Key Takeaways:
- Rosamond Boulevard and B Street, along with Union Avenue and California Avenue in Bakersfield, tied for the most dangerous intersection in Kern County.
- Bakersfield alone reported 2,918 intersection crashes over nearly five years, more than any other city in Kern County.
- Kern County’s intersection crash rate is 32.41% higher than the average intersection crash rate across all California counties.
- 175 fatal crashes, 593 serious injury crashes, and 2,061 minor injury crashes occurred at intersections in Kern County over nearly five years.
- “Right of Way” violations (2,061 crashes) were the most frequent cause of intersection crashes.
- Broadside (T-bone) crashes were the most common crash type (4,212 crashes) and most deadly (64.19% of fatal crashes).
- 21.88% of fatal intersection crashes involved alcohol.
Intersections are some of the busiest points on the road, where vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians all cross paths. They connect major roads, facilitate turning movements, and manage traffic flow. However, these same factors make intersections frequent sites for crashes. High traffic volumes, complex movements, and split-second decisions all contribute to collision risk, with some intersections consistently seeing more crashes than others. In Kern County, the blend of urban areas like Bakersfield and vast rural spaces, including popular outdoor destinations, creates unique challenges for intersection safety.
For this study, we analyzed crash data from the Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) from January 1, 2020, to September 30, 2024, to identify the 15 most dangerous intersections in Kern County. Our analysis includes a mapped overview of these high-risk locations, intersection crash totals by city, and a comparison of intersection crash rates with other California counties. We also examine crash severity, changes in crash numbers over time, the most common violations and crash types, and the impact of lighting conditions and alcohol involvement on intersection collisions.
Kern County’s 15 Most Dangerous Intersections
To identify the most dangerous intersections in Kern County, we calculated a danger score that factors in total crashes, minor injury crashes, serious injury crashes, and fatal crashes, with greater weight given to more severe incidents. Below are the 15 intersections with the highest danger scores.
Interactive Map: Where are Kern County’s Riskiest Crossings?
The map below is interactive, hover over each dot to reveal more information about each intersection. If viewing on a mobile device, rotate for best viewing experience.
Rosamond Boulevard and B Street, along with Union Avenue and California Avenue in Bakersfield, topped the list with the highest danger scores of 41. At Rosamond Boulevard and B Street, the lack of intersection lighting and vehicles coming directly off the highway create hazardous conditions. The stop-controlled approach on B Street requires drivers to yield, but late turns pose risks. This intersection recorded 23 crashes, with nine resulting in minor injuries. According to local news, to improve safety, traffic delineators will soon be installed to prohibit left turns from both Glendower and B Streets onto Rosamond Boulevard.
Union Avenue and California Avenue had fewer total crashes, with 19 recorded incidents, but the severity of these crashes kept its danger score just as high. Two fatal and two serious injury collisions occurred at this location. Union Avenue serves as part of State Route 204, a key connector between SR 58 and SR 99, which channels high volumes of regional and freeway-bound traffic through downtown Bakersfield. The combination of fast-moving vehicles and congestion increases the likelihood of severe crashes at this intersection.
Several other intersections also ranked high due to severe crashes. State Route 43 and Garces Highway earned a danger score of 38, with four serious injury crashes among its 18 total incidents. Union Avenue and Niles Street in Bakersfield, along with Q Street and Golden State Avenue in Bakersfield, followed with danger scores of 36, each reporting a combination of fatal, serious injury, and minor injury crashes.
Crash Distribution and Trends Across Kern County
In this section, we take a closer look at how intersection crashes are distributed across Kern County’s cities. We’ll also explore how Kern County’s intersection crash rate stacks up against other California counties and examine the changes in crash numbers over nearly five years (four years and nine months).
Among the top 15 most dangerous intersections in Kern County, Bakersfield dominated the list, with eight of its intersections appearing among the most dangerous. Bakersfield also reported the highest total number of intersection crashes in the county with 2,918 crashes. Additionally, it accounted for the most serious injuries, with 171 such incidents, representing 5.86% of all intersection crashes.
Unincorporated areas, which also featured several intersections in our danger ranking, reported a significant number of crashes, totaling 2,325. These areas are often characterized by high-speed traffic and fewer traffic control measures, contributing to higher crash risks. Combined, Bakersfield and unincorporated areas account for the vast majority of intersection-related crashes in Kern County.
