Pedestrian crash statistics and hotspots in Carlsbad, CA
- pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026
- 145
- pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 27
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 8
- fatal
- street with the most
- Carlsbad Blvd
- street with the most
Where they cluster
All 10 spots, explained- 1Carlsbad Blvd & Oak Ave14 crashes · 3 serious or fatalPeople hit walking in the road
- 2Washington St & Carlsbad Village Dr13 crashes · 3 serious or fatalPolice reports: in 5 of 13, a driver didn't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
- 3Carlsbad Village Dr & Madison St6 crashes · 1 serious or fatalDrivers turning left into people crossing
Is Carlsbad safe to walk?
This page covers traffic crashes, not crime. We don't rate cities as safe or unsafe: crash counts can't say how risky a street is, and busy streets have more crashes partly because more people use them. What the records show: 145 pedestrian crashes were reported in Carlsbad from 2021–2026, 27 of them serious or fatal (8 fatal). The most were at Carlsbad Blvd & Oak Ave (14). 34% involved a driver turning, 17% turning left. 44% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection.
Where to look next
How people on foot get hit in Carlsbad
- 34% involved a driver turning, 17% turning left.
- 44% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection.
- 17% were crossing away from a crosswalk.
- 27% happened after dark.
What the reports show about pedestrian crashes in Carlsbad
- 27% (California: 42%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 26% (California: 35%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster.
- 19% (California: 27%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 6 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.).
- 1% (California: 6%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
Set against all pedestrian crashes in California, 2021–2026. Without traffic counts these can't say how risky a street is.
Where pedestrian crashes cluster
Spots with 3 or more reported crashes within about 250 m, worst first.
- 0114 crashes · 3 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Carlsbad Blvd & Oak Ave
People hit walking in the road
5 of 14 people were in the road or on the shoulder when they were hit, not crossing.
- Stay out of the traffic lane: check behind you before stepping out from a parked car, and where there's no sidewalk, walk facing traffic as far from the lane as you can.
- 0213 crashes · 3 serious or fatal
Washington St & Carlsbad Village Dr
People hit walking in the road
Police reports: in 5 of 13, a driver didn't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. 5 of 13 people were in the road or on the shoulder when they were hit, not crossing.
- Stay out of the traffic lane: check behind you before stepping out from a parked car, and where there's no sidewalk, walk facing traffic as far from the lane as you can.
- 036 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Carlsbad Village Dr & Madison St
Drivers turning left into people crossing
In 3 of 6 crashes a driver was turning left. 4 of 6 people were in the crosswalk at the intersection: having the right of way didn't protect them.
- Before you step out, look for drivers turning left from the far side of the junction. They are watching for a gap in oncoming traffic, not for you.
- 043 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Carlsbad Blvd & Island Way
People hit walking in the road
3 of 3 people were in the road or on the shoulder when they were hit, not crossing. Traffic is posted at about 50 mph.
- Stay out of the traffic lane: check behind you before stepping out from a parked car, and where there's no sidewalk, walk facing traffic as far from the lane as you can.
- Traffic is fast here. Use signalized crossings rather than crossing mid-block.
- 055 crashes
Paseo Del Norte & Palomar Airport Rd
Drivers turning right into people crossing
Police reports: in 2 of 5, a driver drove too fast for conditions. In 3 of 5 crashes a driver was turning right. 5 of 5 people were in the crosswalk at the intersection: having the right of way didn't protect them. Traffic is posted at about 40 mph.
- Watch for drivers turning right, including on a red light. They look left for traffic and often miss people on their right, so make eye contact before you step out.
- Traffic is fast here. Use signalized crossings rather than crossing mid-block.
- 063 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Carlsbad Village Dr & Harding St
People hit walking in the road
2 of 3 people were in the road or on the shoulder when they were hit, not crossing.
- Stay out of the traffic lane: check behind you before stepping out from a parked car, and where there's no sidewalk, walk facing traffic as far from the lane as you can.
- 073 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Gateway Rd & Finnila Pl
People hit walking in the road
2 of 3 people were in the road or on the shoulder when they were hit, not crossing.
- Stay out of the traffic lane: check behind you before stepping out from a parked car, and where there's no sidewalk, walk facing traffic as far from the lane as you can.
- 083 crashes
Carlsbad Village Dr & Harding St
People hit crossing mid-block
2 of 3 people were crossing away from a crosswalk. 67% happened after dark.
- Cross at the nearest signal or crosswalk here, even if it's out of your way. Drivers don't expect people mid-block.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
- 093 crashes
Carlsbad Blvd & Maple Ave
People hit walking in the road
2 of 3 people were in the road or on the shoulder when they were hit, not crossing.
- Stay out of the traffic lane: check behind you before stepping out from a parked car, and where there's no sidewalk, walk facing traffic as far from the lane as you can.
- 103 crashes
Carlsbad Village Dr & Pio Pico Dr
Drivers turning right into people crossing
Police reports: in 2 of 3, a driver ran a red light. In 2 of 3 crashes a driver was turning right. 2 of 3 people were in the crosswalk at the intersection: having the right of way didn't protect them.
- Watch for drivers turning right, including on a red light. They look left for traffic and often miss people on their right, so make eye contact before you step out.
