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Bristol County
Residents 50,145Deaths 2024 4Deaths 2015–2024 10Latest 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.
In 2024, the latest year in FARS, Bristol County (Rhode Island) had 3 fatal crashes with 4 deaths. Across the ten years 2015–2024 the county recorded 9 fatal crashes and 10 deaths.
With 50,145 residents, that is 2.0 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 64% lower than the Rhode Island rate of 5.6 and below the national rate of 11.8. The rate rests on very few deaths and can double or halve with a single crash; through traffic on a route that passes a small population raises it further.
Counts this small move a lot from year to year, so the page shows ten-year totals and five-year bins rather than single years; 2005–2014 had 20 deaths.
Trend since 1975
Ten-year total down 50% (20 in 2005–2014, 10 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 Rhode Island and the nation
| Measure | Bristol | Rhode Island | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–2024 | 2.0 | 5.6 | 11.8 |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 8.0 | 4.7 | 11.5 |
| Deaths, 2015–2024 | 10 | 601 | 389,190 |
| Fatal crashes, 2015–2024 | 9 | 568 | 358,460 |
| Deaths per fatal crash | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Change vs previous ten years | -50% | -14% | +7% |
| Crashes on rural roads | 0% | 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 50,145 in 2024.
Factors
Too few fatal crashes (9 in ten years) to show factor shares; see the Rhode Island page for state-level shares.
"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.
Routes with the most fatal crashes in Bristol
No signed route in the county reached 20 fatal crashes in 2015–2024, the threshold for a route page. Crashes on local streets and county roads are included in the county totals above.
Questions and answers
How many people died in crashes in Bristol County, Rhode Island?
4 people died in 3 fatal crashes in 2024; 5 over 2020–2024 and 10 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
How does Bristol compare with Rhode Island?
2.0 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 5.6 for Rhode Island and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.
What share of fatal crashes in Bristol involved alcohol?
44.4% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 39.1% in Rhode Island. The factor furthest above the state share was pedestrians at 30.0%.
Which roads in Bristol see the most fatal crashes?
No signed route in the county reached 20 fatal crashes over 2015–2024, the threshold for a route page.
When do fatal crashes happen in Bristol?
Most often between 6pm to midnight (44% of crashes) and on Thursdays (44%); 55.6% 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.