COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Madera County, California
Road fatality data for Madera County (CA). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 286
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 28
- Latest Year Deaths
- 17.2
- Per 100k Residents
- Increasing
- Trend
The verdict
According to NHTSA FARS, Madera County ranks #1,054 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #21 of 54 rated counties in CA. Madera County's fatality rate of 17.2 per 100,000 residents places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure.
- #1,054 of 2,328
- national by fatality rate
- #21 of 54
- in CA by rate
- 45%
- of rated U.S. counties are deadlier per capita
- Increasing
- fatality trend
What the Data Shows
Madera County, California recorded 286 total road fatalities across 245 reported crashes during the 2016-2023 reporting window, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The most recent year covered by the data logged 28 deaths on county roads, and the annual average works out to approximately 31.8 fatalities per year. Adjusted for population, the fatality rate is 17.2 per 100,000 residents, which places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Despite a comparatively active crash history (245 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Madera County in the current FARS release, so readers looking for contributing-factor data should use the California state page, which aggregates county-level case files into statewide totals. Either way, the underlying records are drawn from a census of fatal crashes, not a statistical sample, so the counts are actual deaths rather than estimates.
The directional trend for Madera County is increasing, which means annual fatalities have risen across the reporting period and may warrant closer attention from local transportation and enforcement agencies. Residents, insurers, and policy analysts can use this baseline alongside population density, highway mile data, and rural-versus-urban road mix to judge whether Madera County's 286-death total is proportionate to its exposure. All numbers are for research and informational use only.
Total Fatalities
286
Latest Year
28
Avg Annual
31.8
Rate per 100K
17.2
Trend
↑ Increasing
How does Madera County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Madera County is About the same as the comparison
2023 road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents and a 2023 FARS record.
Among the 15 rated counties in California, Madera County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 16.9 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure. The gap between Madera County's rate and the state average is 0.3 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Colusa County, at 22.7 per 100,000 (a difference of 5.5). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Trinity County (51.1), Glenn County (46.2), Siskiyou County (42.0), Inyo County (37.8), Tuolumne County (35.1), Calaveras County (30.1), Lake County (28.0), Amador County (26.3), Kings County (24.9), Mendocino County (24.7), Lassen County (24.3), Sutter County (23.5), Yuba County (23.3), Colusa County (22.7).
Madera County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
17 45th percentile a lower per-capita rate than 45% of 2,328 rated counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-08-09
Madera County's rate vs. the California state average
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Madera County, California?
Madera County recorded 286 total traffic fatalities across 245 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 28 fatalities. The county averages approximately 31.8 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Madera County?
Despite a comparatively active crash history (245 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Madera County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for California may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Madera County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Madera County is increasing. This indicates that traffic fatalities have risen over the data period, warranting attention to road safety initiatives.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Madera County?
Madera County has a fatality rate of 17.2 per 100,000 residents, which places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does Madera County rank for road fatality rate?
According to NHTSA FARS, Madera County ranks #1,054 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #21 of 54 rated counties in CA, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Madera County compare to the rest of California?
Madera County's per-capita rate of 17.2 per 100,000 residents is above the California county average of 16.9. Visit the California state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Madera County come from?
All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2023 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) This information is for research and informational purposes only
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainRoadSafety is computed directly from NHTSA FARS census data, no number is typed in by an editor. County figures are computed directly from NHTSA FARS census data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.