Fatal Roads

States › North Carolina › 1998

1998

North Carolina · year

North Carolina in 1998

Deaths 1,596Fatal crashes 1,433Per 100,000 —US deaths 41,501

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 1998.

In 1998, 1,596 people died in 1,433 fatal crashes in North Carolina.

The death toll rose 8% from 1,483 in 1997 to 1,596 in 1998.

North Carolina accounted for 3.8% of the 41,501 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

25.3% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

31% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Saturday was the most common day.

← 199719981999 →All years

Compared with 1997 and the nation

MeasureNorth Carolina 1998North Carolina 1997United States 1998
Deaths1,5961,48341,501
Fatal crashes1,4331,29037,107
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver25%29%30%

Counties in 1998

Every county with a fatal crash in 1998, 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
Wake County87967.8772
Mecklenburg County66695.71,059
Guilford County606912.3649
Robeson County435445.5531
Johnston County344216.8341
Forsyth County34399.8419
Rowan County363824.8233
Cumberland County343811.2501
Davidson County333821.4306
Catawba County283219.2237
Durham County29298.4296
Randolph County282919.5261
Nash County272929.6232
Gaston County252811.6277
Cleveland County242625.4208
Pitt County212614.4261
Halifax County202655.3152
Buncombe County23259.0347
Duplin County212549.5181
Alamance County222413.1214
Stanly County222232.795
Columbus County202244.0204
Wilkes County192233.2129
Lincoln County202121.5127
Sampson County192134.8199
Rockingham County172122.5155
Chatham County142125.0141
Cabarrus County20208.2235
Bladen County182067.2108
Iredell County18209.7238
Lenoir County172036.1129
Union County19197.2232
Moore County151917.5183
Pender County151927.1159
Onslow County17188.5231
Henderson County151814.9123
Harnett County171711.6293
Wilson County161721.3164
Rutherford County151725.9118
Brunswick County14169.6214
Burke County141516.9142
Carteret County141521.393
Wayne County141512.5209
Craven County131514.4131
Yadkin County131539.591
Martin County131465.046
Beaufort County121431.471
Caldwell County121316.1123
Haywood County121320.6108
Scotland County121338.4120
Franklin County121215.0154
Lee County121217.5135
New Hanover County12124.9210
Surry County121216.8141
Richmond County111228.6106
Orange County10106.5147
Northampton County9954.373
Watauga County8916.458
Davie County7919.869
Stokes County7919.670
Cherokee County7826.358
Dare County7821.043
Granville County7813.0138
Edgecombe County6816.3118
Bertie County7741.360
Greene County7733.936
McDowell County7715.570
Pamlico County7755.823
Graham County6785.636
Gates County5768.034
Montgomery County6622.891
Person County6614.960
Warren County6631.471
Ashe County5622.043
Hoke County559.0138
Vance County5511.895
Anson County4522.361
Jones County4552.826
Macon County4512.954
Yancey County3526.328
Avery County4422.524
Caswell County4417.955
Currituck County4412.445
Hertford County4420.961
Pasquotank County449.763
Polk County4419.735
Clay County3324.921
Jackson County336.676
Perquimans County3322.321
Alexander County1–21–2—57
Camden County1–21–2—9
Mitchell County1–21–2—18
Transylvania County1–21–2—35
Washington County1–21–2—16
Alleghany County1–21–2—17
Chowan County1–21–2—19
Hyde County1–21–2—6
Madison County1–21–2—45
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

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

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday14%
Tuesday14%
Wednesday13%
Thursday13%
Friday15%
Saturday16%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in North Carolina in 1998?

1,596 people in 1,433 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1998 file.

Which county in North Carolina had the most crash deaths in 1998?

Wake County with 96 deaths in 87 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1998 compare with 1997 in North Carolina?

1,596 deaths against 1,483 in 1997 (+8%). Nationally the 1998 total was 41,501.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1998 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.