Data from CHP shows that unsafe speed, improper turning, and impairment accounted for the largest share of New Year’s crashes.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA – An analysis of traffic collision data from December 31, 2024 through January 1, 2025 shows that unsafe driving behaviors—particularly speeding—were the leading contributors to New Year’s related crashes across all of Los Angeles County.
The Ryan Law Group, a personal injury law firm based in Manhattan Beach, conducted the analysis using car accident data from UC Berkeley’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS), which draws from the California Highway Patrol’s SWITRS (Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System).
KEY FINDINGS:
- Unsafe speed was the leading contributing factor, accounting for 27% of all collisions.
- Improper turning followed at 16.07%.
- Most car accidents took place during late-night and early-morning hours. Roughly 68% of crashes happened after 12 PM on New Year’s Eve, while nearly 37% of collisions on New Year’s Day occurred between midnight and 6 AM.
- Nearly 15% of collisions resulted in severe injuries, while 2% resulted in fatalities.
- Men accounted for 54% of at-fault drivers.
The data indicates that unsafe speed and improper turning accounted for a larger share of collisions overall. These driving decisions significantly increase the risk of injury, particularly during late-night travel when road conditions are most dangerous.
In spite of these findings, it is essential to acknowledge that driving under the influence remains a serious concern—representing 13.10% of all collisions during the holiday celebration—and is responsible for hundreds of collisions annually within Los Angeles County.
Drivers are urged to slow down, remain alert, and plan ahead during holiday travel.
For a Free Legal Consultation, Call (310) 321-4800
Crash Summary Metrics
The following charts summarize reported crashes occurring between December 31, 2024, and January 1, 2025. Crash times are displayed using a 24-hour clock format. The charts also identify the number of fatalities (killed victims), injury counts, and overall crash severity classifications.
Crash severity is defined as follows:
- 1 – Fatal injury
- 2 – Suspected serious injury (severe injury)
- 3 – Suspected minor injury (visible injury)
- 4 – Possible injury or complaint of pain
The PCF Violation Category represents a coded value assigned by the law section and identifies the violation determined to have been the primary cause of the crash. The categories are listed below
- 01 – Driving or Bicycling Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drug
- 02 – Impeding Traffic
- 03 – Unsafe Speed
- 04 – Following Too Closely
- 05 – Wrong Side of Road
- 06 – Improper Passing
- 07 – Unsafe Lane Change
- 08 – Improper Turning
- 09 – Automobile Right of Way
- 10 – Pedestrian Right of Way
- 11 – Pedestrian Violation
- 12 – Traffic Signals and Signs
- 13 – Hazardous Parking
- 14 – Lights
- 15 – Brakes
- 16 – Other Equipment
- 17 – Other Hazardous Violation
- 18 – Other Than Driver (or Pedestrian)
- 19 – Not defined / no description provided
- 20 – Not defined / no description provided
- 21 – Unsafe Starting or Backing
- 22 – Other Improper Driving
- 23 – Pedestrian or “Other” Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drug
- 24 – Fell Asleep
- 00 – Unknown
- — – Not Stated
At-Fault Analysis
The chart below lists the types of parties involved in each crash, whether the listed party was determined to be at fault or not at fault, and the sex of each party.
The Party Types identifies the role of each party involved in a reported collision, and are defined as follows:
- 1 – Driver (including hit-and-run incidents)
- 2 – Pedestrian
- 3 – Parked vehicle
- 4 – Bicyclist
- 5 – Other
- 6 – Operator
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