tehama12.3

Top 5 Counties in California by Serious Injuries

RankingCountySerious Injuries
1Los Angeles1124
2San Diego355
3San Bernardino297
4Riverside270
5Orange248

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

RankingCountySerious Injuries Per 100k Population
1Sierra94.9
2Alpine85.8
3Mono76.9
4Calaveras35.9
5Modoc35.1

Data sources: i) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2023; ii) Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2023 iii) Report P-2A: Total Population Projections, 2020-2070, California Counties, 2023 Baseline. State of California, Department of Finance. https://dof.ca.gov/forecasting/demographics/projections/

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 (2023)

Bar chart detailing the top five most common primary crash factors in speeding-related fatal and serious injury crashes in California in 2023. 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) 2023

Summary 

  • Unsafe speed was the most common primary crash factor in speeding-related FSI crashes in 2023 making up 73.7 percent, followed by driving or bicycling under the influence of alcohol or drugs (14.0 percent) and improper turning (3.8 percent.) 

  • Automobile right of way followed by traffic signals and signs jointly made up the fourth and fifth most common primary crash factor in speeding-related FSI crashes in 2023 accounting for 2.0 percent each.  

Crash Location of Speeding-Related Fatal Crashes 

Crash Location of Speeding-Related Fatal Crashes in California in 2023

Infographic detailing the breakdown of speeding-related fatal crashes by location in California in 2023. 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 U.S. Census Bureau which considers population and housing density. 

Data source: i) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2023; ii) California Public Road Data 2022. pp. 10-12, Table 4 2022 HPMS.

https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/research-innovation-system-information/documents/hpms2022_prd_final.pdf

Summary

  • Urban crashes accounted for 81 percent of all speeding-related fatal crashes in 2023, compared to the 19 percent that occurred on rural roads. For comparison, 18.9 percent of all vehicle miles in 2022 were traveled on rural roads. 

  • Principal arterials were the most common location for speeding-related fatal crashes in 2023 accounting for 32 percent. 

  • Minor arterials, followed by interstates made up the second and third most common crash locations in speeding-related fatal crashes in 2023 accounting for 22 and 14 percent respectively. 

  • The fourth most common crash location was major collectors which made up 12 percent of speeding-related fatal crashes in 2023. 

  • Other Freeways and Expressways, Local streets, and Minor Collectors constitute the remaining 20 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 2023

Infographic detailing the gender, age and race of victims in fatal and serious injury speeding-related crashes in California in 2023. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data Sources: i) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2023; ii) Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2023

Summary

  • Male victims made up 73 percent of all fatally injured victims in 2023, while also making up 72 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 2023, making up 35.5 percent of fatalities and 36.6 of serious injuries in speeding-related crashes. 

  • Race was reported in only 28 percent of speeding-related fatalities in 2023.

  • Of the 366 fatalities in speeding-related crashes with a known race in 2023, 79 percent were white. 

Top Five Crash Types of Speeding-Related Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes in California (2023)

Bar chart detailing the top five most common crash types in speeding-related fatal and serious injury crashes in California in 2023. 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) 2023

Summary

  • Rear end crashes were the most common type of speeding-related FSI crashes in 2023 making up 33.0 percent, followed by hit object (22.3 percent) and broadside crashes (11.7 percent.)

  • Overturned crashes followed by vehicle/pedestrian crashes made up the fourth and fifth most common type of speeding-related FSI crashes in 2023 accounting for 10.0 and 7.1 percent respectively.

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

Time and Day of Speeding-Related Fatal Crashes in California in 2023

Infographic detailing the most common day and time of day in fatal speeding-related crashes in California in 2023. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data sources: i) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2023; ii) Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2023

Summary

  • The peak period of all speeding-related fatal crashes in 2023 was between Friday at midnight and 3 am on Saturday.

  • 33.5 percent of all speeding-related fatal crashes in 2023 occurred between 6pm and 12am.

Time and Day of Speeding-Related Serious Injury Crashes in California in 2023

Infographic detailing the most common day and time of day in serious injury speeding-related crashes in California in 2023. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data sources: i) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2023; ii) Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2023

Summary

  • The peak period of all speeding-related serious injury crashes in 2023 was between Saturday midnight and Sunday 3 am.

  • 18 percent of all speeding-related serious injury crashes in 2023 occurred between 3pm and 6pm. 

Time and Day of Speeding-Related Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes in California in 2023

Infographic detailing the most common day and time of day in fatal and serious injury speeding-related crashes in California in 2023. For more information, go to the following summary.

Data sources: i) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2023; ii) Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2023

Summary

36.6 percent of all fatal and serious injury speeding-related crashes occurred on Saturday and Sunday in 2023.

References

  1. California Department of Transportation. (2023, November). California public road data 2022.
  2. Department of Finance. (n.d.). Total population projections, 2020–2070, California counties, 2023 baseline (Report P-2A). State of California. https://dof.ca.gov/forecasting/demographics/projections/
  3. Federal Highway Administration. (2023, August 4). Zero deaths and safe system. U.S. Department of Transportation. https://highways.dot.gov/safety/zero-deaths
  4. National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2025, April). Overview of motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2023 (Traffic Safety Facts Research Note, Report No. DOT HS 813 705). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
  5. National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2025, June). Speeding: 2023 data (Traffic Safety Facts, Report No. DOT HS 813 721). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
  6. State Traffic Safety Information. (n.d.). Traffic safety performance (core outcome) measures for California: Traffic safety facts, California 2019–2023 (Data source: FARS 2019–2022 Final and FARS 2023 ARF). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://cdan.dot.gov/SASJobExecution/

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.