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States › North Carolina › 1989

1989

North Carolina · year

North Carolina in 1989

Deaths 1,471Fatal crashes 1,321Per 100,000 —US deaths 45,582

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 1989.

In 1989, 1,471 people died in 1,321 fatal crashes in North Carolina.

The death toll fell 6% from 1,573 in 1988 to 1,471 in 1989.

North Carolina accounted for 3.2% of the 45,582 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

39.4% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

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

← 198819891990 →All years

Compared with 1988 and the nation

MeasureNorth Carolina 1989North Carolina 1988United States 1989
Deaths1,4711,57345,582
Fatal crashes1,3211,40040,741
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver39%44%39%

Counties in 1989

Every county with a fatal crash in 1989, 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
Mecklenburg County69756.21,059
Guilford County566010.7649
Wake County45514.1772
Robeson County454638.8531
Buncombe County304014.3347
Davidson County323620.2306
Cumberland County343510.3501
Randolph County283322.2261
Iredell County253316.0238
Johnston County283212.8341
Wayne County283125.8209
Harnett County273121.2293
Gaston County253112.8277
Catawba County282917.4237
Rowan County272918.9233
Pitt County262916.0261
Durham County20247.0296
Forsyth County21225.5419
Nash County192222.5232
Onslow County21219.9231
Alamance County202111.5214
Richmond County202150.0106
Halifax County192144.7152
Chatham County172125.0141
Granville County192032.5138
Lenoir County152036.1129
New Hanover County19197.8210
Moore County161917.5183
Surry County161926.6141
Rutherford County151929.0118
Wilkes County151928.7129
Duplin County171835.6181
Henderson County171814.9123
Union County15186.8232
Sampson County141829.8199
Cabarrus County16176.9235
Wilson County161721.3164
Alexander County141643.657
Brunswick County15159.0214
Columbus County151530.0204
Caldwell County141518.6123
Lincoln County131515.4127
Vance County111433.195
Rockingham County131313.9155
Bladen County121343.7108
Stanly County121319.395
Carteret County121217.193
Franklin County121215.0154
Edgecombe County111122.4118
Lee County111116.0135
Burke County101112.4142
Craven County101110.6131
Anson County91044.661
Pender County91014.3159
Madison County81044.745
Scotland County71029.5120
Orange County995.9147
Hoke County8916.3138
Martin County8941.846
Dare County7923.643
Cleveland County887.8208
Currituck County8824.845
Jackson County8817.776
Beaufort County7817.971
Watauga County7814.558
Warren County6841.971
Gates County7768.034
McDowell County7715.570
Person County7717.460
Montgomery County5726.691
Stokes County5715.370
Hertford County6631.361
Yadkin County6615.891
Pasquotank County5614.563
Bertie County5529.560
Caswell County5522.455
Haywood County557.9108
Davie County4511.069
Cherokee County4413.258
Mitchell County3426.618
Yancey County3421.128
Avery County3316.824
Graham County3336.736
Polk County3314.835
Chowan County1–21–2—19
Greene County1–21–2—36
Hyde County1–21–2—6
Pamlico County1–21–2—23
Washington County1–21–2—16
Alleghany County1–21–2—17
Ashe County1–21–2—43
Clay County1–21–2—21
Jones County1–21–2—26
Macon County1–21–2—54
Northampton County1–21–2—73
Perquimans County1–21–2—21
Swain County1–21–2—24
Transylvania 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

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

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday14%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday12%
Thursday14%
Friday16%
Saturday18%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in North Carolina in 1989?

1,471 people in 1,321 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1989 file.

Which county in North Carolina had the most crash deaths in 1989?

Mecklenburg County with 75 deaths in 69 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1989 compare with 1988 in North Carolina?

1,471 deaths against 1,573 in 1988 (+-6%). Nationally the 1989 total was 45,582.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1989 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.