Fatal Roads

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2015

North Carolina · year

North Carolina in 2015

Deaths 1,379Fatal crashes 1,275Per 100,000 13.7US deaths 35,484

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 2015.

In 2015, 1,379 people died in 1,275 fatal crashes in North Carolina, 13.7 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.1 nationally.

The death toll rose 7% from 1,284 in 2014 to 1,379 in 2015.

North Carolina accounted for 3.9% of the 35,484 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

30.5% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

By FHWA road function class, the largest share was on other principal arterial roads (47%).

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

Compared with 2014 and the nation

MeasureNorth Carolina 2015North Carolina 2014United States 2015
Deaths1,3791,28435,484
Fatal crashes1,2751,18832,538
Deaths per 100,000 residents13.712.911.1
Crashes with a drinking driver31%30%28%

Counties in 2015

Every county with a fatal crash in 2015, 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 County74806.61,059
Wake County63655.3772
Guilford County545710.2649
Robeson County495344.7531
Cumberland County404312.7501
Forsyth County384010.0419
Gaston County364016.5277
Buncombe County333612.9347
Pitt County303217.7261
Catawba County262816.8237
Davidson County252815.7306
Johnston County232710.8341
Randolph County252617.5261
Durham County25257.3296
Sampson County212541.4199
Alamance County242413.1214
Nash County232424.5232
Onslow County232411.3231
Cabarrus County22249.8235
Rowan County232315.0233
Harnett County222315.7293
New Hanover County22229.0210
Lee County182130.6135
Cleveland County192019.6208
Duplin County152039.6181
Lincoln County191919.5127
Iredell County18188.7238
Wayne County151714.1209
Surry County161622.4141
Union County16166.1232
Craven County151615.4131
Moore County111614.8183
Wilson County131518.8164
Rockingham County121516.0155
Hoke County101527.1138
Columbus County141428.0204
Pender County131420.0159
Caldwell County121214.9123
Granville County111219.5138
Brunswick County10127.2214
Chatham County101214.3141
Halifax County101225.5152
Orange County10127.8147
Wilkes County101218.1129
Watauga County91221.858
Edgecombe County101122.4118
Stanly County101116.395
Vance County101023.695
Henderson County997.5123
Lenoir County9916.3129
Stokes County8919.670
Scotland County7926.6120
Burke County889.0142
Yadkin County7821.191
Haywood County6812.7108
Franklin County778.8154
Alexander County6616.457
Ashe County6622.043
Bertie County6635.460
Caswell County6626.855
Davie County6613.269
Jackson County6613.376
Person County6614.960
Rutherford County569.1118
Warren County5631.471
Beaufort County5511.271
McDowell County5511.070
Northampton County5530.273
Pamlico County5539.823
Richmond County5511.9106
Transylvania County5514.735
Cherokee County4516.558
Greene County4524.236
Macon County4512.954
Bladen County4413.4108
Carteret County445.793
Currituck County4412.445
Gates County4438.834
Hertford County4420.961
Pasquotank County449.763
Polk County4419.735
Avery County3316.824
Graham County3336.736
Madison County3313.445
Montgomery County3311.491
Washington County3328.216
Yancey County1–2315.828
Alleghany County1–21–2—17
Anson County1–21–2—61
Clay County1–21–2—21
Dare County1–21–2—43
Martin County1–21–2—46
Mitchell County1–21–2—18
Perquimans County1–21–2—21
Chowan County1–21–2—19
Hyde County1–21–2—6
Jones County1–21–2—26
Swain County1–21–2—24

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

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday12%
Tuesday14%
Wednesday14%
Thursday12%
Friday17%
Saturday16%

Road type

Other principal arterial47%
Local24%
Interstate8%
Major collector7%
Other freeways and expressways6%
Minor arterial6%
Minor collector2%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in North Carolina in 2015?

1,379 people in 1,275 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2015 file, or 13.7 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in North Carolina had the most crash deaths in 2015?

Mecklenburg County with 80 deaths in 74 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2015 compare with 2014 in North Carolina?

1,379 deaths against 1,284 in 2014 (+7%). Nationally the 2015 total was 35,484.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2015 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.