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1986

North Carolina · year

North Carolina in 1986

Deaths 1,647Fatal crashes 1,489Per 100,000 —US deaths 46,087

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 1986.

In 1986, 1,647 people died in 1,489 fatal crashes in North Carolina.

The death toll rose 11% from 1,482 in 1985 to 1,647 in 1986.

North Carolina accounted for 3.6% of the 46,087 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

46.7% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

32% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 198519861987 →All years

Compared with 1985 and the nation

MeasureNorth Carolina 1986North Carolina 1985United States 1986
Deaths1,6471,48246,087
Fatal crashes1,4891,33241,090
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver47%41%43%

Counties in 1986

Every county with a fatal crash in 1986, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 99 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Mecklenburg County81887.31,059
Wake County63705.7772
Guilford County646912.3649
Robeson County444537.9531
Forsyth County384310.8419
Johnston County364216.8341
Cumberland County404112.1501
Onslow County333817.8231
Gaston County333414.0277
Harnett County313221.9293
Columbus County293263.9204
Rockingham County293133.1155
Nash County283131.6232
Randolph County283120.9261
Buncombe County272910.4347
Sampson County232948.0199
Durham County28288.1296
Catawba County252615.6237
Davidson County242614.6306
Brunswick County212615.6214
Rowan County232315.0233
Cleveland County222322.5208
Union County21238.7232
Orange County182315.0147
Cabarrus County17229.0235
Wilson County202126.3164
Wilkes County192131.7129
Rutherford County182132.0118
Chatham County172023.8141
Burke County162022.6142
Scotland County181956.1120
Lenoir County161934.3129
Vance County151944.995
Wayne County171815.0209
Moore County171715.7183
Iredell County16178.2238
New Hanover County16177.0210
Pitt County15179.4261
Stokes County121737.170
Craven County161615.4131
Hertford County151683.561
Halifax County131634.0152
Beaufort County121635.971
Alamance County15158.2214
Edgecombe County141530.5118
Lee County141521.9135
Lincoln County141515.4127
Granville County131524.4138
Surry County141419.6141
Caldwell County131417.3123
Henderson County131411.6123
Richmond County121433.3106
McDowell County111226.570
Carteret County91217.193
Jackson County81226.576
Haywood County111117.4108
Northampton County101166.373
Caswell County91149.255
Bladen County101033.6108
Pender County91014.3159
Bertie County81059.060
Duplin County81019.8181
Currituck County71031.045
Gates County71097.134
Franklin County8911.3154
Dare County8821.043
Warren County7841.971
Jones County6884.526
Anson County7731.261
Watauga County7712.758
Yadkin County7718.491
Alexander County6719.157
Hoke County6610.8138
Macon County6615.554
Martin County6627.946
Person County6614.960
Washington County4656.316
Avery County5528.124
Pasquotank County5512.163
Stanly County557.495
Cherokee County4516.558
Montgomery County4415.291
Pamlico County3431.923
Ashe County3311.043
Chowan County3321.619
Clay County3324.921
Davie County336.669
Greene County3314.536
Mitchell County3320.018
Yancey County3315.828
Graham County1–21–2—36
Madison County1–21–2—45
Perquimans County1–21–2—21
Polk County1–21–2—35
Swain County1–21–2—24
Transylvania County1–21–2—35
Alleghany County1–21–2—17
Hyde County1–21–2—6
Tyrrell 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

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

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday12%
Tuesday10%
Wednesday13%
Thursday12%
Friday16%
Saturday23%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in North Carolina in 1986?

1,647 people in 1,489 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1986 file.

Which county in North Carolina had the most crash deaths in 1986?

Mecklenburg County with 88 deaths in 81 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1986 compare with 1985 in North Carolina?

1,647 deaths against 1,482 in 1985 (+11%). Nationally the 1986 total was 46,087.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1986 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.