Data and Reports

Fatalities from traffic collisions, particularly those involving pedestrians and bicyclists, are a significant and growing public crisis in Los Angeles County. Over the past decade (2015-2024), fatalities from traffic collisions in unincorporated communities of LA have been and continue to be high with an average of 88 deaths per year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, traffic fatalities jumped dramatically in these communities consistent with what occurred nationwide (2020 Fatality Data Show Increased Traffic Fatalities During Pandemic | NHTSA).

A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found speeding, not using seatbelts, and impaired driving to be main contributors to the increase compared to pre-pandemic times (The Pandemic’s Tenacious Grip on Traffic Safety – AAA Newsroom).

Characteristics of Fatalities from Traffic Collisions in Unincorporated Communities of Los Angeles in the past decade (2015-2024):

Most fatalities occurred among drivers (53.5%).
Pedestrians made up almost 30% of the fatalities.
Passenger fatalities doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic period compared to pre- and post- pandemic levels.
Nearly 30 bicyclists have been killed.

Line chart showing traffic collision fatalities in unincorporated Los Angeles from 2015 to 2024 by road user type, including drivers, passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and total fatalities. Total fatalities peaked in 2021 and 2022, while pedestrian fatalities remained consistently high throughout the period. Data from http://tims.berkeley.edu. 2024 data are provisional and subject to change.

Through analyses of traffic collision data from UC Berkeley SafeTrec’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS), the PLACE Program identified pedestrian safety and illegal driving behaviors as priority areas for Public Health to address in unincorporated communities. Of the illegal driving behaviors, we highlight the impact of hit-and-runs, speeding, and Driving under the Influence (DUI) on traffic fatalities.

Pedestrian Safety

Pedestrian Fatalities in Unincorporated Los Angeles by Age 2015-2024

Stacked bar chart of pedestrian fatalities by age group in unincorporated Los Angeles, 2015 to 2024, showing highest totals among adults age 60 and older
*Data from 2024 is provisional and subject to change
Data from Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS), Safe Transportation Research and Education Center, University of California, Berkeley. 2026

Fatalities among seniors (60 and older) made up 38.7% of the total pedestrian fatalities over the 10-year period. Fatalities among senior increased by 45% between 2022-2023
Pedestrian fatalities were second highest among individuals aged 40-59 years (33.2%)
20–39-year-olds made up almost 25% of the fatalities. The fatalities among 20–39-year-olds doubled between 2019-2020.
Pedestrian fatalities mainly occurred in the evening hours between 6-11:59 pm.

Day and Time of the Week of Fatal Collisions involving a Pedestrian Unincorporated Los Angeles County 2015-2024

Heatmap table showing activity counts by day of week and time of day, with highest totals during evening hours between 6:00 PM and midnight

*Data from 2024 is provisional and subject to change
Data from Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS), Safe Transportation Research and Education Center, University of California, Berkeley. 2026

Hit-and-Runs

Nationally, one in four pedestrian deaths is the result of a hit-and run crash (Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2024 Preliminary Data, Governors Highway Safety Association). In unincorporated LA, of the reported collisions, hit-and-run crashes have been responsible for 30% of pedestrians killed between 2015-2024. This proportion has been as high as nearly half of the pedestrian fatalities in 2016 and 40% in 2018, 2022, and 2023. Hit-and-Runs were also a major contributor of fatalities among bicyclists. Hit-and-run crashes can multiply the severity of injuries or lead to fatality by delaying or denying post-crash medical care, a critical element of the Safe System Approach.

Proportion of Hit-and Run Fatalities among Pedestrians in Unincorporated Communities of Los Angeles 2015-2024

100% stacked bar chart showing the proportion of pedestrian fatalities involving hit-and-run collisions in unincorporated Los Angeles communities from 2015 to 2024, with most pedestrian fatalities occurring in non hit-and-run collisions

Proportion of Hit-and Run Fatalities among Bicyclists in Unincorporated Communities of Los Angeles 2015-2024

100% stacked bar chart showing the proportion of bicyclist fatalities involving hit-and-run collisions in unincorporated Los Angeles communities from 2015 to 2024, with yearly proportions varying due to the relatively small number of bicyclist fatalities

*There were no fatalities among bicyclists in 2018.

Data from Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS), Safe Transportation Research and Education Center, University of California, Berkeley. 2026