Kern County’s Deadly Streets: Pedestrian Fatalities in Kern County Surpass 50 in 2024

More than 50 pedestrians have died after being hit motor vehicles in Kern County in 2024, topping last year’s high, local media reported.

Fifty-five people have lost their lives while walking on Kern County’s streets this year, KGET-17 News reported. In 2023, 54 pedestrians died in pedestrian versus autos.

KGET-17 News also reported out of 55 total deadly pedestrian accidents in 2024, 43 of them took place at night. Throughout this year, Chain | Cohn | Clark has also highlighted our local pedestrian safety problem and analyzed statistics from the Transportation Injury Mapping System, revealing the same troubling picture: a vast majority of pedestrian accidents took place between 6pm to 8pm, and most took place in the downtown and east Bakersfield areas.

As for the City of Bakersfield, Bakersfield Police Department reported earlier this year that pedestrian deaths in the city dropped by 53% in 2023 compared to the previous year of 2022. The department’s report made during a City Council meeting also stated there was a 17% reduction in deadly traffic crashes overall. According to that report, 17 pedestrians were killed in crashes in 2023, a decline from 2022 when 36 died in pedestrian accidents.

“We had a significant reduction in pedestrian fatalities in 2023 and we’re continuing to see that trend go down,” Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Terry said during his presentation. “That’s a very positive thing. [Still] much work to be done around that in particular and I do think we can continue to make an impact and it’s certainly worthy of our effort to do that.”

The police department cited four primary factors behind deadly traffic crashes: speed, driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, pedestrians walking in the roadway, and red-light violations.

“Our primary responsibility around that is enforcement, and trying to slow people down,” said Chief Terry in a news interview. “Going to where really directing our enforcement where collisions occur where the speeds are the highest.”

The charts below were provided by Bakersfield Police Department and shown during a City Council presentation:

But Bakersfield Police Department’s statistics are in contrast with a different study earlier this year by Smart Growth America, which ranked Bakersfield the fourth most dangerous in the country. Of the 101 largest cities in the United States, Bakersfield ranked 4th for pedestrian fatality rate per 100,000 people for the five-year period from 2018–2022, according to the report. The 181 pedestrians killed in Bakersfield from 2018–2022 represented a 19.9% increase in fatalities over the period from 2013–2017.

Still, many local groups along with the Law Office of Chain | Cohn | Clark are working to help reduce pedestrian accidents and fatalities and increase road safety awareness.

Blue Zones Project Bakersfield launched a pedestrian safety campaign in October in collaboration with the City of Bakersfield to create more policies surrounding walkability, how to make our streets more bike-able and have more access to public spaces.

California Highway Patrol received a $1.55 million grant for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety, Education, Enforcement, and Awareness Program to educate drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists how to be safe on the roadways.

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These safety tips can help and encourage safer habits for both drivers and pedestrians, potentially reducing future fatalities:

PEDESTRIANS

1. Stay Visible: Wear light-colored or reflective clothing at night. Carry a flashlight when walking after dark.
2. Use Crosswalks and Sidewalks: Always use marked crosswalks or pedestrian signals when crossing the street. Walk on sidewalks whenever possible; if unavailable, walk facing traffic.
3. Make Eye Contact: Ensure drivers see you before stepping into the street, especially at intersections.
4. Avoid Distractions: Keep your focus on the road while walking—avoid using phones or headphones when crossing.
5. Be Cautious at Night and in Low Visibility: Most pedestrian accidents occur at night; take extra care during those hours.
6. Obey Traffic Signals: Wait for the walk signal or green light before crossing, even when roads appear clear.

DRIVERS

1. Slow Down: Follow posted speed limits, especially in areas with high pedestrian traffic.
2. Stay Alert and Avoid Distractions: Avoid texting, eating, or multitasking while driving. Watch for pedestrians, particularly in residential areas and crosswalks.
3. Be Extra Cautious at Night: Pedestrians are harder to see after dark—use headlights properly and reduce speed.
4. Yield to Pedestrians: Stop for pedestrians in marked crosswalks and be prepared to yield even when unmarked.
5. Avoid Driving Under the Influence: Never drive impaired by alcohol or drugs, which can slow reaction time and impair judgment.
6. Be Aware of School Zones and Neighborhoods: Drive slowly and carefully where children and pedestrians are likely to be present.
7. Double-Check at Turns and Intersections: Look for pedestrians before turning or proceeding through intersections.

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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.