Pedestrian crash statistics and hotspots in Santa Cruz, CA
- pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026
- 112
- pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 28
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 6
- fatal
- street with the most
- Ocean St
- street with the most
Is Santa Cruz 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: 112 pedestrian crashes were reported in Santa Cruz from 2021–2026, 28 of them serious or fatal (6 fatal). The most were at Laurel St & Pacific Ave (10). 25% involved a driver turning, 22% turning left. 45% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection.
Where to look next
How people on foot get hit in Santa Cruz
- 25% involved a driver turning, 22% turning left.
- 45% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection.
- 29% were crossing away from a crosswalk.
- 35% happened after dark.
What the reports show about pedestrian crashes in Santa Cruz
- 35% (California: 42%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 25% (California: 27%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 5 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.
- 0110 crashes · 3 serious or fatal
Laurel St & Pacific Ave
Drivers turning left into people crossing
In 3 of 10 crashes a driver was turning left. 6 of 10 people were in the crosswalk at the intersection: having the right of way didn't protect them. 40% 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.
- 026 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
River St & Water St
People hit crossing mid-block
3 of 6 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.
- 035 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Ocean St & Franklin St
People hit walking in the road
2 of 5 people were in the road or on the shoulder when they were hit, not crossing. 80% 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.
- 047 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Front St & Cooper St
A mix of crash types
Of 7 people hit here, 4 were in a crosswalk at the intersection. 57% 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.
- 053 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Ocean St & Hubbard 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.
- 065 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Soquel Ave & Darwin St
A mix of crash types
Of 5 people hit here, 4 were in a crosswalk at the intersection. 40% 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.
- 073 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Ocean St & Soquel Ave
A mix of crash types
Of 3 people hit here, 2 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.
- 085 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Ocean St & Dakota Ave
A mix of crash types
Of 5 people hit here, 3 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.
- 095 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Front St & Soquel Ave
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.
- 103 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Water St & Ocean St
A mix of crash types
Of 3 people hit here, 2 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.
Streets with the most pedestrian crashes in Santa Cruz
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean St | 11 | 6 |
| Water St | 10 | 4 |
| Soquel Ave | 7 | 2 |
| Laurel St | 6 | 3 |
| Pacific Ave | 6 | 0 |
| Cliff Dr | 5 | 2 |
| Mission St | 5 | 2 |
| Beach St | 5 | 0 |
| Front St | 4 | 1 |
| Center 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 Santa Cruz
The busiest hour was 5 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.). 37% of reported pedestrian crashes happened between 3 and 7 p.m. (California: 28%), and the busiest day was Wednesday.
| Monday | 14 | |
| Tuesday | 15 | |
| Wednesday | 21 | |
| Thursday | 16 | |
| Friday | 14 | |
| Saturday | 15 | |
| Sunday | 17 |
Reported pedestrian crashes in Santa Cruz, 2021–2026, by the hour and day on the police report.
Where pedestrians are hit in Santa Cruz
| Where the person on foot was | Santa Cruz | California |
|---|---|---|
| In a crosswalk at an intersection | 46% | 42% |
| In a crosswalk away from an intersection | 6% | 3% |
| Crossing outside a crosswalk | 29% | 26% |
| In the road or on the shoulder, not crossing | 19% | 29% |
Shares of reported pedestrian crashes in Santa Cruz, 2021–2026, that record where the person was (109) or the road's posted speed (4). 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 Santa Cruz by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19 | 4 | |
| 2022 | 27 | 10 | |
| 2023 | 12 | 3 | |
| 2024 | 20 | 5 | |
| 2025 | 21 | 3 | |
| 2026 | 13 | 3 |
How people get to work in Santa Cruz
| Share of workers | Santa Cruz | California |
|---|---|---|
| Drive alone | 51.3% | 65.7% |
| Carpool | 6.2% | 9.5% |
| Public transit | 4.7% | 2.9% |
| Walk | 9% | 2.4% |
| Bicycle | 5.2% | 0.7% |
| Work from home | 22.2% | 17.2% |
8% of households in Santa Cruz have no car (California: 7.1%). The average trip to work takes 22.8 minutes one way (California: 28.7).
US Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates, 61,607 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 Santa Cruz's streets.
Common questions about Santa Cruz
- Where do the most pedestrian crashes happen in Santa Cruz?
- The worst spot is Laurel St & Pacific Ave, with 10 reported pedestrian crashes from 2021–2026, 3 of them serious or fatal. Next are River St & Water St (6) and Ocean St & Franklin St (5).
- How many pedestrians were killed in Santa Cruz?
- 6 crashes killed someone in 112 reported pedestrian crashes in Santa Cruz from 2021–2026, and 28 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do pedestrians usually get hit in Santa Cruz?
- 25% involved a driver turning, 22% turning left. 45% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection. 29% were crossing away from a crosswalk. 35% happened after dark.
- When and where do pedestrian crashes happen in Santa Cruz, compared with California?
- Of 112 reported pedestrian crashes in Santa Cruz from 2021–2026: 35% (California: 42%) of crashes happened after dark. 25% (California: 27%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 5 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.).
- Which streets in Santa Cruz have the most pedestrian crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: Ocean St (11), Water St (10), Soquel Ave (7), Laurel St (6), Pacific Ave (6). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- What time of day are pedestrians hit in Santa Cruz?
- The busiest hour for reported pedestrian crashes in Santa Cruz was 5 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.), and the busiest day was Wednesday, 2021–2026.
- How many people walk to work in Santa Cruz?
- 9% of workers in Santa Cruz walk to work (California: 2.4%), and 4.7% take public transit. 8% of households have no car (California: 7.1%). From the Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024.
- How many pedestrian crashes happen in Santa Cruz each year?
- Reported pedestrian crashes with map locations: 2021: 19, 2022: 27, 2023: 12, 2024: 20, 2025: 21, 2026: 13. 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.