Pursuit statistics
What published sources say about officers in vehicle pursuits, and about pursuits in the United States and in California.
In California in 2023, 101 law enforcement officers were injured in pursuit crashes. CHP reported 0 officer deaths. No national count of officers injured or killed in pursuits appears in the sources reviewed.
2023 · California Highway Patrol · Report to the Legislature, Senate Bill 719: Police Pursuits, 2023 data, dated July 2024
Every pursuit reported to CHP by California city, county and state agencies; federal agencies are excluded.
Every pursuit reported to CHP by California city, county and state agencies; federal agencies are excluded. CHP: no officer fatalities reported from a pursuit crash.
Officers in pursuit crashes
Law enforcement officers in California pursuit crashes
These are California's own counts for two single years. They are not a rate and not a national figure.
2023 · California Highway Patrol · Report to the Legislature, Senate Bill 719: Police Pursuits, 2023 data, dated July 2024
2022 · California Highway Patrol · Report to the Legislature, Senate Bill 719: Police Pursuits, 2022 data, June 2023
Every pursuit reported to CHP by California city, county and state agencies; federal agencies are excluded.
Every pursuit reported to CHP by California city, county and state agencies; federal agencies are excluded. CHP: no officer fatalities reported from a pursuit crash.
National pursuit data are incomplete: pursuit totals are survey estimates, agency reporting to the national pursuit database is voluntary, and the federal fatality count likely underestimates deaths.
The authors of the JAMA study state that FARS, the federal fatality system, relies on police crash reports, in which pursuit involvement may be underreported or misclassified, and that it records only the final crash of a pursuit.
Sources for this notice: Police Vehicle Pursuits, 2012–2013 (NCJ 250545); Police Pursuit Fatalities in the US, 2009–2023.
What the national sources say about officers
The BJS share is a share of all pursuit-related deaths, and the IACP share is a share of serious injuries in a voluntary sample. Neither is a count of officers.
These items come from the IACP/LogIn Pursuits database, as reported by BJS. Agencies report to it voluntarily, and BJS states these data are “not necessarily representative of all pursuits occurring nationwide.”
1996–2015 · Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice · Police Vehicle Pursuits, 2012–2013 (NCJ 250545), May 2017
2009–2013 · Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice · Police Vehicle Pursuits, 2012–2013 (NCJ 250545), May 2017
BJS: slightly more than 1% of pursuit-related deaths. FARS data (Fatality Analysis Reporting System, NHTSA), as reported by BJS.
From the IACP/LogIn Pursuits database, as reported by BJS. Agencies report to it voluntarily: 115 agencies, 5,568 pursuits. BJS states these data are “not necessarily representative of all pursuits occurring nationwide.”
Officers injured or killed in pursuits, nationwide
No national count of officers injured or killed in pursuits appears in the sources reviewed for this page, and none of them counts crashes by whether the pursuing vehicle was in the crash. The officer figures shown are California's own counts, a share of national deaths, and a share of injuries in a voluntary sample.
What dispatch can see without a radio call
A dispatcher watching LVTRAQ sees a unit's position, speed and street on a map, with the age of each position. Dispatch does not need the officer to say where the unit is for that information to be on the screen.
LVTRAQ is a supplemental situational-awareness aid. It does not replace voice radio, a position shown may be delayed, and status is confirmed by radio before any tactical decision.
This page does not claim that any of this changes the number of crashes, injuries or deaths. No source on this page measures LVTRAQ or any dispatch tool.
United States
The JAMA and BJS national fatality figures both rest on FARS data, so they do not independently confirm each other.
How many pursuits, and how many ended in death
2012 · Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice · Police Vehicle Pursuits, 2012–2013 (NCJ 250545), May 2017
General purpose state and local agencies only; federal and special jurisdiction agencies are excluded. Pursuit counts are a survey estimate.
FARS data (Fatality Analysis Reporting System, NHTSA), as reported by BJS.
BJS divides the FARS count of fatal pursuit crashes by the survey estimate of pursuits (about 0.4%). General purpose state and local agencies only.
Deaths in pursuit crashes, FARS data (JAMA analysis)
2009–2023 · JAMA Network Open, analysis of NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System data · Police Pursuit Fatalities in the US, 2009–2023, April 1, 2026
FARS data: deaths recorded in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (NHTSA), which counts deaths within 30 days of a crash.
The authors report an annual increase in an adjusted fatality rate, not a rise in the raw number of deaths. Adjusted for population and total US crash volume; 95% confidence interval 1% to 3%. FARS data: deaths within 30 days recorded in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (NHTSA).
- Fatal pursuit crashes, lowest year, 2011280
- Fatal pursuit crashes a year, average, 2009–2023362
- Fatal pursuit crashes, highest year, 2022496
Bars start at zero and share one scale within this chart.
2011 · JAMA Network Open, analysis of NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System data · Police Pursuit Fatalities in the US, 2009–2023, April 1, 2026
2009–2023 · JAMA Network Open, analysis of NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System data · Police Pursuit Fatalities in the US, 2009–2023, April 1, 2026
2022 · JAMA Network Open, analysis of NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System data · Police Pursuit Fatalities in the US, 2009–2023, April 1, 2026
FARS data: deaths recorded in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (NHTSA), which counts deaths within 30 days of a crash.
An earlier period, FARS data as reported by BJS
1996–2015 · Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice · Police Vehicle Pursuits, 2012–2013 (NCJ 250545), May 2017
2006–2007 · Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice · Police Vehicle Pursuits, 2012–2013 (NCJ 250545), May 2017
BJS reports about 1 death a day. FARS data (Fatality Analysis Reporting System, NHTSA), as reported by BJS.
BJS: the number of deaths peaked in 2006 and 2007 at more than 400 a year. FARS data (Fatality Analysis Reporting System, NHTSA), as reported by BJS.
