Bakersfield Ranks 39th Highest Rate In Nation For Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents, Analysis Shows

Bakersfield has the 39th highest rate of motor vehicle fatalities in the United States, according to a new analysis of U.S. Department of Transportation data by Stacker.

Across the United States, nearly 39,000 people died in traffic crashes in 2020 — the most recent full data available — amounting to about 11.78 deaths per 100,000 residents. Two in three deaths were vehicle occupants, while nearly one in five were pedestrians or cyclists.

Stacker ranked the 50 cities with the highest motor vehicle crash fatality rates, and only cities with a population of at least 150,000 were considered. Stacker broke ties by the total number of fatalities.

Bakersfield’s rate of motor vehicle crash fatalities is 13.22 per 100,000 residents. In all, Bakersfield had 51 motor vehicle crash fatalities in 2020. The pedestrian fatality rate from vehicle crashes was 3.63 per 100,000 residents, or 14 total in 2020.

The top three highest fatal crash rates were as follows:

3) Detroit with 28.71 per 100,000 residents (191 total); Pedestrian fatality rate from vehicle crashes: 6.16 per 100,000 residents (41 total)

2) Jackson with 33.58 per 100,000 residents (53 total); Pedestrian fatality rate from vehicle crashes: 9.50 per 100,000 residents (15 total)

1) Memphis with 34.32 per 100,000 residents (223 total); Pedestrian fatality rate from vehicle crashes: 9.70 per 100,000 residents (63 total)

“American roads haven’t been this deadly since 2007.” according to Stacker authors. “And the situation isn’t getting any better; in fact, it may be getting worse.”

A report last year on the 70 best and worst driving cities in the nation found Bakersfield to be No. 1 on the list worst driving cities in the nation based on four factors of driver quality — accidents, speeding tickets, DUIs, and citations (running a red light, using a cellphone while driving, and more). QuoteWizard analyzed data from six million car insurance quotes from drivers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 2021 roadway fatalities grew by 10.5% from 2020, marking a 16-year high and the largest year-over-year increase since the agency began capturing data. Crashes involving more than one vehicle and those that occur on city roads as opposed to rural ones grew the most. The biggest contributing factor to fatal car wrecks is the speed of the vehicle.

The latest estimates reflect a public health crisis that officials at the traffic safety agency have called “urgent and preventable.” Psychologists have also pointed to stress associated with the pandemic as a potential factor in the increase in traffic fatalities.

Stacker also points to factors that contribute to higher rates of motor vehicle fatalities, such as urban sprawl, lack of public transportation, and poor infrastructure. Additionally, the article highlights some of the efforts that cities are making to improve safety on their roads, such as implementing Vision Zero programs and increasing enforcement of traffic laws.

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If you or someone you know is injured in an accident at the fault of someone else, or injured on the job no matter whose fault it is, contact the attorneys at Chain | Cohn | Clark by calling (661) 323-4000, or fill out a free consultation form, text, or chat with us at chainlaw.com.