Pedestrian crash statistics and hotspots in National City, CA
- pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026
- 96
- pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 17
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 5
- fatal
- street with the most
- 8th St
- street with the most
Is National City 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. The records for National City are also incomplete: only 65% of its reported pedestrian crashes have a map location, so the numbers here are too low. What the records show: 96 pedestrian crashes were reported in National City from 2021–2026, 17 of them serious or fatal (5 fatal). The most were at 24th St & Highland Ave (6).
Where to look next
How people on foot get hit in National City
- 39% involved a driver turning, 26% turning left.
- 56% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection.
- 21% were crossing away from a crosswalk.
- 40% happened after dark.
Where pedestrian crashes cluster
Spots with 3 or more reported crashes within about 250 m, worst first.
- 016 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
24th St & Highland Ave
Drivers turning left into people crossing
In 3 of 6 crashes a driver was turning left. 3 of 6 people were in the crosswalk at the intersection: having the right of way didn't protect them. 67% happened after dark.
- 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.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
- 025 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Highland Ave & 30th St
A mix of crash types
Of 5 people hit here, 3 were in a crosswalk at the intersection.
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Cross with the signal, and check for turning drivers before you step out.
- 034 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
8th St & V Ave
People hit crossing mid-block
2 of 4 people were crossing away from a crosswalk. 75% 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.
- 043 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Miles Of Cars Way & Wilson Ave
Drivers turning left into people crossing
In 2 of 3 crashes a driver was turning left. 3 of 3 people were in the crosswalk at the intersection: having the right of way didn't protect them. 67% happened after dark.
- 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.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
- 055 crashes
6th St & Highland Ave
Drivers turning left into people crossing
In 4 of 5 crashes a driver was turning left. 5 of 5 people were in the crosswalk at the intersection: having the right of way didn't protect them. 80% happened after dark.
- 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.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
- 064 crashes
18th St & Palm Ave
Drivers turning left into people crossing
In 2 of 4 crashes a driver was turning left. 3 of 4 people were in the crosswalk at the intersection: having the right of way didn't protect them. 50% happened after dark.
- 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.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
- 074 crashes
East 18th St & Lanoitan Ave
A mix of crash types
Of 4 people hit here, 3 were in a crosswalk at the intersection.
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Cross with the signal, and check for turning drivers before you step out.
- 084 crashes
8th St & Roosevelt Ave
Drivers turning right into people crossing
In 2 of 4 crashes a driver was turning right. 2 of 4 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.
- 093 crashes
18th St & D Ave
People hit crossing mid-block
2 of 3 people were crossing away from a crosswalk.
- Cross at the nearest signal or crosswalk here, even if it's out of your way. Drivers don't expect people mid-block.
- 103 crashes
16th St & Highland Ave
Drivers turning right into people crossing
In 2 of 3 crashes a driver was turning right. 3 of 3 people were in the crosswalk at the intersection: having the right of way didn't protect them. 67% happened after dark.
- 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.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
Streets with the most pedestrian crashes in National City
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| 8th St | 11 | 1 |
| Highland Ave | 9 | 3 |
| 18th St | 7 | 1 |
| 24th St | 5 | 2 |
| Plaza Blvd | 5 | 0 |
| Division St | 4 | 4 |
| Sweetwater Rd | 4 | 1 |
| 30th St | 4 | 0 |
| 16th St | 4 | 0 |
| National City Blvd | 4 | 0 |
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. Many of National City's reports have no map location, so these counts are too low.
Pedestrian crashes in National City by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13 | 4 | |
| 2022 | 13 | 4 | |
| 2023 | 21 | 4 | |
| 2024 | 19 | 3 | |
| 2025 | 14 | 1 | |
| 2026 | 16 | 1 |
How people get to work in National City
| Share of workers | National City | California |
|---|---|---|
| Drive alone | 68.5% | 65.7% |
| Carpool | 14.6% | 9.5% |
| Public transit | 4% | 2.9% |
| Walk | 4.3% | 2.4% |
| Bicycle | 0.4% | 0.7% |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 17.2% |
10.9% of households in National City have no car (California: 7.1%). The average trip to work takes 25.4 minutes one way (California: 28.7).
US Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates, 58,893 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 National City's streets.
Common questions about National City
- Where do the most pedestrian crashes happen in National City?
- The worst spot is 24th St & Highland Ave, with 6 reported pedestrian crashes from 2021–2026, 2 of them serious or fatal. Next are Highland Ave & 30th St (5) and 8th St & V Ave (4). These counts are too low for National City: only 65% of its reported pedestrian crashes have a map location.
- How many pedestrians were killed in National City?
- 5 crashes killed someone in 96 reported pedestrian crashes in National City from 2021–2026, and 17 left someone seriously hurt or killed. These counts are too low for National City: only 65% of its reported pedestrian crashes have a map location.
- How do pedestrians usually get hit in National City?
- 39% involved a driver turning, 26% turning left. 56% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection. 21% were crossing away from a crosswalk. 40% happened after dark.
- Which streets in National City have the most pedestrian crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: 8th St (11), Highland Ave (9), 18th St (7), 24th St (5), Plaza Blvd (5). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them. These counts are too low for National City: only 65% of its reported pedestrian crashes have a map location.
- How many people walk to work in National City?
- 4.3% of workers in National City walk to work (California: 2.4%), and 4% take public transit. 10.9% of households have no car (California: 7.1%). From the Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024.
- How many pedestrian crashes happen in National City each year?
- Reported pedestrian crashes with map locations: 2021: 13, 2022: 13, 2023: 21, 2024: 19, 2025: 14, 2026: 16. 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.