Ridgecrest, however, had a higher share of serious injury crashes, with 26 incidents, making up 14.86% of all crashes in the area. Beyond these high-crash zones, Delano (140) and Shafter (114) also saw notable crash volumes, while smaller cities like McFarland and Bear Valley Springs each reported just one intersection crash.
To put Kern County’s intersection crash rate into perspective, the following graph compares its rate to the average across all California counties.
Kern County’s intersection crash rate is 32.41% higher than the average intersection crash rate across all California counties. Specifically, 33.46% of crashes in Kern County occur at intersections, compared to the state average of 25.27%. This suggests that Kern County may need to consider road safety improvements to address the elevated risk at intersections.
The following graph illustrates how intersection crash numbers in Kern County have evolved over the last full four years, providing insight into whether these trends reflect improvements or persistent challenges.
Over the last full four years, intersection crashes in Kern County have fluctuated. After rising from 1,149 crashes in 2020 to 1,264 in 2021, the numbers dipped slightly in 2022 before surging to 1,404 crashes in 2023, the highest in this period.
Intersection Crash Severity Analysis in Kern County
This section examines the severity of intersection crashes in Kern County, focusing on the distribution of crashes by severity: fatal, serious, minor, and possible injuries. We’ll explore how these severity levels have evolved over time and analyze the share of each severity category within the overall crash data.
Fatal injuries account for 175 crashes, while serious injuries make up 593. The majority of intersection crashes fall into the minor injury category, with 2,061 incidents reported. Additionally, there are 3,160 crashes categorized as possible injuries, indicating a significant proportion of collisions where the outcomes could range from minor to more severe injuries.
Below, we analyze how the totals by severity have varied each year and their proportion within each year’s data.
Fatal injuries peaked in 2022 with 48 incidents, while serious injuries were consistently higher in earlier years, with 136 reported in 2020. Minor injuries remained the most common known severity, ranging from 353 to 496 incidents annually. Possible injuries saw a similar trend, fluctuating between 610 and 751 incidents over the same period.
When considering the share of total crashes by severity, minor injuries consistently represented the largest portion among known severities, ranging from 30.72% to 36.08% of all crashes. Fatal injuries remained a small percentage of the total, with the share decreasing from 3.74% in 2020 to 2.56% in 2023. The share of possible injuries has remained relatively stable in recent years, at 53.49% in 2023, while the share of serious injuries declined slightly from 11.84% in 2020 to 8.62% in 2023.
Common Intersection Crash Violations and Severity Comparison
Here, we analyze the most common violations that lead to intersection crashes. By doing so, we can better understand the driving behaviors contributing to accidents and explore how these violations correlate with different levels of crash severity, including fatalities.
The most common violation leading to intersection crashes in Kern County is “Automobile Right of Way,” with 2,061 reported incidents. Closely following are “Traffic Signals and Signs” violations, which account for 1,943 crashes. Other significant violations include “Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs” (557 crashes) and “Unsafe Speed” (419 crashes). Violations related to improper turning and pedestrian right of way also contribute notably, with 340 and 151 crashes, respectively. Additionally, violations such as “Wrong Side of Road” and “Pedestrian Violation” represent a smaller share of intersection crashes, with 140 and 93 incidents, respectively.
From the data, we see that “Automobile Right of Way” is the leading violation for both fatal and non-fatal intersection crashes. However, a slightly higher share of these crashes (35.05%) falls under non-fatal injury categories, while fatal injury crashes account for 30.08%. “Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs” stands out as a more significant factor in fatal crashes (17.84%) compared to other severity levels (8.04%). This suggests that while impaired driving is not the most common contributing factor overall, it has a disproportionately severe impact when it does occur.
Similarly, other violations like “Pedestrian Right of Way” and “Pedestrian Violation” appear to have a higher share of incidents in fatal injury crashes, with 3.26% and 5.34%, respectively, while they are less common in non-fatal crashes (2.41% and 1%).
Common Intersection Crash Types and Severity Comparison
In this section, we examine the most common types of crashes at intersections and how these differ in relation to crash severity, comparing fatal crashes with those of other severities.
The most common type of intersection crash in Kern County is broadside collisions, accounting for 4,212 incidents. These types of crashes often occur when one vehicle fails to yield the right of way, typically at traffic signals or stop signs. Head-on crashes follow, with 348 incidents, though they are less frequent, typically involving more severe outcomes due to the direct impact between vehicles. Rear-end collisions, another common crash type, number 343 and are often the result of drivers not maintaining a safe following distance.
