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1980

North Carolina · year

North Carolina in 1980

Deaths 1,503Fatal crashes 1,327Per 100,000 —US deaths 51,091

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 1980.

In 1980, 1,503 people died in 1,327 fatal crashes in North Carolina.

The death toll was about level between 1979 (1,527) and 1980 (1,503).

North Carolina accounted for 2.9% of the 51,091 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

34% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

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

← 197919801981 →All years

Compared with 1979 and the nation

MeasureNorth Carolina 1980North Carolina 1979United States 1980
Deaths1,5031,52751,091
Fatal crashes1,3271,35245,284
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver34%43%40%

Counties in 1980

Every county with a fatal crash in 1980, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 96 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Mecklenburg County61685.61,059
Wake County56685.5772
Guilford County546010.7649
Forsyth County485213.1419
Buncombe County374215.0347
Robeson County334134.6531
Rowan County333824.8233
Wayne County323831.6209
Gaston County353715.3277
Rockingham County283436.4155
Davidson County303218.0306
Cumberland County27308.9501
Wilson County273037.5164
Johnston County223012.0341
Randolph County262718.2261
Catawba County242615.6237
Wilkes County232537.8129
Nash County222424.5232
Sampson County222338.1199
Rutherford County212335.1118
Alamance County202312.6214
Harnett County202315.7293
Orange County202315.0147
Richmond County182252.4106
Surry County182230.7141
Pitt County192011.1261
Union County19207.6232
McDowell County162044.270
Iredell County19199.2238
Columbus County181938.0204
Duplin County161937.6181
New Hanover County17187.4210
Lee County151826.3135
Brunswick County141810.8214
Onslow County14188.5231
Durham County15164.7296
Cabarrus County14166.5235
Pender County111622.8159
Beaufort County111533.771
Cleveland County141413.7208
Burke County121314.7142
Granville County121321.1138
Scotland County101338.4120
Jackson County81328.776
Edgecombe County111224.4118
Halifax County111225.5152
Chatham County101214.3141
Haywood County71219.0108
Lincoln County111111.3127
Anson County101149.061
Lenoir County101119.9129
Moore County91110.1183
Person County101024.960
Bertie County91059.060
Bladen County91033.6108
Stanly County81014.995
Caldwell County9911.1123
Montgomery County9934.191
Franklin County7911.3154
Vance County8818.995
Henderson County786.6123
Madison County7731.345
Northampton County7742.273
Pasquotank County7716.963
Warren County6736.771
Alexander County6616.457
Avery County6633.724
Stokes County6613.170
Jones County5663.426
Caswell County5522.455
Hertford County5526.161
Mitchell County5533.318
Polk County5524.635
Yadkin County5513.291
Carteret County457.193
Craven County454.8131
Ashe County4414.743
Cherokee County4413.258
Greene County4419.436
Martin County4418.646
Perquimans County4429.721
Davie County348.869
Gates County3438.834
Transylvania County3411.735
Alleghany County3326.417
Dare County337.943
Graham County3336.736
Hoke County335.4138
Yancey County3315.828
Macon County1–237.754
Chowan County1–21–2—19
Hyde County1–21–2—6
Pamlico County1–21–2—23
Watauga County1–21–2—58
Camden County1–21–2—9
Currituck County1–21–2—45

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

12am3.7%
1am6.4%
2am5.4%
3am2.6%
4am2.1%
5am1.7%
6am3.3%
7am3.1%
8am1.1%
9am2.2%
10am2.9%
11am2.4%
12pm3.2%
1pm3%
2pm4.9%
3pm4.7%
4pm5.1%
5pm6.3%
6pm6.1%
7pm6%
8pm5.7%
9pm6%
10pm5.7%
11pm6.3%

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday12%
Tuesday10%
Wednesday11%
Thursday11%
Friday17%
Saturday23%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in North Carolina in 1980?

1,503 people in 1,327 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1980 file.

Which county in North Carolina had the most crash deaths in 1980?

Mecklenburg County with 68 deaths in 61 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1980 compare with 1979 in North Carolina?

1,503 deaths against 1,527 in 1979 (+-2%). Nationally the 1980 total was 51,091.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1980 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.