Fatal Roads

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2020

New York · year

New York in 2020

Deaths 1,045Fatal crashes 958Per 100,000 5.2US deaths 39,007

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 2020.

In 2020, 1,045 people died in 958 fatal crashes in New York, 5.2 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.8 nationally.

The death toll rose 12% from 934 in 2019 to 1,045 in 2020.

New York accounted for 2.7% of the 39,007 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

20.1% 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%).

31% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 201920202021 →All years

Compared with 2019 and the nation

MeasureNew York 2020New York 2019United States 2020
Deaths1,04593439,007
Fatal crashes95887935,935
Deaths per 100,000 residents5.24.811.8
Crashes with a drinking driver20%20%27%

Counties in 2020

Every county with a fatal crash in 2020, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 60 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Suffolk County1081137.41,389
Queens County78843.6698
Nassau County72785.6771
Kings County58592.3646
Bronx County50554.0447
Monroe County46496.5449
Erie County43485.0503
Westchester County35444.4376
Dutchess County27279.0242
New York County27271.6363
Orange County27276.6324
Niagara County232411.5180
Onondaga County22234.9288
Ulster County192212.0169
Albany County17185.6197
Saratoga County17187.5166
Oswego County161815.2155
Oneida County15187.9190
Ontario County131715.0115
Rockland County12164.6158
Jefferson County101513.3101
Wayne County131415.4106
Chenango County111328.462
Rensselaer County11138.195
Broome County11115.6126
Schenectady County9116.896
Tioga County71123.163
Madison County101014.973
Genesee County91017.485
Richmond County991.8133
Herkimer County8915.159
Chautauqua County886.4115
Sullivan County889.9116
Fulton County7815.447
Steuben County777.683
Chemung County678.675
Cattaraugus County667.987
St. Lawrence County665.6117
Tompkins County665.774
Delaware County5613.667
Seneca County5618.445
Columbia County558.382
Essex County5513.639
Putnam County555.167
Lewis County4518.837
Schoharie County4516.657
Washington County458.475
Allegany County448.546
Livingston County346.552
Cayuga County334.068
Clinton County333.956
Cortland County336.543
Franklin County336.446
Greene County336.473
Wyoming County337.638
Otsego County1–235.044
Montgomery County1–21–2—39
Warren County1–21–2—67
Yates County1–21–2—31
Orleans County1–21–2—40

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

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

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday12%
Tuesday14%
Wednesday14%
Thursday13%
Friday14%
Saturday18%

Road type

Other principal arterial29%
Local24%
Minor arterial18%
Major collector10%
Other freeways and expressways9%
Interstate8%
Minor collector3%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in New York in 2020?

1,045 people in 958 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2020 file, or 5.2 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in New York had the most crash deaths in 2020?

Suffolk County with 113 deaths in 108 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2020 compare with 2019 in New York?

1,045 deaths against 934 in 2019 (+12%). Nationally the 2020 total was 39,007.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2020 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.