Fatal Roads

States › North Carolina › 2016

2016

North Carolina · year

North Carolina in 2016

Deaths 1,450Fatal crashes 1,348Per 100,000 14.3US deaths 37,806

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 2016.

In 2016, 1,450 people died in 1,348 fatal crashes in North Carolina, 14.3 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.7 nationally.

The death toll rose 5% from 1,379 in 2015 to 1,450 in 2016.

North Carolina accounted for 3.8% of the 37,806 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

29.2% 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 (54%).

33% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 201520162017 →All years

Compared with 2015 and the nation

MeasureNorth Carolina 2016North Carolina 2015United States 2016
Deaths1,4501,37937,806
Fatal crashes1,3481,27534,748
Deaths per 100,000 residents14.313.711.7
Crashes with a drinking driver29%31%27%

Counties in 2016

Every county with a fatal crash in 2016, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 97 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Mecklenburg County951038.51,059
Wake County74816.6772
Guilford County575910.6649
Cumberland County354312.7501
Forsyth County374210.5419
Robeson County383832.0531
Davidson County323419.1306
Johnston County323413.6341
Cleveland County253332.3208
Gaston County292912.0277
Union County242710.3232
Nash County232727.6232
Columbus County242651.9204
Buncombe County24259.0347
Wayne County232419.9209
Sampson County212439.7199
Iredell County232311.1238
Cabarrus County22239.4235
Durham County22226.4296
Harnett County202215.1293
Pitt County202212.2261
New Hanover County20208.2210
Onslow County19209.4231
Rockingham County192021.4155
Rowan County192013.0233
Craven County191918.2131
Franklin County191923.8154
Moore County171917.5183
Surry County171825.2141
Wilson County141822.5164
Randolph County151711.5261
Richmond County131740.5106
Burke County151618.1142
Pender County131622.8159
Bladen County121653.7108
Catawba County15159.0237
Alamance County14158.2214
Brunswick County14159.0214
Chatham County141517.9141
Hoke County141527.1138
Haywood County141422.2108
Henderson County141411.6123
Lincoln County141414.3127
Stanly County131319.395
Orange County12127.8147
Granville County111219.5138
Wilkes County111116.6129
Halifax County101021.3152
Caldwell County91012.4123
Jackson County91022.176
Warren County71052.471
Currituck County9927.945
Lenoir County9916.3129
Stokes County9919.670
Vance County9921.395
Carteret County8912.893
Duplin County8815.8181
Lee County8811.7135
Macon County8820.754
Montgomery County7830.391
Yadkin County7821.191
McDowell County6817.770
Caswell County7731.355
Davie County7715.469
Edgecombe County7714.2118
Hertford County7736.561
Martin County7732.546
Ashe County6725.743
Bertie County6741.360
Beaufort County6613.571
Cherokee County6619.858
Rutherford County669.1118
Graham County5561.136
Scotland County5514.8120
Watauga County559.158
Yancey County5526.328
Alexander County4410.957
Dare County4410.543
Pasquotank County449.763
Avery County3316.824
Gates County3329.134
Jones County3331.726
Madison County3313.445
Pamlico County3323.923
Person County337.560
Chowan County1–21–2—19
Clay County1–21–2—21
Mitchell County1–21–2—18
Northampton County1–21–2—73
Polk County1–21–2—35
Swain County1–21–2—24
Washington County1–21–2—16
Alleghany County1–21–2—17
Anson County1–21–2—61
Greene County1–21–2—36
Perquimans County1–21–2—21
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

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

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday13%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday14%
Thursday15%
Friday15%
Saturday16%

Road type

Other principal arterial54%
Local22%
Interstate10%
Minor arterial6%
Major collector5%
Other freeways and expressways2%
Minor collector1%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in North Carolina in 2016?

1,450 people in 1,348 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2016 file, or 14.3 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in North Carolina had the most crash deaths in 2016?

Mecklenburg County with 103 deaths in 95 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2016 compare with 2015 in North Carolina?

1,450 deaths against 1,379 in 2015 (+5%). Nationally the 2016 total was 37,806.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2016 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.