Fatal Roads

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Dallas County

Residents 2,656,028Deaths 2024 330Deaths 2015–2024 3,126Latest 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.

Dallas County, Texas, recorded 330 deaths in 304 fatal crashes in 2024, the latest FARS data year, and 3,126 deaths in 2,906 fatal crashes over 2015–2024.

With 2,656,028 residents, that is 12.0 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, close to the Texas rate of 13.6 and close to the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll rose 48% from 2,112 in 2005–2014 to 3,126 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is pedestrians: 26.6% against 17.6% for Texas.

36% of the county's fatal crashes happened between 6pm to midnight, and Sunday was the most common day (20%).

330deaths in 2024304 fatal crashes
1,705deaths, 2020–20243,126 over ten years
12.0per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 12.4
-12%vs Texas ratestate 13.6 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

0180360197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 227 deaths1976: 218 deaths1977: 248 deaths1978: 293 deaths1979: 293 deaths1980: 289 deaths1981: 360 deaths1982: 293 deaths1983: 258 deaths1984: 312 deaths1985: 298 deaths1986: 305 deaths1987: 267 deaths1988: 234 deaths1989: 269 deaths1990: 250 deaths1991: 243 deaths1992: 226 deaths1993: 226 deaths1994: 219 deaths1995: 248 deaths1996: 269 deaths1997: 259 deaths1998: 256 deaths1999: 249 deaths2000: 257 deaths2001: 278 deaths2002: 247 deaths2003: 245 deaths2004: 276 deaths2005: 234 deaths2006: 225 deaths2007: 224 deaths2008: 246 deaths2009: 162 deaths2010: 178 deaths2011: 174 deaths2012: 206 deaths2013: 225 deaths2014: 238 deaths2015: 259 deaths2016: 315 deaths2017: 282 deaths2018: 296 deaths2019: 269 deaths2020: 331 deaths2021: 354 deaths2022: 354 deaths2023: 336 deaths2024: 330 deaths
People killed in crashes in Dallas County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 330 deaths.

Ten-year total up 48% (2,112 in 2005–2014, 3,126 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 Texas and the nation

MeasureDallasTexasUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202412.013.611.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202412.413.311.5
Deaths, 2015–20243,12639,616389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–20242,90635,785358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years+48%+18%+7%
Crashes on rural roads1%38%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 2,656,028 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking29.7%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver39.1%
Pedestriansshare of people killed26.6%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed12.3%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used49.8%
In darknesscrashes after dark65.8%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads0.9%

tick marks the Texas 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 Dallas County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 2,906 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Sunday20%
Saturday17%
Friday14%
Monday13%
Thursday12%
Wednesday11%
Tuesday11%

Light condition

Dark, lighted49%
Daylight32%
Dark, not lighted15%
Dawn2%
Dark, lighting unknown1%
Dusk1%

Road type

Interstate27%
Other principal arterial23%
Minor arterial18%
Other freeways and expressways14%
Major collector12%
Local6%
Minor collector0%

FHWA functional classes as coded in FARS (FUNC_SYS), share of fatal crashes with a reported class; tick marks the Texas 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%
Cloudy17%
Rain7%
Fog, smog or smoke0%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain0%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Dallas

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1State Route 12State highway17819220523%36%
2Interstate 30Interstate17540445527%32%
3Interstate 635Interstate17117819330%41%
4Interstate 35Interstate1489151,01522%30%
5Interstate 20Interstate11985298320%32%
6US Route 75US highway7217018825%35%
7Interstate 45Interstate6666872330%30%
8Interstate 35EInterstate6511713134%39%
9US Route 175US highway5512714424%24%
10State Route 183State highway4410711327%37%

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
20243043309012.4TX 2024
202331633610412.7TX 2023
202232235410213.3TX 2022
20213263548613.3TX 2021
20203053318512.5TX 2020
20192552697010.1TX 2019
20182872967511.1TX 2018
20172642828210.6TX 2017
20162883159011.9TX 2016
2015239259789.8TX 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 Dallas County, Texas?

330 people died in 304 fatal crashes in 2024; 1,705 over 2020–2024 and 3,126 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Dallas compare with Texas?

12.0 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 13.6 for Texas and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Dallas involved alcohol?

29.7% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 25.5% in Texas. The factor furthest above the state share was pedestrians at 26.6%.

Which roads in Dallas see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, State Route 12 (178 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), Interstate 30 (175 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and Interstate 635 (171 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Dallas?

Most often between 6pm to midnight (36% of crashes) and on Sundays (20%); 65.8% 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.