California Fatal Crashes Rose 17% Between 2020, 2021

Fatal car wrecks are on the rise across California and the rest of the United States, even though fewer motorists have been taking to the state and nation’s roadways. Many fatal crashes that take place in California and from coast to coast share similar characteristics in common.

According to Fox 5 San Diego, almost 21,000 people lost their lives in crashes across the United States in 2021.

Crash statistics

About 3,200 people died in fatal car wrecks across California in 2021 alone. This is a 17% jump from 2020 when there were 2,770 such deaths that occurred across the state.  On the national level, traffic fatalities increased by about 12% between January and September of 2021 when compared with the same span in 2020. While these statistics refer to crashes that produced at least one fatality, many of these car wrecks also resulted in one or more serious injuries to drivers or passengers.

Contributing factors

There are several reasons crashes, and fatal crashes, are increasing across California and the rest of the United States. An uptick in driver substance abuse is to blame to some degree, with drunk driving convictions increasing across the state. So, too, is an increase in motorists traveling at high speeds and an increase in motorists driving while distracted by cellphones, other passengers, in-vehicle navigation systems and similar distractions. Research shows that even a minor increase in speed has the potential to raise fatal crash risks substantially.

Motorists who are reckless behind the wheel and injure or kill others may face serious sanctions in the aftermath.