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1977

North Carolina · year

North Carolina in 1977

Deaths 1,428Fatal crashes 1,251Per 100,000 —US deaths 47,878

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 1977.

In 1977, 1,428 people died in 1,251 fatal crashes in North Carolina.

The death toll fell 5% from 1,502 in 1976 to 1,428 in 1977.

North Carolina accounted for 3% of the 47,878 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

32.8% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

37% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 197619771978 →All years

Compared with 1976 and the nation

MeasureNorth Carolina 1977North Carolina 1976United States 1977
Deaths1,4281,50247,878
Fatal crashes1,2511,30442,211
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver33%0%34%

Counties in 1977

Every county with a fatal crash in 1977, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 97 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Wake County53614.9772
Guilford County526010.7649
Mecklenburg County52544.51,059
Cumberland County323811.2501
Robeson County343731.2531
Onslow County303616.9231
Forsyth County33358.8419
Gaston County283313.6277
Buncombe County273010.7347
Randolph County232818.9261
Cleveland County202827.4208
Sampson County252744.7199
Rowan County222415.6233
Harnett County222315.7293
Columbus County202346.0204
Rutherford County192335.1118
Durham County21226.4296
Iredell County192210.7238
Wilson County192227.5164
Johnston County17228.8341
Davidson County212111.8306
Bladen County192170.5108
Rockingham County192122.5155
Surry County162129.4141
Craven County142120.2131
Halifax County182042.6152
Chatham County162023.8141
Caldwell County181923.5123
Catawba County171911.4237
Warren County161999.671
Nash County181818.4232
New Hanover County17187.4210
Northampton County1718108.673
Richmond County161740.5106
Edgecombe County121734.6118
Wilkes County131624.2129
Beaufort County121635.971
Lincoln County141515.4127
Pitt County13158.3261
Montgomery County121556.991
Lee County101521.9135
Alamance County14147.6214
Lenoir County131425.3129
Burke County111415.8142
Henderson County101411.6123
McDowell County81328.770
Duplin County111223.7181
Franklin County111215.0154
Orange County11127.8147
Wayne County111210.0209
Pender County101217.1159
Currituck County91237.245
Yadkin County91231.691
Jackson County81226.576
Caswell County111149.255
Stanly County101116.395
Stokes County101124.070
Hertford County101052.261
Moore County10109.2183
Union County10103.8232
Brunswick County9106.0214
Scotland County7926.6120
Anson County8835.761
Haywood County8812.7108
Granville County6813.0138
Carteret County7710.093
Person County7717.460
Alexander County6616.457
Bertie County6635.460
Greene County6629.036
Gates County5658.334
Cabarrus County552.0235
Hoke County559.0138
Pamlico County5539.823
Pasquotank County5512.163
Cherokee County3516.558
Hyde County4487.36
Macon County4410.354
Martin County4418.646
Transylvania County4411.735
Washington County4437.516
Alleghany County3435.217
Perquimans County3429.721
Swain County3428.724
Ashe County3311.043
Dare County337.943
Davie County336.669
Madison County3313.445
Vance County337.195
Watauga County335.558
Yancey County3315.828
Clay County1–2324.921
Avery County1–21–2—24
Chowan County1–21–2—19
Jones County1–21–2—26
Mitchell County1–21–2—18
Polk County1–21–2—35

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

12am5.3%
1am5.2%
2am3.8%
3am2.7%
4am1.6%
5am1.4%
6am2.6%
7am2.2%
8am2%
9am2.2%
10am2.9%
11am2.3%
12pm2.4%
1pm4.1%
2pm4.7%
3pm5.3%
4pm5.8%
5pm6.2%
6pm5.8%
7pm6.5%
8pm6.3%
9pm6.3%
10pm5.8%
11pm6.5%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday12%
Tuesday10%
Wednesday10%
Thursday12%
Friday17%
Saturday22%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in North Carolina in 1977?

1,428 people in 1,251 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1977 file.

Which county in North Carolina had the most crash deaths in 1977?

Wake County with 61 deaths in 53 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1977 compare with 1976 in North Carolina?

1,428 deaths against 1,502 in 1976 (+-5%). Nationally the 1977 total was 47,878.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1977 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates (no county estimates before 2000 are used, so no rate is shown for this year). Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.