Sacramento once again has the worst overall injury crash rating among the 13 largest cities in California, new data for 2010 show.

It marks the fifth year in a row that the city's "composite ranking" landed it at the bottom of its size category, below San Francisco, Oakland, Fresno and San Jose, among others. Los Angeles was second-worst overall in the big-city group.

The data, compiled by the Office of Traffic Safety, rank cities by per capita injury and fatality crashes, alcohol-related crashes, and injuries involving pedestrians and bicyclists.

Sacramento had one of the highest rates of alcohol-involved crashes among big cities. It also had the highest injury rate caused by drivers ages 21 to 34.

The news is not all bad for Sacramento, however.

The actual number of deaths and injuries dropped for the fifth year, in line with a national trend of fewer highway deaths.

There were 3,468 injuries and deaths (mainly injuries) in crashes in the city in 2010, a 23 percent drop from 2006, the first year the state did the rankings.

Alcohol-involved injury crashes dipped to 326. That's 32 percent below 2006.

The city's high crash rate remains a mystery.

"There is nothing we can point to, no obvious reasons Sacramento has a bigger problem," said Chris Cochran of the state traffic safety office.

Other Valley cities do better. Fresno is safest among the big 13. Bakersfield is safer. Stockton is fourth in the big-city group.

Sacramento police have said budget issues have limited their traffic patrols.

Some people theorize that drivers from around the county converge on central city restaurants and bars, adding to the city's DUI crash problems.

Then there are some who say Sacramentans simply are bad drivers. The city notably has a lot of speed- related crashes.

Other local data from the rankings:

• Sacramento city has the third-highest rate of bicyclists hit by drivers among the 13 big cities.

• Sacramento County has a high rate of injury crashes, including those involving pedestrians and children on bikes.

• Citrus Heights has a lot of speed-related crashes.

• Roseville also rates as a higher-risk city, ranking seventh-worst overall of 53 cities in its category.

• Davis ranks as one of the safest cities in the state in its category. But the cycling city was sixth-worst for bicyclist injuries.

• Rocklin is even safer than Davis in its category. Only four of 103 cities rated better.

• Yolo and El Dorado have some of the lowest injury crash rates in the state among counties.

To review the statistics, which cover every city and county in California, go to: www.ots.ca.gov and click on the "media and research" tab, then click on "OTS Collision Rankings."

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.

• Read more articles by Tony Bizjak

Order Reprint