Watch CBS News

Report: California Leads The Nation In Fatal Hit-And-Run Crashes

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - California is a leader in many ways, but there's one statistic it shouldn't be proud to lead: its annual number of fatal hit-and-run vehicle crashes.

There were 2,049 deaths in the U.S. that resulted from hit-and-run crashes, with 337 occurring in California in 2016 -- the most recent year with available data, according to a statement from AAA. It's the highest number the state has ever seen and a 60-percent increase over 2009.

On a per capita basis, California ranked 7th nationally for hit-and-run deaths.

AAA researchers examined common characteristics of hit-and-run crashes nationwide and found that:

  • Nearly 65 percent of people killed in hit-and-run crashes were pedestrians or bicyclists.
  • Hit-and-run deaths in the U.S. have increased an average of 7.2 percent each year since 2009.
  • Per capita, New Mexico, Louisiana and Florida have the highest rate of fatal hit-and-run crashes while New Hampshire, Maine and Minnesota have the lowest rates.

"This is a growing traffic safety challenge and trend that is moving in the wrong direction," said Michael Blasky, spokesman for AAA Northern California.

ALSO:  Police Searching For Truck Involved In Deadly North Sacramento Hit And Run

The other two states with over 100 hit-and-run deaths per year, Texas and Florida, had 233 and 206 respectively.

But some California cities saw a decline in these types of fatalities. San Francisco had 20 deaths in 2017, the lowest number since they started tracking this statistic.

To decrease the chances of being involved in a crash with a pedestrian or bicyclist, AAA recommends that drivers should:

  • Be aware: Pedestrians may act unpredictably and can walk into the path of travel at any point.
  • Be cautious: Look out for small children and be alert to areas where there are likely to be more pedestrians. These include school zones, playgrounds, bus stops and intersections.
  • Be patient: When trying to pass a pedestrian or cyclist, give plenty of space and keep them in your line of sight.
  • Be vigilant: Drivers should always yield to pedestrians, even if they walk into the road from an area other than a crosswalk.

Visit www.AAAFoundation.org for more information on this and other research.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.