Fatal Roads

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North Carolina · county

Surry County

Residents 71,547Deaths 2024 12Deaths 2015–2024 141Latest 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.

Surry County, North Carolina, recorded 12 deaths in 12 fatal crashes in 2024, the latest FARS data year, and 141 deaths in 133 fatal crashes over 2015–2024.

With 71,547 residents, that is 19.7 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 36% higher than the North Carolina rate of 14.5 and above the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll fell 5% from 148 in 2005–2014 to 141 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is motorcyclists: 13.5% against 13.5% for North Carolina.

41% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Wednesday was the most common day (17%).

12deaths in 202412 fatal crashes
68deaths, 2020–2024141 over ten years
19.7per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 16.8
+36%vs North Carolina ratestate 14.5 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

01428197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 27 deaths1976: 18 deaths1977: 21 deaths1978: 13 deaths1979: 11 deaths1980: 22 deaths1981: 11 deaths1982: 8 deaths1983: 12 deaths1984: 9 deaths1985: 11 deaths1986: 14 deaths1987: 15 deaths1988: 21 deaths1989: 19 deaths1990: 10 deaths1991: 12 deaths1992: 7 deaths1993: 16 deaths1994: 21 deaths1995: 17 deaths1996: 15 deaths1997: 18 deaths1998: 12 deaths1999: 28 deaths2000: 19 deaths2001: 18 deaths2002: 22 deaths2003: 22 deaths2004: 15 deaths2005: 19 deaths2006: 16 deaths2007: 18 deaths2008: 9 deaths2009: 16 deaths2010: 13 deaths2011: 9 deaths2012: 19 deaths2013: 11 deaths2014: 18 deaths2015: 16 deaths2016: 18 deaths2017: 8 deaths2018: 11 deaths2019: 20 deaths2020: 14 deaths2021: 16 deaths2022: 16 deaths2023: 10 deaths2024: 12 deaths
People killed in crashes in Surry County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 12 deaths.

Ten-year total down 5% (148 in 2005–2014, 141 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 North Carolina and the nation

MeasureSurryNorth CarolinaUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202419.714.511.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202416.814.711.5
Deaths, 2015–202414115,192389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–202413314,061358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years-5%+9%+7%
Crashes on rural roads73%57%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 71,547 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking20.3%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver25.6%
Pedestriansshare of people killed10.6%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed13.5%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used46.6%
In darknesscrashes after dark41.7%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads72.9%

tick marks the North Carolina 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 Surry County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 133 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Wednesday17%
Saturday17%
Thursday17%
Sunday15%
Friday14%
Tuesday12%
Monday8%

Light condition

Daylight58%
Dark, not lighted34%
Dark, lighted5%
Dark, lighting unknown2%
Dawn0%
Dusk0%

Road type

Local23%
Minor arterial19%
Other principal arterial18%
Major collector14%
Interstate11%
Other freeways and expressways8%
Minor collector8%

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

Weather

Clear75%
Cloudy13%
Rain8%
Fog, smog or smoke4%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain0%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Surry

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1US Route 52US highway20849323%24%
2Interstate 77Interstate1013214326%32%
3State Route 268State highway10222423%14%
4US Route 601US highway8576514%16%
5Interstate 74Interstate5333521%33%
6US Route 21US highway3343815%32%
7US Route 258US highway1646920%27%

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
202412121–216.8NC 2024
20231010014.0NC 2023
202214161–222.4NC 2022
20211616322.4NC 2021
20201314419.6NC 2020
20191820428.0NC 2019
2018911415.4NC 2018
2017881–211.2NC 2017
20161718425.2NC 2016
20151616522.4NC 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 Surry County, North Carolina?

12 people died in 12 fatal crashes in 2024; 68 over 2020–2024 and 141 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Surry compare with North Carolina?

19.7 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 14.5 for North Carolina and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Surry involved alcohol?

20.3% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 25.3% in North Carolina. The factor furthest above the state share was motorcyclists at 13.5%.

Which roads in Surry see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, US Route 52 (20 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), Interstate 77 (10 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route 268 (10 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Surry?

Most often between noon to 6pm (41% of crashes) and on Wednesdays (17%); 41.7% 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.