Vehicle-pedestrian crashes come next with 284 incidents, a significant concern given the potential for serious injuries or fatalities. Hit object crashes, where vehicles collide with stationary objects like signs or poles, total 280. Sideswipe collisions, occurring when two vehicles make contact while traveling in the same or opposite direction, add up to 263 incidents. Finally, overturned crashes, though less frequent, still account for 75 collisions, often resulting in more severe injuries due to the nature of the crash.
Broadside collisions are the most dangerous and most common type of intersection crash in Kern County, making up 64.19% of fatal crashes and 71.23% of other intersection crashes. These T-bone crashes often result from drivers failing to yield or running red lights, exposing vehicle occupants to direct side impacts where there is less structural protection.
As previously discussed, crashes involving pedestrians, while less frequent, are disproportionately fatal. They account for just 3.87% of non-fatal crashes but 10.68% of fatal crashes, highlighting the extreme risk pedestrians face at intersections. Similarly, hit-object crashes, where vehicles collide with poles, guardrails, or other fixed structures, make up 7.68% of fatal crashes compared to 4.23% of other severities. These crashes often involve high speeds or loss of control which contribute to their serious outcomes.
Head-on and overturned crashes, though less frequent, still pose risks, with a slightly higher share of fatalities than other severities. In contrast, rear-end and sideswipe collisions are less likely to be fatal, as they typically occur at lower speeds.
Lighting Conditions and Crash Severity Comparison
In this section, we examine the impact of lighting conditions on intersection crashes in Kern County, comparing how these conditions correlate with crash severity, including both fatal and non-fatal incidents.
Most intersection crashes in Kern County occur in daylight, making up 66% of all incidents. This could suggest that factors beyond visibility, such as traffic volume and driver behavior, contribute significantly to crash risks. Nighttime conditions are still a concern, with nearly 23% of crashes happening in areas with street lighting and 6.18% in unlit areas. Dusk and dawn account for 4.78% of crashes, while intersections with non-functioning streetlights make up just 0.22%. While lighting conditions may play a role in crash frequency, other factors like road design and driver alertness could also influence these trends.
The following chart compares the distribution of fatal crashes and other severities under different lighting environments.
The data reveals that daylight remains the dominant condition for both fatal and non-fatal intersection crashes, with 52.21% of fatal crashes and 68.03% of non-fatal crashes occurring during the day. While this may seem surprising given the perception that nighttime crashes are more dangerous, it likely reflects the overall volume of traffic and the sheer number of daylight hours in which vehicles are on the road.
However, a closer look at nighttime conditions reveals a risk for fatal crashes. In these varied conditions, fatal crashes made up a larger proportion of the total when compared to non-fatal crashes. This highlights the additional danger posed by poorly lit intersections at night.
Alcohol Involvement in Fatal Intersection Crashes
Last, we examine the role of alcohol in fatal intersection crashes.
While alcohol-related crashes are a subset of all intersection collisions, they account for 21.88% of fatal crashes. This pattern points to the heightened danger of impaired driving.
Path Forward for Intersection Safety in Kern County
Kern County faces significant intersection safety challenges, with a crash rate 32.41% higher than the California county average. Among the most dangerous intersections, Rosamond Boulevard and B Street, along with Union Avenue and California Avenue in Bakersfield, recorded the highest danger scores, a score based on crash frequency and severity. State Route 43 and Garces Highway ranked third. Notably, all of the 15 most dangerous intersections are located in either Bakersfield or unincorporated areas. During the past five years, Bakersfield saw a total of 2,918 intersection crashes, while unincorporated areas, home to places like Sequoia National Forest and other outdoor recreation spots, experienced 2,325. This high crash volume is expected, given Bakersfield’s size and the county’s role as a hub for visitors.
With high crash figures in 2023 and a significant increase in minor injury crashes, improving intersection safety requires focusing on the most common violations, crash types, and conditions that contribute to incidents. “Right of Way” violations remain the most common cause of crashes, while broadside (T-bone) collisions continue to be both the most frequent and the deadliest, accounting for 64.19% of fatal crashes. Alcohol involvement in 21.88% of fatal crashes stresses the persistent dangers of impaired driving.
Kern County has taken steps to address safety through initiatives like the state’s Vision Zero plan and the Safe Streets program, but the next few years will be critical to track progress. As city planners and policymakers review this data, implementing evidence-based safety measures will be crucial in continuing to make Kern County’s roads safer for all users.
Methodology
For this study, we analyzed crash data from the Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) covering the years 2020 to 2024.
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