About SafetyFirst
SafetyFirst is a free route planner that helps California drivers find the path with the fewest historical collisions per mile using over 2 million crash records to target routes with a lower accident density.
How it works
When you enter two addresses, SafetyFirst:
- Fetches alternative driving routes from the Google Maps Directions API.
- Overlays each route against California collision records, counting crashes that occurred within 25 meters of the road.
- Ranks routes by collisions per mile — the route with the lowest rate is highlighted as the safest.
- Lets you filter by year range, month, day of week, and time of day to match conditions similar to when you plan to drive.
- Optionally factors in the Compound Friction Score, which scores routes by how rushed and stacked their turns and merges are, alongside collision history.
Data
Collision data comes from the California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Coverage now spans all 58 California counties, from the Oregon border to the Mexican border, spanning 2014–2025.
Limitations
Historical collision counts reflect past patterns, not a guarantee of future safety. Road conditions, construction, weather, and driver behavior all affect real-world risk. Always drive safely and follow all traffic laws.
Contact
Questions, feedback, or data issues? Reach out at Info.SafetyFirstCA@gmail.com.