Fatal Roads

States › Illinois › 2021

2021

Illinois · year

Illinois in 2021

Deaths 1,334Fatal crashes 1,210Per 100,000 10.5US 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, 1,334 people died in 1,210 fatal crashes in Illinois, 10.5 deaths per 100,000 residents against 13.0 nationally.

The death toll rose 12% from 1,193 in 2020 to 1,334 in 2021.

Illinois accounted for 3.1% of the 43,230 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

26.7% 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 other principal arterial roads (29%).

32% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 202020212022 →All years

Compared with 2020 and the nation

MeasureIllinois 2021Illinois 2020United States 2021
Deaths1,3341,19343,230
Fatal crashes1,2101,08639,785
Deaths per 100,000 residents10.59.313.0
Crashes with a drinking driver27%23%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. 93 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Cook County4194588.83,325
Will County60709.9563
Winnebago County474917.3308
DuPage County42464.9424
Kane County39428.1344
St. Clair County344015.9371
Lake County36375.1472
Madison County262810.6344
Sangamon County232412.3212
Champaign County222210.4163
Peoria County212212.2180
Kendall County202114.791
McHenry County19216.6228
Kankakee County181917.9166
Tazewell County151511.6116
Iroquois County121557.595
LaSalle County131412.9186
Bureau County111443.184
DeKalb County131312.8109
McLean County12137.6144
Christian County111339.164
Franklin County111335.179
Effingham County91131.876
Macon County91110.9136
Boone County101018.865
Grundy County91018.688
Whiteside County81018.379
Fayette County51047.353
Macoupin County9920.554
Williamson County9913.4106
Jefferson County8924.978
Montgomery County8932.674
Coles County8817.274
Ogle County8815.675
Rock Island County885.6103
Vermilion County8811.3115
Clinton County7821.660
Knox County7816.465
Stephenson County6818.654
Logan County5829.153
Randolph County7723.464
Shelby County6734.145
Mason County5755.831
Adams County669.469
Fulton County6618.556
Jersey County6628.439
Bond County5636.238
Livingston County5514.181
Morgan County5515.348
Cumberland County4548.530
Henry County4510.450
Alexander County4487.125
Ford County4429.736
Hancock County4423.519
Jackson County447.593
Marion County4411.074
Lawrence County3427.037
Mercer County3426.214
Pike County3428.140
Monroe County1–2411.437
Piatt County1–2424.125
Marshall County3326.025
Union County3317.842
White County3322.426
Woodford County337.854
De Witt County1–2319.623
Lee County1–238.946
Richland County1–2319.528
Warren County1–2318.528
Wayne County1–2318.833
Calhoun County1–21–2—5
Clay County1–21–2—25
Johnson County1–21–2—24
Moultrie County1–21–2—20
Saline County1–21–2—41
Schuyler County1–21–2—20
Stark County1–21–2—16
Wabash County1–21–2—11
Carroll County1–21–2—25
Cass County1–21–2—20
Clark County1–21–2—37
Crawford County1–21–2—26
Douglas County1–21–2—34
Gallatin County1–21–2—12
Hamilton County1–21–2—15
Hardin County1–21–2—8
McDonough County1–21–2—23
Menard County1–21–2—15
Perry County1–21–2—24
Pope County1–21–2—12
Putnam County1–21–2—14
Scott County1–21–2—12
Washington County1–21–2—58

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

12am4.8%
1am4.8%
2am3.8%
3am4.6%
4am3.7%
5am3.1%
6am2.8%
7am2.4%
8am2.3%
9am2.5%
10am3.3%
11am4%
12pm3.4%
1pm4.5%
2pm3.6%
3pm4.9%
4pm4.8%
5pm4.8%
6pm6.1%
7pm4.3%
8pm5.7%
9pm5.7%
10pm4.7%
11pm5.6%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday14%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday13%
Thursday12%
Friday16%
Saturday18%

Road type

Other principal arterial29%
Minor arterial23%
Major collector18%
Interstate14%
Local13%
Minor collector2%
Other freeways and expressways1%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Illinois in 2021?

1,334 people in 1,210 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2021 file, or 10.5 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Illinois had the most crash deaths in 2021?

Cook County with 458 deaths in 419 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2021 compare with 2020 in Illinois?

1,334 deaths against 1,193 in 2020 (+12%). 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.