Pedestrian crash statistics and hotspots in San Carlos, CA
- pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026
- 38
- pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 4
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 1
- fatal
- street with the most
- San Carlos Ave
- street with the most
Is San Carlos 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: 38 pedestrian crashes were reported in San Carlos from 2021–2026, 4 of them serious or fatal (1 fatal). The most were at Elm St & San Carlos Ave (8). 37% involved a driver turning, 29% turning left. 42% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection.
Where to look next
How people on foot get hit in San Carlos
- 37% involved a driver turning, 29% turning left.
- 42% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection.
- 26% were crossing away from a crosswalk.
- 16% happened after dark.
- 11% were hit-and-run.
What the reports show about pedestrian crashes in San Carlos
- 16% (California: 42%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 0% (California: 35%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster.
- 11% (California: 27%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 8 a.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.
- 018 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Elm St & San Carlos Ave
Drivers turning left into people crossing
In 3 of 8 crashes a driver was turning left. 5 of 8 people were in the crosswalk at the intersection: having the right of way didn't protect them. 25% were hit-and-run.
- 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.
- 023 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Old County Rd & Howard Ave
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.
- 034 crashes
Holly St & Old County Rd
People hit walking in the road
2 of 4 people were in the road or on the shoulder when they were hit, not crossing. 75% happened after dark.
- 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.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
- 043 crashes
Laurel St & Arroyo Ave
Drivers turning left into people crossing
In 2 of 3 crashes a driver was turning left. 2 of 3 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.
- 053 crashes
San Carlos Ave & Laurel St
Drivers backing up
In 2 of 3 crashes a driver was reversing.
- Watch for reversing cars at driveways and parking lot exits. Drivers see very little low down behind them.
Streets with the most pedestrian crashes in San Carlos
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| San Carlos Ave | 6 | 1 |
| Industrial Rd | 4 | 1 |
| El Camino Real | 4 | 0 |
| Laurel St | 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.
When pedestrians are hit in San Carlos
The busiest hour was 8 a.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 | 3 | |
| Tuesday | 7 | |
| Wednesday | 8 | |
| Thursday | 3 | |
| Friday | 5 | |
| Saturday | 7 | |
| Sunday | 5 |
Reported pedestrian crashes in San Carlos, 2021–2026, by the hour and day on the police report.
Where pedestrians are hit in San Carlos
| Where the person on foot was | San Carlos | California |
|---|---|---|
| In a crosswalk at an intersection | 43% | 42% |
| In a crosswalk away from an intersection | 5% | 3% |
| Crossing outside a crosswalk | 27% | 26% |
| In the road or on the shoulder, not crossing | 24% | 29% |
| Posted speed of the road | San Carlos | California |
|---|---|---|
| 25 mph or less | 76% | 33% |
| 30–35 mph | 24% | 32% |
| 40–45 mph | 0% | 27% |
| 50 mph or more | 0% | 8% |
Shares of reported pedestrian crashes in San Carlos, 2021–2026, that record where the person was (37) or the road's posted speed (37). 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 San Carlos by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2026 | 6 | 0 |
How people get to work in San Carlos
| Share of workers | San Carlos | California |
|---|---|---|
| Drive alone | 52.3% | 65.7% |
| Carpool | 4.2% | 9.5% |
| Public transit | 3.2% | 2.9% |
| Walk | 1.2% | 2.4% |
| Bicycle | 1.6% | 0.7% |
| Work from home | 35% | 17.2% |
4.1% of households in San Carlos have no car (California: 7.1%). The average trip to work takes 24.6 minutes one way (California: 28.7).
US Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates, 29,614 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 San Carlos's streets.
Common questions about San Carlos
- Where do the most pedestrian crashes happen in San Carlos?
- The worst spot is Elm St & San Carlos Ave, with 8 reported pedestrian crashes from 2021–2026, 1 of them serious or fatal. Next are Old County Rd & Howard Ave (3) and Holly St & Old County Rd (4).
- How many pedestrians were killed in San Carlos?
- 1 crash killed someone in 38 reported pedestrian crashes in San Carlos from 2021–2026, and 4 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do pedestrians usually get hit in San Carlos?
- 37% involved a driver turning, 29% turning left. 42% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection. 26% were crossing away from a crosswalk. 16% happened after dark. 11% were hit-and-run.
- When and where do pedestrian crashes happen in San Carlos, compared with California?
- Of 38 reported pedestrian crashes in San Carlos from 2021–2026: 16% (California: 42%) of crashes happened after dark. 0% (California: 35%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster. 11% (California: 27%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 8 a.m. (California: 6 p.m.).
- Which streets in San Carlos have the most pedestrian crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: San Carlos Ave (6), Industrial Rd (4), El Camino Real (4), Laurel St (4). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- What time of day are pedestrians hit in San Carlos?
- The busiest hour for reported pedestrian crashes in San Carlos was 8 a.m. (California: 6 p.m.), and the busiest day was Wednesday, 2021–2026.
- How many people walk to work in San Carlos?
- 1.2% of workers in San Carlos walk to work (California: 2.4%), and 3.2% take public transit. 4.1% of households have no car (California: 7.1%). From the Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024.
- How many pedestrian crashes happen in San Carlos each year?
- Reported pedestrian crashes with map locations: 2021: 5, 2022: 5, 2023: 8, 2024: 7, 2025: 7, 2026: 6. 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.