Fatal Roads

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White County

Residents 29,108Deaths 2024 6Deaths 2015–2024 41Latest 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.

White County, Tennessee, recorded 6 deaths in 6 fatal crashes in 2024, the latest FARS data year, and 41 deaths in 41 fatal crashes over 2015–2024.

With 29,108 residents, that is 14.9 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, close to the Tennessee rate of 16.8 and above the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll fell 38% from 66 in 2005–2014 to 41 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is motorcyclists: 14.6% against 13.8% for Tennessee.

33% of the county's fatal crashes happened between 6am to noon, and Saturday was the most common day (22%).

6deaths in 20246 fatal crashes
17deaths, 2020–202441 over ten years
14.9per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 20.6
-11%vs Tennessee ratestate 16.8 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

0713197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 4 deaths1976: 10 deaths1977: 5 deaths1978: 7 deaths1979: 3 deaths1980: 3 deaths1981: 1–2 deaths1982: 5 deaths1983: 7 deaths1984: 3 deaths1985: 8 deaths1986: 9 deaths1987: 3 deaths1988: 1–2 deaths1989: 1–2 deaths1990: 5 deaths1991: 4 deaths1992: 4 deaths1993: 1–2 deaths1994: 7 deaths1995: 10 deaths1996: 7 deaths1997: 6 deaths1998: 9 deaths1999: 3 deaths2000: 13 deaths2001: 6 deaths2002: 11 deaths2003: 13 deaths2004: 7 deaths2005: 10 deaths2006: 10 deaths2007: 5 deaths2008: 4 deaths2009: 4 deaths2010: 9 deaths2011: 5 deaths2012: 6 deaths2013: 7 deaths2014: 6 deaths2015: 7 deaths2016: 6 deaths2017: 6 deaths2018: 1–2 deaths2019: 4 deaths2020: 4 deaths2021: 1–2 deaths2022: 3 deaths2023: 3 deaths2024: 6 deaths
People killed in crashes in White County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 6 deaths.

Ten-year total down 38% (66 in 2005–2014, 41 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 Tennessee and the nation

MeasureWhiteTennesseeUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202414.916.811.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202420.616.611.5
Deaths, 2015–20244111,576389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–20244110,680358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.01.11.1
Change vs previous ten years-38%+8%+7%
Crashes on rural roads59%43%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 29,108 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking22%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver12.2%
Pedestriansshare of people killed9.8%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed14.6%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used50%
In darknesscrashes after dark35%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads58.5%

tick marks the Tennessee 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 White County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 39 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Saturday22%
Thursday20%
Sunday15%
Friday15%
Monday12%
Wednesday10%
Tuesday7%

Light condition

Daylight65%
Dark, not lighted35%
Dark, lighted0%
Dawn0%
Dusk0%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Other principal arterial29%
Major collector20%
Local20%
Minor collector17%
Minor arterial15%
Interstate0%
Other freeways and expressways0%

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

Weather

Clear78%
Cloudy10%
Rain10%
Fog, smog or smoke3%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain0%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in White

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1US Route 70US highway921422825%10%
2US Route 70SUS highway7556120%7%
3State Route 111State highway2414615%10%

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
2024661–220.6TN 2024
202333010.3TN 2023
2022331–210.3TN 2022
20211–21–20—TN 2021
202044013.7TN 2020
2019441–213.7TN 2019
20181–21–20—TN 2018
2017661–220.6TN 2017
201666020.6TN 2016
2015771–224.0TN 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 White County, Tennessee?

6 people died in 6 fatal crashes in 2024; 17 over 2020–2024 and 41 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does White compare with Tennessee?

14.9 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 16.8 for Tennessee and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in White involved alcohol?

22.0% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 24.5% in Tennessee. The factor furthest above the state share was motorcyclists at 14.6%.

Which roads in White see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, US Route 70 (9 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), US Route 70S (7 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route 111 (2 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in White?

Most often between 6am to noon (33% of crashes) and on Saturdays (22%); 35.0% 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.