What is California's GUSRFI road fatality index?

California has a Gera US Road Fatality Index (GUSRFI) of 4.3/10 (Moderate), ranking 26 of 51 US states. The index is based on a 3-year average (2021-2023) of 4407 annual road fatalities per 39.05M population = 11.285 per 100k. Source: NHTSA FARS + Census PEP.

How does California compare to the US average for road fatalities?

California (11.285/100k) is 1.41/100k below the US average of 12.695/100k (3-year avg 2021-2023). The highest-risk state is Mississippi (24.943/100k, GUSRFI 9.9/10); the lowest is Massachusetts (5.673/100k, GUSRFI 0/10).

How many road fatalities occurred in California in 2023?

NHTSA FARS recorded 4,169 road fatalities in California in 2023. In 2022 there were 4,539, and in 2021 there were 4,513 — giving a 3-year average of 4407 per year. These figures include all fatal crashes on public roads in California.

What is the California road fatality rate per vehicle-mile traveled?

California has 1.392 road fatalities per 100 million vehicle-miles traveled (3-year avg fatals / FHWA 2023 VMT of 316,612.341M miles). This measures fatality risk adjusted for driving intensity — states with more miles driven are not necessarily the same as states with higher per-capita risk.

GeraSure / US Road Fatality Risk / California

California: Road Fatality Risk

Gera US Road Fatality Index: 4.3/10 (Moderate) · Rank: #26 of 51 · 11.285/100k population · 1.392/100M VMT. Risk-context signals only.

Data: FARS 2021-2023 / Census PEP 2023 / FHWA VM-2 2023· NHTSA FARS + Census PEP + FHWA VM-2 · US public domain · FIPS 06

What is the road fatality rate for California?

California has a Gera US Road Fatality Index (GUSRFI) of 4.3/10 (Moderate), ranking 26 of 51 states. Based on NHTSA FARS 2021-2023: 11.285 road fatalities per 100,000 population (3yr avg) — 1.41/100k below the US average of 12.695/100k. Per-VMT rate: 1.392 per 100M miles (FHWA 2023).

Source:NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) — annual national CSV ZIPs 2021-2023·as of FARS 2021-2023 / Census PEP 2023 / FHWA VM-2 2023updated annually (last: 20 June 2026)

Gera US Road Fatality Index4.3 / 10Moderate road fatality risk — California (NHTSA FARS 2021-2023). Not a road-safety guarantee or premium quote.How this index is calculated

GUSRFI components — California (FARS 2021-2023 / Census PEP 2023 / FHWA VM-2 2023)

Gera GUSRFI components — California (NHTSA FARS 2021-2023 + Census PEP + FHWA VM-2)
Metric	Value	Source	Notes
Road fatalities 2021	4513	NHTSA FARS 2021	Fatal crashes on public roads
Road fatalities 2022	4539	NHTSA FARS 2022
Road fatalities 2023	4169	NHTSA FARS 2023
3yr average annual fatalities	4407.0	Gera calculation	(2021+2022+2023)/3
3yr average population	39,050,290	Census PEP 2021-2023
Fatalities per 100k population	11.285	Gera formula	US avg: 12.695
Annual VMT (millions, 2023)	316,612.341	FHWA VM-2 2023	Vehicle-miles traveled
Fatalities per 100M VMT	1.392	Gera formula	avg_fatals/VMT×100
GUSRFI (0-10)	4.3	Gera formula	Moderate — rank #26

California Road Fatality Risk Explorer

Explore GUSRFI components and compare against the US average.

GUSRFI

4.3 / 10

Moderate

California

California has a Moderate road fatality index (11.3/100k). Near the US average of 12.7/100k.

Source: NHTSA FARS 2021-2023 + Census PEP 2023 + FHWA VM-2 2023. Risk-context index only.

Risk signal components

Fatalities per 100,000 population (3yr avg 2021-2023)11.29

US avg: 12.7/100k · Source: NHTSA FARS + Census PEP

Fatalities per 100 million VMT (3yr avg fatals / FHWA 2023 VMT)1.39

VMT = vehicle-miles traveled · Source: FHWA Highway Statistics VM-2 2023

Avg annual fatals

4407

2021-2023

Per 100k pop

11.29

3yr avg

Per 100M VMT

1.39

FHWA 2023

California counties in the GUSRFI dataset

Top counties by annual fatality count (NHTSA FARS 2021-2023)

Get road-risk insurance tools for California

GeraSure is building state-level auto-insurance comparison tools informed by GUSRFI. Join the waitlist for California — moderate road fatality risk context (11.285/100k, Moderate).

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California road fatality rate: frequently asked questions

What is California's GUSRFI road fatality index?: California has a Gera US Road Fatality Index (GUSRFI) of 4.3/10 (Moderate), ranking 26 of 51 US states. The index is based on a 3-year average (2021-2023) of 4407 annual road fatalities per 39.05M population = 11.285 per 100k. Source: NHTSA FARS + Census PEP.
How does California compare to the US average for road fatalities?: California (11.285/100k) is 1.41/100k below the US average of 12.695/100k (3-year avg 2021-2023). The highest-risk state is Mississippi (24.943/100k, GUSRFI 9.9/10); the lowest is Massachusetts (5.673/100k, GUSRFI 0/10).
How many road fatalities occurred in California in 2023?: NHTSA FARS recorded 4,169 road fatalities in California in 2023. In 2022 there were 4,539, and in 2021 there were 4,513 — giving a 3-year average of 4407 per year. These figures include all fatal crashes on public roads in California.
What is the California road fatality rate per vehicle-mile traveled?: California has 1.392 road fatalities per 100 million vehicle-miles traveled (3-year avg fatals / FHWA 2023 VMT of 316,612.341M miles). This measures fatality risk adjusted for driving intensity — states with more miles driven are not necessarily the same as states with higher per-capita risk.

States near California in GUSRFI ranking

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Contains public sector information published by NHTSA / US Census Bureau / FHWA and licensed under the US Government public domain. Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) — annual national CSV ZIPs 2021-2023 (FARS 2021-2023 / Census PEP 2023 / FHWA VM-2 2023, published 2024-2025).

Full GUSRFI formula and verification: Gera US Road Fatality Index methodology.