Do wealthy drivers crash more because they drive faster cars? Or are poorer counties more dangerous because of crumbling roads? A new analysis from Omega Law Group of 2023 motor vehicle fatality data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggests the truth is layered and surprising.
Nationwide, 40,901 people lost their lives in car crashes in 2023. The primary causes remain consistent: drunk driving, speeding, failure to wear seatbelts, and distracted driving. Young adults between 19 and 21 years old continue to face the highest fatality risk, with crashes ranking as their leading cause of death.
In California, the nation’s most populous state with 39.2 million residents, 4,061 people died in crashes, representing 10% of the national total. By comparing California’s wealthiest counties with its poorest ones, the study set out to answer one question: Does income level influence crash risk?
Wealthiest vs. Poorest Counties
The economic divide in California is striking.
- Top-earning counties: Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, San Francisco, and Alameda, where median household incomes range from $112,000 to $140,000.
- Lowest-earning counties: Trinity, Imperial, Siskiyou, Modoc, and Tehama, where incomes fall between $42,000 and $52,000.
This gulf reflects broader patterns: wealthy counties benefit from booming tech hubs, high education levels, and strong job markets, while poorer counties are rural, resource-based, and underfunded.
Fatalities: Rich Counties Record More Deaths
The five richest counties logged 294 crash deaths in 2023, compared with just 58 fatalities in the five poorest counties.
At first glance, the data might suggest wealthy counties are more dangerous. But population size changes the picture entirely:
- The five wealthiest counties together house 4.4 million residents.
- The five poorest counties combined total just 312,000 people.
That’s a 14-to-1 population ratio. More people, more cars, and more congestion naturally produce more crashes.
Road Quality: A Hidden Safety Divide
Where wealth makes a measurable difference is in infrastructure.
- Wealthy counties like Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo score between 67 and 74 on the Pavement Condition Index (PCI), meaning their roads are ranked “Fair” to “Good.” Smooth pavement, clear signage, and frequent maintenance reduce accident severity and improve safety.
- Poor counties like Modoc and Trinity often score below 50, falling into “Poor” or “At Risk” categories. Drivers there contend with cracked pavement, potholes, poor lighting, and underfunded repair programs.
Even though fewer crashes occur in rural counties, the risk per mile driven is higher due to deteriorating infrastructure.
Vehicles and Emergency Access
The study also highlights differences in vehicle safety and emergency response.
- Wealthier drivers are more likely to own newer cars with airbags, collision-avoidance systems, and stability control—all features proven to save lives.
- Lower-income drivers often rely on older vehicles lacking modern protections. In rural areas, limited trauma centers and slower EMS response times further raise fatality risk after a crash.
In this way, wealth provides a protective buffer, not by preventing crashes, but by reducing their severity and improving survival chances.
The Nuanced Role of Wealth
So, does wealth determine car accident likelihood? The data suggests:
- More crashes in rich counties: Driven by population density and traffic congestion, not inherently riskier drivers.
- More danger in poor counties: Fewer total crashes, but worse outcomes due to unsafe roads, older vehicles, and slower emergency care.
In other words, wealth doesn’t eliminate accidents, but it shapes the driving environment. Rich counties experience more collisions simply because more cars share the roads, but those crashes often occur on safer infrastructure with better-equipped vehicles. Poorer counties record fewer collisions overall, but their drivers face a higher risk every time they get behind the wheel.
“The numbers show that income level matters, not in how often crashes happen, but in how severe the risks are,” the study concludes. “Where you live in California may matter as much as how you drive.”
The Bottom Line
California’s wealthiest counties log more fatalities because of their size and density, while poorer counties struggle with unsafe roads that make every trip riskier. The study underscores that improving infrastructure funding, vehicle safety access, and emergency response in rural, low-income regions could save lives, even if crash totals remain lower than in crowded metro areas.
