Pedestrian crash statistics and hotspots in East Palo Alto, CA
- pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026
- 32
- pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 8
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 3
- fatal
- street with the most
- University Ave
- street with the most
Is East Palo Alto 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: 32 pedestrian crashes were reported in East Palo Alto from 2021–2026, 8 of them serious or fatal (3 fatal). The most were at University Ave & Bell St (5). 13% involved a driver turning, 6% turning left. 31% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection.
Where to look next
How people on foot get hit in East Palo Alto
- 13% involved a driver turning, 6% turning left.
- 31% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection.
- 31% were crossing away from a crosswalk.
- 63% happened after dark.
What the reports show about pedestrian crashes in East Palo Alto
- 63% (California: 42%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 25% (California: 27%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 6 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.).
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.
- 015 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
University Ave & Bell St
A mix of crash types
Of 5 people hit here, 4 were in a crosswalk at the intersection. 60% happened after dark.
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Cross with the signal, and check for turning drivers before you step out.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
- 023 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Bayshore Rd & Dumbarton Ave
People hit crossing mid-block
2 of 3 people were crossing away from a crosswalk. 100% 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.
- 033 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Bay Rd & Addison
A mix of crash types
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Cross with the signal, and check for turning drivers before you step out.
- 043 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Bay Rd & University Ave
People hit crossing mid-block
3 of 3 people were crossing away from a crosswalk. 100% 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.
- 053 crashes
Weeks St & University Ave
A mix of crash types
67% happened after dark.
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Cross with the signal, and check for turning drivers before you step out.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
Streets with the most pedestrian crashes in East Palo Alto
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| University Ave | 6 | 1 |
| Bay Rd | 6 | 1 |
| Donohoe St | 3 | 1 |
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.
When pedestrians are hit in East Palo Alto
The busiest hour was 6 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.). 34% of reported pedestrian crashes happened between 3 and 7 p.m. (California: 28%), and the busiest day was Tuesday.
| Monday | 4 | |
| Tuesday | 6 | |
| Wednesday | 3 | |
| Thursday | 6 | |
| Friday | 4 | |
| Saturday | 4 | |
| Sunday | 5 |
Reported pedestrian crashes in East Palo Alto, 2021–2026, by the hour and day on the police report.
Where pedestrians are hit in East Palo Alto
| Where the person on foot was | City | California |
|---|---|---|
| In a crosswalk at an intersection | 32% | 42% |
| In a crosswalk away from an intersection | 3% | 3% |
| Crossing outside a crosswalk | 32% | 26% |
| In the road or on the shoulder, not crossing | 32% | 29% |
Shares of reported pedestrian crashes in East Palo Alto, 2021–2026, that record where the person was (31) or the road's posted speed (1). 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 East Palo Alto by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
How people get to work in East Palo Alto
| Share of workers | East Palo Alto | California |
|---|---|---|
| Drive alone | 64.2% | 65.7% |
| Carpool | 12.3% | 9.5% |
| Public transit | 1.9% | 2.9% |
| Walk | 1.7% | 2.4% |
| Bicycle | 2% | 0.7% |
| Work from home | 14.5% | 17.2% |
6.1% of households in East Palo Alto have no car (California: 7.1%). The average trip to work takes 23.7 minutes one way (California: 28.7).
US Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates, 29,069 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 East Palo Alto's streets.
Common questions about East Palo Alto
- Where do the most pedestrian crashes happen in East Palo Alto?
- The worst spot is University Ave & Bell St, with 5 reported pedestrian crashes from 2021–2026, 2 of them serious or fatal. Next are Bayshore Rd & Dumbarton Ave (3) and Bay Rd & Addison (3).
- How many pedestrians were killed in East Palo Alto?
- 3 crashes killed someone in 32 reported pedestrian crashes in East Palo Alto from 2021–2026, and 8 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do pedestrians usually get hit in East Palo Alto?
- 13% involved a driver turning, 6% turning left. 31% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection. 31% were crossing away from a crosswalk. 63% happened after dark.
- When and where do pedestrian crashes happen in East Palo Alto, compared with California?
- Of 32 reported pedestrian crashes in East Palo Alto from 2021–2026: 63% (California: 42%) of crashes happened after dark. 25% (California: 27%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 6 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.).
- Which streets in East Palo Alto have the most pedestrian crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: University Ave (6), Bay Rd (6), Donohoe St (3). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- What time of day are pedestrians hit in East Palo Alto?
- The busiest hour for reported pedestrian crashes in East Palo Alto was 6 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.), and the busiest day was Tuesday, 2021–2026.
- How many people walk to work in East Palo Alto?
- 1.7% of workers in East Palo Alto walk to work (California: 2.4%), and 1.9% take public transit. 6.1% of households have no car (California: 7.1%). From the Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024.
- How many pedestrian crashes happen in East Palo Alto each year?
- Reported pedestrian crashes with map locations: 2021: 10, 2022: 7, 2023: 4, 2024: 7, 2025: 4, 2026: 0. 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 2026-10-07. How the data works.