Key Takeaways:
- Route 1 and Route 9 is the most dangerous intersection in Santa Cruz.
- Santa Cruz’s intersection crash rate is 12.73% higher than the average of California cities.
- The city’s fatal injury rate for intersection crashes is 15.38% higher than the cross-city average and the serious injury rate is 59.78% lower than the cross-city average.
Santa Cruz, known for its coastal scenery, vibrant downtown, and popular beaches, attracts a mix of residents, students, and visitors year-round. With a combination of local traffic and tourism, intersections play a critical role in the city’s overall traffic flow. Understanding where crashes occur most frequently offers insight into broader traffic patterns and potential safety concerns.
To identify the city’s most collision-prone areas, we analyzed crash data the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), which was cleaned and geocoded by the Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) from 2020 to 2024. This study focuses on the 10 most dangerous intersections in Santa Cruz, examining crash frequency, severity, and how intersection-related collisions compare to those in other California cities.
It’s important to note that this analysis only includes crashes where an injury was reported or suspected. Minor incidents without reported injuries are not recorded in TIMS and, therefore, are excluded from our dataset. By highlighting these high-risk intersections, we provide a closer look at where collisions are most concentrated and how they fit into broader traffic trends.
Ranking Intersections by Danger Score
The intersections below are ranked based on a composite metric called the “danger score.” This score takes into account the total number of crashes over a five-year period, while also factoring in the severity of the crashes, with more serious injuries contributing more to the final score.
Route 1 and Route 9 ranks as the most dangerous intersection in Santa Cruz with 11 crashes and a danger score of 33. This intersection, situated at a critical junction of two major roads, may see a relatively higher frequency of collisions due to the steady flow of traffic.
In second place is Pacific Avenue and Beach Street, with 8 crashes and a danger score of 23. Its location near the beach and other popular areas likely contributes to its higher crash frequency, as both local traffic and tourists visit the area. Tied for third place are Bay Street and Escalona Avenue and Beach Street and Cliff Street, each with a danger score of 13.
Santa Cruz’s Intersection Crash Rate vs. Other California Cities
Here, we examine how Santa Cruz’s intersection crash rate measures up against other California cities.
Santa Cruz’s intersection crash rate of 41.89% is about 12.73% higher than the average of 37.16% across all studied California cities.
Crash Severity Distribution
To finish, we break down intersection crashes by severity, covering fatal, serious, minor, and possible injuries.
Santa Cruz’s intersection fatality rate is 2.70%, which is 15.38% higher than the average of 2.34%. The serious injury rate stands at 14.70%, which is 59.78% higher than the average of 9.20%.
For other injury types, minor injuries make up 55.41% of intersection crashes, while possible injuries account for 27.20%.
Conclusion
Santa Cruz’s intersection crash data reveals a higher-than-average collision rate, with a fatal injury rate and serious injury rate exceeding the cross-city average. Intersections like Route 1 & Route 9 and Pacific Avenue & Beach Street stand out as high-risk areas, likely influenced by a mix of local and tourist traffic. Addressing these risks through strategic improvements, such as better traffic control measures, clearer signage, and pedestrian-focused safety enhancements, could help reduce the frequency and severity of crashes in the city. If you were injured in one of the intersections, contact our Santa Cruz personal injury lawyers today.
Methodology
The study draws on crash data from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), which was cleaned and geocoded by the Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) from 2020 to 2024. It includes only those crashes where injuries were reported or suspected, excluding minor crashes with no documented injuries.
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