States › District of Columbia › 2021

2021

District of Columbia in 2021

Deaths 41Fatal crashes 40Per 100,000 6.1US deaths 43,230

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. Final FARS file for 2021.

In 2021, 41 people died in 40 fatal crashes in District of Columbia, 6.1 deaths per 100,000 residents against 13.0 nationally.

The death toll rose 14% from 36 in 2020 to 41 in 2021.

District of Columbia accounted for 0.1% of the 43,230 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

20% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

By FHWA road function class, the largest share was on minor arterial roads (40%).

48% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 202020212022 →All years

Compared with 2020 and the nation

Measure	District of Columbia 2021	District of Columbia 2020	United States 2021
Deaths	41	36	43,230
Fatal crashes	40	34	39,785
Deaths per 100,000 residents	6.1	5.4	13.0
Crashes with a drinking driver	20%	26%	26%

Counties in 2021

Every county with a fatal crash in 2021, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 1 counties listed.

County	Fatal crashes	Deaths	Per 100,000	Deaths 2015–2024
District of Columbia	40	41	5.8	335

Per 100,000 uses the 2024 population estimate for every year, so early-year rates are understated where a county has grown.

Hour of day

12am5%

1am2.5%

2am2.5%

3am5%

4am2.5%

5am0%

6am5%

7am0%

8am2.5%

9am0%

10am5%

11am2.5%

12pm2.5%

1pm0%

2pm5%

3pm7.5%

4pm2.5%

5pm2.5%

6pm10%

7pm5%

8pm7.5%

9pm2.5%

10pm10%

11pm12.5%

Weekday

Sunday18%

Monday20%

Tuesday10%

Wednesday5%

Thursday13%

Friday13%

Saturday23%

Road type

Minor arterial40%

Other principal arterial25%

Local18%

Other freeways and expressways8%

Major collector8%

Interstate3%

Minor collector0%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in District of Columbia in 2021?

41 people in 40 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2021 file, or 6.1 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in District of Columbia had the most crash deaths in 2021?

District of Columbia with 41 deaths in 40 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2021 compare with 2020 in District of Columbia?

41 deaths against 36 in 2020 (+14%). Nationally the 2021 total was 43,230.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2021 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.