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1985

North Carolina · year

North Carolina in 1985

Deaths 1,482Fatal crashes 1,332Per 100,000 —US deaths 43,825

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 1985.

In 1985, 1,482 people died in 1,332 fatal crashes in North Carolina.

The death toll was about level between 1984 (1,450) and 1985 (1,482).

North Carolina accounted for 3.4% of the 43,825 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

40.5% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

33% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 198419851986 →All years

Compared with 1984 and the nation

MeasureNorth Carolina 1985North Carolina 1984United States 1985
Deaths1,4821,45043,825
Fatal crashes1,3321,29139,196
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver41%44%40%

Counties in 1985

Every county with a fatal crash in 1985, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 98 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Wake County66735.9772
Cumberland County505516.3501
Mecklenburg County52544.51,059
Guilford County50539.5649
Robeson County384437.1531
Randolph County303523.6261
Gaston County303313.6277
Johnston County283212.8341
Rowan County263220.9233
Onslow County283114.6231
Rockingham County263133.1155
Forsyth County28297.3419
Davidson County262916.3306
Harnett County252919.8293
Iredell County242914.1238
Wilson County222835.0164
Catawba County242716.2237
Durham County26267.6296
Burke County232629.4142
Nash County242525.5232
Chatham County202428.6141
Pitt County232312.7261
Buncombe County21238.2347
Alamance County222212.0214
New Hanover County19229.0210
Halifax County202144.7152
Brunswick County121911.4214
Cleveland County151817.6208
Moore County141816.6183
Richmond County141842.9106
Lee County121724.8135
Cabarrus County15166.5235
Columbus County151632.0204
Sampson County151626.5199
Wayne County151613.3209
Craven County141615.4131
Orange County141610.5147
Union County14166.1232
Lincoln County151515.4127
Rutherford County131522.9118
Greene County81572.636
Edgecombe County141428.5118
Henderson County141411.6123
Alexander County131335.457
Caldwell County131316.1123
Haywood County121320.6108
Duplin County101325.7181
Lenoir County121221.7129
Martin County121255.846
Vance County121228.395
Wilkes County111218.1129
McDowell County111124.370
Northampton County111166.373
Stokes County111124.070
Carteret County91115.793
Surry County91115.4141
Beaufort County101022.471
Bertie County101059.060
Granville County101016.2138
Montgomery County8830.391
Yadkin County7821.191
Currituck County6824.845
Caswell County7731.355
Franklin County778.8154
Pender County7710.0159
Person County7717.460
Washington County7765.716
Madison County6731.345
Davie County6613.269
Cherokee County5619.858
Watauga County5610.958
Stanly County468.995
Dare County5513.143
Pamlico County5539.823
Scotland County5514.8120
Anson County4417.861
Gates County4438.834
Hoke County447.2138
Avery County3422.524
Chowan County3428.819
Bladen County3310.1108
Hertford County3315.761
Hyde County3365.56
Jackson County336.676
Mitchell County3320.018
Pasquotank County337.263
Polk County3314.835
Warren County3315.771
Ashe County1–2311.043
Clay County1–21–2—21
Perquimans County1–21–2—21
Transylvania County1–21–2—35
Swain County1–21–2—24
Yancey County1–21–2—28
Camden County1–21–2—9
Graham County1–21–2—36
Jones County1–21–2—26
Macon County1–21–2—54

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

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday14%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday10%
Thursday13%
Friday16%
Saturday20%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in North Carolina in 1985?

1,482 people in 1,332 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1985 file.

Which county in North Carolina had the most crash deaths in 1985?

Wake County with 73 deaths in 66 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1985 compare with 1984 in North Carolina?

1,482 deaths against 1,450 in 1984 (+2%). Nationally the 1985 total was 43,825.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1985 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.