Fatal Roads

States › New Mexico › 2018

2018

New Mexico · year

New Mexico in 2018

Deaths 392Fatal crashes 351Per 100,000 18.7US deaths 36,835

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 2018.

In 2018, 392 people died in 351 fatal crashes in New Mexico, 18.7 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.3 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2017 (380) and 2018 (392).

New Mexico accounted for 1.1% of the 36,835 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

28.2% 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 (42%).

36% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 2017 and the nation

MeasureNew Mexico 2018New Mexico 2017United States 2018
Deaths39238036,835
Fatal crashes35134133,919
Deaths per 100,000 residents18.718.211.3
Crashes with a drinking driver28%28%26%

Counties in 2018

Every county with a fatal crash in 2018, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 30 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Bernalillo County879213.71,043
McKinley County304159.5278
San Juan County303327.3285
Lea County262837.3194
Sandoval County202415.2157
Santa Fe County181811.4201
Eddy County141727.7148
Doña Ana County15156.5237
Chaves County131523.5113
Rio Arriba County131435.0116
Torrance County111487.6103
Taos County9926.180
Otero County7811.595
Cibola County6830.0141
Valencia County778.799
Curry County6714.859
Catron County66158.115
Luna County5623.295
San Miguel County5622.758
Guadalupe County55114.087
Colfax County4540.644
Lincoln County4420.050
Roosevelt County1–21–2—45
Socorro County1–21–2—94
De Baca County1–21–2—14
Grant County1–21–2—56
Hidalgo County1–21–2—42
Mora County1–21–2—37
Sierra County1–21–2—37
Union County1–21–2—11

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

12am4.6%
1am2.6%
2am2.3%
3am1.7%
4am1.4%
5am3.1%
6am4.3%
7am5.1%
8am3.1%
9am3.4%
10am2.8%
11am3.7%
12pm3.1%
1pm3.7%
2pm5.7%
3pm3.7%
4pm4%
5pm6%
6pm7.4%
7pm5.1%
8pm6.8%
9pm6.8%
10pm5.1%
11pm4.3%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday14%
Tuesday10%
Wednesday13%
Thursday13%
Friday16%
Saturday20%

Road type

Other principal arterial42%
Interstate15%
Minor arterial15%
Major collector14%
Local12%
Minor collector2%
Other freeways and expressways0%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in New Mexico in 2018?

392 people in 351 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2018 file, or 18.7 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in New Mexico had the most crash deaths in 2018?

Bernalillo County with 92 deaths in 87 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2018 compare with 2017 in New Mexico?

392 deaths against 380 in 2017 (+3%). Nationally the 2018 total was 36,835.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2018 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.