Fatal Roads

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Cecil County

Residents 106,305Deaths 2024 24Deaths 2015–2024 218Latest 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.

Cecil County, Maryland, recorded 24 deaths in 23 fatal crashes in 2024, the latest FARS data year, and 218 deaths in 200 fatal crashes over 2015–2024.

With 106,305 residents, that is 21.0 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, about 2.3 times the Maryland rate of 9.1 and above the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll rose 20% from 181 in 2005–2014 to 218 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is speeding: 28.5% against 26.2% for Maryland.

39% of the county's fatal crashes happened between 6pm to midnight, and Saturday was the most common day (18%).

24deaths in 202423 fatal crashes
105deaths, 2020–2024218 over ten years
21.0per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 22.6
+131%vs Maryland ratestate 9.1 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

02040197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 28 deaths1976: 15 deaths1977: 15 deaths1978: 26 deaths1979: 19 deaths1980: 22 deaths1981: 24 deaths1982: 19 deaths1983: 19 deaths1984: 11 deaths1985: 18 deaths1986: 40 deaths1987: 25 deaths1988: 27 deaths1989: 29 deaths1990: 20 deaths1991: 27 deaths1992: 22 deaths1993: 19 deaths1994: 17 deaths1995: 24 deaths1996: 16 deaths1997: 19 deaths1998: 27 deaths1999: 32 deaths2000: 17 deaths2001: 21 deaths2002: 27 deaths2003: 23 deaths2004: 27 deaths2005: 21 deaths2006: 22 deaths2007: 22 deaths2008: 17 deaths2009: 13 deaths2010: 17 deaths2011: 22 deaths2012: 16 deaths2013: 17 deaths2014: 14 deaths2015: 16 deaths2016: 21 deaths2017: 31 deaths2018: 26 deaths2019: 19 deaths2020: 17 deaths2021: 16 deaths2022: 22 deaths2023: 26 deaths2024: 24 deaths
People killed in crashes in Cecil County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 24 deaths.

Ten-year total up 20% (181 in 2005–2014, 218 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

MeasureCecilMarylandUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202421.09.111.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202422.69.211.5
Deaths, 2015–20242185,548389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–20242005,195358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years+20%+2%+7%
Crashes on rural roads29%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 106,305 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking25.5%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver28.5%
Pedestriansshare of people killed13.3%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed15.6%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used43.3%
In darknesscrashes after dark49%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads28.6%

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 Cecil County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 200 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Saturday18%
Sunday17%
Thursday16%
Friday15%
Wednesday12%
Monday12%
Tuesday12%

Light condition

Daylight45%
Dark, not lighted32%
Dark, lighted16%
Dawn4%
Dusk2%
Dark, lighting unknown2%

Road type

Other principal arterial25%
Minor arterial25%
Local17%
Interstate15%
Major collector13%
Minor collector5%
Other freeways and expressways1%

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%
Cloudy8%
Rain7%
Fog, smog or smoke2%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain1%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow1%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Cecil

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1Interstate 95Interstate2923425232%31%
2US Route 40US highway2716617815%19%
3State Route 213State highway17252816%24%
4US Route 1US highway814516117%26%
5US Route 301US highway212714230%22%
6State Route 210State highway1444725%16%
7State Route 7State highway1242442%25%

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
20242324522.6MD 2024
20232426424.5MD 2023
20221922920.7MD 2022
20211616315.1MD 2021
20201617316.0MD 2020
20191519417.9MD 2019
20182326624.5MD 2018
201730311029.2MD 2017
20161921519.8MD 2016
201515161–215.1MD 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 Cecil County, Maryland?

24 people died in 23 fatal crashes in 2024; 105 over 2020–2024 and 218 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Cecil compare with Maryland?

21.0 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 Cecil involved alcohol?

25.5% 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 speeding at 28.5%.

Which roads in Cecil see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, Interstate 95 (29 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), US Route 40 (27 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route 213 (17 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Cecil?

Most often between 6pm to midnight (39% of crashes) and on Saturdays (18%); 49.0% 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.