A new study analyzed accident statistics in order to determine what big cities in California were the home to the most vehicle accidents. If you’ve spent any time broken down or having your car towed off one of the busy roads near San Diego, you might expect to find your home city at the top of the list. Thankfully, San Diego wasn’t at the top of the rankings for most dangerous cities for drivers in California, but a large number of individuals still end up suffering after a preventable accident caused by a negligent driver in the area.

Whether it’s general commuter traffic or popular road trips to enjoy the famous California sunshine, time in the car can go wrong when an accident happens. Far too many California car accidents could have been prevented, particularly as it relates to the rising number of crashes caused by distracted driving.

The study, published in early 2017, sought out to discover the most dangerous cities for drivers in California by looking at those locations with populations larger than 100,000 and then analyzing statistics such as automotive fatality rates, drunk-driving collisions, frequency of car accidents, and hit and run rates. It turns out that those in the Bay Area may be most likely to suffer in an accident since San Francisco topped the list. Researchers also explored other factors like population density, the percentage of young drivers amongst the whole population, and average annual rainfall.

So, what are the most dangerous cities for drivers in California? They include, starting with the most dangerous:

  • San Francisco
  • San Bernardino
  • Santa Ana
  • Berkeley
  • Los Angeles
  • Salinas
  • Pomona
  • Modesto
  • Lancaster

The study determined that 14 out of the 20 most dangerous cities for drivers in California are all located in the southern half of the state, so if you’re headed out on a road trip to any of these places, use extra caution. Being involved in a vehicle accident on any of the roads in or around this area could have catastrophic consequences for your health and wellness. Injuries like a TBI, spinal cord damage, broken bones, lacerations, fractures and more can all be serious issues that make it difficult for you to return to work.