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States › North Carolina › 1997

1997

North Carolina · year

North Carolina in 1997

Deaths 1,483Fatal crashes 1,290Per 100,000 —US deaths 42,013

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 1997.

In 1997, 1,483 people died in 1,290 fatal crashes in North Carolina.

The death toll was about level between 1996 (1,494) and 1997 (1,483).

North Carolina accounted for 3.5% of the 42,013 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

29.1% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

30% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Saturday was the most common day.

← 199619971998 →All years

Compared with 1996 and the nation

MeasureNorth Carolina 1997North Carolina 1996United States 1997
Deaths1,4831,49442,013
Fatal crashes1,2901,32937,324
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver29%30%30%

Counties in 1997

Every county with a fatal crash in 1997, 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 County58645.2772
Guilford County525810.4649
Mecklenburg County50564.61,059
Robeson County465546.4531
Cumberland County404613.6501
Durham County273510.2296
Johnston County333413.6341
Rowan County283422.2233
Catawba County283018.0237
Onslow County273014.1231
Sampson County273049.7199
Gaston County253012.4277
Union County242911.0232
Columbus County222855.9204
Harnett County222718.5293
Iredell County232612.6238
Forsyth County23256.3419
Wayne County212419.9209
Cleveland County222322.5208
Rockingham County192324.6155
Chatham County182327.4141
Randolph County182315.5261
Davidson County192111.8306
Pitt County192111.6261
Duplin County182141.6181
Nash County182121.4232
Brunswick County172012.0214
Wilson County191923.8164
Richmond County181945.2106
Buncombe County18186.4347
Cabarrus County18187.3235
Surry County161825.2141
Lee County151724.8135
Burke County141719.2142
Franklin County141721.3154
Edgecombe County151632.6118
Alamance County15158.2214
Pender County141521.4159
Lenoir County131527.1129
Henderson County111512.4123
Wilkes County111522.7129
Washington County415140.816
Halifax County141429.8152
Granville County131422.7138
Warren County101473.471
Caldwell County121316.1123
Moore County121312.0183
New Hanover County12135.3210
Northampton County101378.473
Hoke County121221.7138
Orange County12127.8147
Anson County111253.561
Bladen County111240.3108
Carteret County91217.193
McDowell County81124.370
Beaufort County101022.471
Lincoln County91010.2127
Person County81024.960
Montgomery County9934.191
Rutherford County9913.7118
Scotland County8926.6120
Stanly County6913.495
Davie County7817.669
Stokes County7817.470
Macon County6820.754
Yadkin County6821.191
Greene County7733.936
Jackson County7715.576
Craven County676.7131
Vance County6716.595
Camden County5762.69
Dare County4718.343
Currituck County6618.645
Watauga County6610.958
Bertie County5529.560
Alexander County3513.657
Haywood County446.3108
Gates County3438.834
Graham County1–2448.936
Mitchell County1–2426.618
Alleghany County3326.417
Chowan County3321.619
Pamlico County3323.923
Polk County3314.835
Ashe County1–21–2—43
Cherokee County1–21–2—58
Madison County1–21–2—45
Martin County1–21–2—46
Perquimans County1–21–2—21
Swain County1–21–2—24
Tyrrell County1–21–2—11
Yancey County1–21–2—28
Avery County1–21–2—24
Caswell County1–21–2—55
Hertford County1–21–2—61
Hyde County1–21–2—6
Jones County1–21–2—26
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%
1am4.2%
2am2.6%
3am2.4%
4am2.8%
5am1.9%
6am4%
7am4.8%
8am3.3%
9am3.4%
10am2.8%
11am4.1%
12pm5.3%
1pm4.7%
2pm3.8%
3pm5%
4pm5.8%
5pm5.8%
6pm6%
7pm5.3%
8pm4.7%
9pm5%
10pm5%
11pm4.1%

Weekday

Sunday13%
Monday12%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday14%
Thursday14%
Friday15%
Saturday20%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in North Carolina in 1997?

1,483 people in 1,290 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1997 file.

Which county in North Carolina had the most crash deaths in 1997?

Wake County with 64 deaths in 58 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1997 compare with 1996 in North Carolina?

1,483 deaths against 1,494 in 1996 (+-1%). Nationally the 1997 total was 42,013.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1997 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.