Fatal Roads

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Maryland · county

Baltimore city

Residents 568,271Deaths 2024 61Deaths 2015–2024 491Latest data year 2024

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Latest data year: 2024. Figures are aggregates from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System; no individual crash is identified.

Baltimore city, Maryland, recorded 61 deaths in 58 fatal crashes in 2024, the latest FARS data year, and 491 deaths in 464 fatal crashes over 2015–2024.

With 568,271 residents, that is 8.3 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, close to the Maryland rate of 9.1 and below the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll rose 34% from 367 in 2005–2014 to 491 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is pedestrians: 37.9% against 23.1% for Maryland.

35% of the county's fatal crashes happened between 6pm to midnight, and Saturday was the most common day (16%).

61deaths in 202458 fatal crashes
269deaths, 2020–2024491 over ten years
8.3per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 10.7
-9%vs Maryland ratestate 9.1 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

04079197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 67 deaths1976: 78 deaths1977: 65 deaths1978: 69 deaths1979: 66 deaths1980: 66 deaths1981: 64 deaths1982: 63 deaths1983: 59 deaths1984: 64 deaths1985: 72 deaths1986: 65 deaths1987: 79 deaths1988: 63 deaths1989: 60 deaths1990: 49 deaths1991: 64 deaths1992: 55 deaths1993: 67 deaths1994: 67 deaths1995: 51 deaths1996: 51 deaths1997: 49 deaths1998: 43 deaths1999: 45 deaths2000: 50 deaths2001: 54 deaths2002: 42 deaths2003: 37 deaths2004: 44 deaths2005: 34 deaths2006: 45 deaths2007: 47 deaths2008: 48 deaths2009: 40 deaths2010: 39 deaths2011: 25 deaths2012: 28 deaths2013: 31 deaths2014: 30 deaths2015: 42 deaths2016: 53 deaths2017: 44 deaths2018: 34 deaths2019: 49 deaths2020: 68 deaths2021: 48 deaths2022: 46 deaths2023: 46 deaths2024: 61 deaths
People killed in crashes in Baltimore city by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 61 deaths.

Ten-year total up 34% (367 in 2005–2014, 491 in 2015–2024). The shaded band is the ten-year window used for rates and shares. County codes are matched to today's Census county list; a few historic code changes are merged.

Compared with Maryland and the nation

MeasureBaltimore cityMarylandUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–20248.39.111.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202410.79.211.5
Deaths, 2015–20244915,548389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–20244645,195358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years+34%+2%+7%
Crashes on rural roads1%19%43%

Rates divide deaths by Census Bureau population estimates for each year (residents, not road users; through traffic on major routes raises the rate of small counties). Population 568,271 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking20.9%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver33.2%
Pedestriansshare of people killed37.9%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed12.6%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used51.8%
In darknesscrashes after dark56.5%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads0.7%

tick marks the Maryland share. Bars are shares of fatal crashes (alcohol, speeding, darkness, rural) or of people killed (pedestrians, motorcyclists, unrestrained occupants) over the ten-year window.

"Alcohol" counts crashes where police reported at least one driver as drinking (FARS DR_DRINK), not the BAC-based alcohol-impaired measure NHTSA publishes separately. "Speeding" counts crashes with a driver coded as racing, exceeding the limit or too fast for conditions. Details in the methodology. Factor pages: alcohol, speeding, pedestrians, motorcycles, unrestrained occupants.

Time of day and day of week

12am3am6am9am12pm3pm6pm9pm
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat

Fatal crashes in Baltimore city by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 464 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Saturday16%
Sunday16%
Thursday15%
Monday14%
Tuesday14%
Wednesday14%
Friday12%

Light condition

Dark, lighted54%
Daylight40%
Dark, not lighted3%
Dusk2%
Dawn2%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Other principal arterial57%
Minor arterial21%
Interstate9%
Major collector8%
Local4%
Other freeways and expressways0%
Minor collector0%

FHWA functional classes as coded in FARS (FUNC_SYS), share of fatal crashes with a reported class; tick marks the Maryland share. Interstates and other principal arterials carry the most traffic, so a high share there is expected. See what the road classes mean.

Weather

Clear81%
Cloudy10%
Rain9%
Fog, smog or smoke1%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain0%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Baltimore city

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1US Route 1US highway4614516117%26%
2US Route 40US highway2116617815%19%
3Interstate 95Interstate1723425232%31%
4State Route 140State highway13596417%22%
5Interstate 83Interstate13434830%33%
6State Route 26State highway8586117%31%
7State Route 2State highway7808519%10%
8State Route 151State highway7202215%40%
9State Route 150State highway4323531%25%
10State Route 295State highway3858942%46%

Signed routes (Interstate, US and state highways) that have a page on this site, ranked by fatal crashes in this county over 2015–2024; "fatal crashes" and "deaths" columns are the statewide totals for the route. Local streets and county roads are not listed.

By year, 2015–2024

YearFatal crashesDeathsDrinking-driver crashesPer 100,000
202458611510.7MD 2024
20234546108.1MD 2023
2022454678.1MD 2022
2021474898.4MD 2021
202063681512.0MD 2020
20194549118.6MD 2019
2018333446.0MD 2018
2017434467.7MD 2017
2016465399.3MD 2016
20153942117.4MD 2015

Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule). Per-100,000 uses the 2024 population for every year in this table; the ten-year rate above uses each year's estimate.

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Baltimore city, Maryland?

61 people died in 58 fatal crashes in 2024; 269 over 2020–2024 and 491 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Baltimore city compare with Maryland?

8.3 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 9.1 for Maryland and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Baltimore city involved alcohol?

20.9% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 27.9% in Maryland. The factor furthest above the state share was pedestrians at 37.9%.

Which roads in Baltimore city see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, US Route 1 (46 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), US Route 40 (21 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and Interstate 95 (17 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Baltimore city?

Most often between 6pm to midnight (35% of crashes) and on Saturdays (16%); 56.5% happened after dark.

Where does this data come from?

NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System annual files (1975–2024) and Census Bureau county population estimates. Figures are aggregates; no individual crash is identified. See the methodology page for definitions.

Provenance

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System, annual national CSV files 1975–2024 (accident table for every year; vehicle and person tables for 2015–2024), public domain. Population: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals (vintages 2000–2010, 2010–2020 and 2020–2024). Data through 31 Dec 2024; page generated 30 Sep 2026. Processing errors are corrected at the next build; see corrections and sources.