Streets with the most pedestrian crashes in Carlsbad
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| Carlsbad Blvd | 20 | 4 |
| Carlsbad Village Dr | 18 | 2 |
| Palomar Airport Rd | 7 | 2 |
| Grand Ave | 7 | 0 |
| El Camino Real | 6 | 1 |
| Tamarack Ave | 6 | 0 |
| Paseo Del Norte | 6 | 0 |
| Poinsettia Ln | 5 | 0 |
| Rancho Santa Fe Rd | 4 | 1 |
| College Blvd | 3 | 2 |
Reported pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026, counted by the street each police report names first, so a crash at a corner counts toward one of its two streets. Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
What the police reports say drivers did in Carlsbad
| A driver… | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|
| didn't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk | 40 | |
| drove too fast for conditions | 16 | |
| started or backed up when it wasn't clear | 10 | |
| turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear | 9 | |
| drove under the influence | 5 | |
| ran a red light | 3 | |
| didn't yield to a pedestrian on a sidewalk | 2 | |
| ran a stop sign or didn't yield after stopping | 2 |
The other vehicle, where the report names one: 85 cars, 21 SUVs, 9 pickup trucks, 7 truck or semis and 1 minivan. In 11 crashes the report says the other driver had been drinking or was on drugs.
Reported pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026. The officer names one party and one Vehicle Code section as the main cause of each crash; these are the crashes where that party was a driver. It is the officer's reading at the scene, not a court's finding, and many reports name the person on foot or on a bike instead, which we don't list.
When pedestrians are hit in Carlsbad
The busiest hour was 6 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.). 29% of reported pedestrian crashes happened between 3 and 7 p.m. (California: 28%), and the busiest day was Wednesday.
| Monday | 13 | |
| Tuesday | 20 | |
| Wednesday | 30 | |
| Thursday | 17 | |
| Friday | 24 | |
| Saturday | 23 | |
| Sunday | 18 |
Reported pedestrian crashes in Carlsbad, 2021–2026, by the hour and day on the police report.
Where pedestrians are hit in Carlsbad
| Where the person on foot was | Carlsbad | California |
|---|---|---|
| In a crosswalk at an intersection | 44% | 42% |
| In a crosswalk away from an intersection | 3% | 3% |
| Crossing outside a crosswalk | 17% | 26% |
| In the road or on the shoulder, not crossing | 35% | 29% |
| Posted speed of the road | Carlsbad | California |
|---|---|---|
| 25 mph or less | 52% | 33% |
| 30–35 mph | 22% | 32% |
| 40–45 mph | 10% | 27% |
| 50 mph or more | 16% | 8% |
Shares of reported pedestrian crashes in Carlsbad, 2021–2026, that record where the person was (144) or the road's posted speed (138). Freeway crashes are left out. These describe the crashes, not how dangerous each kind of street is: we have no count of how many people cross each one.
Pedestrian crashes in Carlsbad by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23 | 3 | |
| 2022 | 13 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 34 | 7 | |
| 2024 | 30 | 5 | |
| 2025 | 33 | 6 | |
| 2026 | 12 | 3 |
How people get to work in Carlsbad
| Share of workers | Carlsbad | California |
|---|---|---|
| Drive alone | 59.6% | 65.7% |
| Carpool | 5% | 9.5% |
| Public transit | 0.8% | 2.9% |
| Walk | 1.3% | 2.4% |
| Bicycle | 0.4% | 0.7% |
| Work from home | 31.9% | 17.2% |
3.2% of households in Carlsbad have no car (California: 7.1%). The average trip to work takes 27.1 minutes one way (California: 28.7).
US Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates, 114,373 residents. These are trips to work only: walks to school, the shops or a bus stop aren't counted, so they can't say how much walking or riding happens on Carlsbad's streets.
Common questions about Carlsbad
- Where do the most pedestrian crashes happen in Carlsbad?
- The worst spot is Carlsbad Blvd & Oak Ave, with 14 reported pedestrian crashes from 2021–2026, 3 of them serious or fatal. Next are Washington St & Carlsbad Village Dr (13) and Carlsbad Village Dr & Madison St (6).
- How many pedestrians were killed in Carlsbad?
- 8 crashes killed someone in 145 reported pedestrian crashes in Carlsbad from 2021–2026, and 27 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do pedestrians usually get hit in Carlsbad?
- 34% involved a driver turning, 17% turning left. 44% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection. 17% were crossing away from a crosswalk. 27% happened after dark.
- When and where do pedestrian crashes happen in Carlsbad, compared with California?
- Of 145 reported pedestrian crashes in Carlsbad from 2021–2026: 27% (California: 42%) of crashes happened after dark. 26% (California: 35%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster. 19% (California: 27%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 6 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.). 1% (California: 6%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
- Which streets in Carlsbad have the most pedestrian crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: Carlsbad Blvd (20), Carlsbad Village Dr (18), Palomar Airport Rd (7), Grand Ave (7), El Camino Real (6). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- What time of day are pedestrians hit in Carlsbad?
- The busiest hour for reported pedestrian crashes in Carlsbad was 6 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.), and the busiest day was Wednesday, 2021–2026.
- How many people walk to work in Carlsbad?
- 1.3% of workers in Carlsbad walk to work (California: 2.4%), and 0.8% take public transit. 3.2% of households have no car (California: 7.1%). From the Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024.
- How many pedestrian crashes happen in Carlsbad each year?
- Reported pedestrian crashes with map locations: 2021: 23, 2022: 13, 2023: 34, 2024: 30, 2025: 33, 2026: 12. The latest year can rise as late reports come in.
- Where does this data come from?
- Police crash reports in the California Crash Reporting System (CCRS), published by the state on data.ca.gov. Only crashes reported with map coordinates are counted, so the real totals are higher.
Nearby cities
Source: California Crash Reporting System (CCRS), 2021–2026. A report with no coordinates is placed at the intersection its street names give; reports with neither are not counted, so these numbers are lower than the real total. Crashes on freeways are left out. Busy streets show more crashes partly because more people use them. Data last rebuilt 2026-10-22. How the data works.