Who died in a pursuit crash
1996–2015 · Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice · Police Vehicle Pursuits, 2012–2013 (NCJ 250545), May 2017
Share of pursuit-related deaths. FARS data (Fatality Analysis Reporting System, NHTSA), as reported by BJS.
BJS: slightly more than 1% of pursuit-related deaths. FARS data (Fatality Analysis Reporting System, NHTSA), as reported by BJS.
People outside a motor vehicle
2009–2023 · JAMA Network Open, analysis of NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System data · Police Pursuit Fatalities in the US, 2009–2023, April 1, 2026
FARS data: deaths recorded in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (NHTSA), which counts deaths within 30 days of a crash. People who were not occupants of a motor vehicle, such as pedestrians and cyclists.
Injuries and how pursuits ended, IACP/LogIn voluntary database
These items come from the IACP/LogIn Pursuits database, as reported by BJS. Agencies report to it voluntarily, and BJS states these data are “not necessarily representative of all pursuits occurring nationwide.”
2009–2013 · Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice · Police Vehicle Pursuits, 2012–2013 (NCJ 250545), May 2017
From the IACP/LogIn Pursuits database, as reported by BJS. Agencies report to it voluntarily: 115 agencies, 5,568 pursuits. BJS states these data are “not necessarily representative of all pursuits occurring nationwide.”
From the IACP/LogIn Pursuits database, as reported by BJS. Agencies report to it voluntarily: 115 agencies, 5,568 pursuits. BJS states these data are “not necessarily representative of all pursuits occurring nationwide.” This counts pursuits that ended at the boundary; it does not measure how many pursuits crossed one and continued.
California, from the state's mandatory pursuit reports
California is shown separately because its agencies must report every pursuit to the California Highway Patrol, which publishes the totals each year.
Pursuits reported and how many ended in a crash
2023 · California Highway Patrol · Report to the Legislature, Senate Bill 719: Police Pursuits, 2023 data, dated July 2024
Every pursuit reported to CHP by California city, county and state agencies; federal agencies are excluded.
Crash outcomes
2023 · California Highway Patrol · Report to the Legislature, Senate Bill 719: Police Pursuits, 2023 data, dated July 2024
Every pursuit reported to CHP by California city, county and state agencies; federal agencies are excluded.
Who was harmed, 2023
| Role | Deaths | Share of deaths | Injured | Share of injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drivers of the pursued vehicle | 20 | 46.5% | 626 | 41.5% |
| Passengers in the pursued vehicle | 10 | 23.3% | 309 | 20.5% |
| Uninvolved third parties | 13 | 30.2% | 473 | 31.3% |
| Law enforcement officers | 0 | 0.0% | 101 | 6.7% |
2023 · California Highway Patrol · Report to the Legislature, Senate Bill 719: Police Pursuits, 2023 data, dated July 2024
Every pursuit reported to CHP by California city, county and state agencies; federal agencies are excluded.
Every pursuit reported to CHP by California city, county and state agencies; federal agencies are excluded. CHP: no officer fatalities reported from a pursuit crash.
- Pursuits reported, 202211,985
- Pursuits reported, 202313,627
Bars start at zero and share one scale within this chart.
2022 · California Highway Patrol · Report to the Legislature, Senate Bill 719: Police Pursuits, 2022 data, June 2023
2023 · California Highway Patrol · Report to the Legislature, Senate Bill 719: Police Pursuits, 2023 data, dated July 2024
Every pursuit reported to CHP by California city, county and state agencies; federal agencies are excluded.
- Deaths, 202234
- Deaths, 202343
Bars start at zero and share one scale within this chart.
2022 · California Highway Patrol · Report to the Legislature, Senate Bill 719: Police Pursuits, 2022 data, June 2023
2023 · California Highway Patrol · Report to the Legislature, Senate Bill 719: Police Pursuits, 2023 data, dated July 2024
Every pursuit reported to CHP by California city, county and state agencies; federal agencies are excluded.
- People injured, 20221,345
- People injured, 20231,509
Bars start at zero and share one scale within this chart.
2022 · California Highway Patrol · Report to the Legislature, Senate Bill 719: Police Pursuits, 2022 data, June 2023
2023 · California Highway Patrol · Report to the Legislature, Senate Bill 719: Police Pursuits, 2023 data, dated July 2024
Every pursuit reported to CHP by California city, county and state agencies; federal agencies are excluded.
- Injured: law enforcement officers, 202270
- Injured: law enforcement officers, 2023101
Bars start at zero and share one scale within this chart.
2022 · California Highway Patrol · Report to the Legislature, Senate Bill 719: Police Pursuits, 2022 data, June 2023
2023 · California Highway Patrol · Report to the Legislature, Senate Bill 719: Police Pursuits, 2023 data, dated July 2024
Every pursuit reported to CHP by California city, county and state agencies; federal agencies are excluded.
The previous year, for comparison
2022 · California Highway Patrol · Report to the Legislature, Senate Bill 719: Police Pursuits, 2022 data, June 2023
Every pursuit reported to CHP by California city, county and state agencies; federal agencies are excluded.
Limits
Figures from different sources cover different periods, agencies and definitions. Read each figure with its own source line; do not compare figures across sources.
Sources
- Police Vehicle Pursuits, 2012–2013 (NCJ 250545) · Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice · May 2017Open the document
- Police Pursuit Fatalities in the US, 2009–2023 · JAMA Network Open, analysis of NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System data · April 1, 2026Open the document
- Report to the Legislature, Senate Bill 719: Police Pursuits, 2023 data · California Highway Patrol · dated July 2024Open the document
- Report to the Legislature, Senate Bill 719: Police Pursuits, 2022 data · California Highway Patrol · June 2023Open the document