Fatal Roads

States › North Carolina › 2017

2017

North Carolina · year

North Carolina in 2017

Deaths 1,412Fatal crashes 1,306Per 100,000 13.7US deaths 37,473

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 2017.

In 2017, 1,412 people died in 1,306 fatal crashes in North Carolina, 13.7 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.5 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2016 (1,450) and 2017 (1,412).

North Carolina accounted for 3.8% of the 37,473 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

27.8% 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 local roads (40%).

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

← 201620172018 →All years

Compared with 2016 and the nation

MeasureNorth Carolina 2017North Carolina 2016United States 2017
Deaths1,4121,45037,473
Fatal crashes1,3061,34834,560
Deaths per 100,000 residents13.714.311.5
Crashes with a drinking driver28%29%27%

Counties in 2017

Every county with a fatal crash in 2017, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 96 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Mecklenburg County1091149.51,059
Guilford County566611.8649
Wake County49534.3772
Robeson County425344.7531
Cumberland County434312.7501
Forsyth County424210.5419
Harnett County323423.3293
Buncombe County313211.5347
Johnston County293212.8341
Iredell County293115.0238
Durham County28319.0296
Brunswick County283018.0214
Columbus County263059.9204
Union County232810.6232
Alamance County252614.2214
Randolph County232516.8261
Gaston County23239.5277
Davidson County222312.9306
Pitt County202111.6261
Wilson County182025.0164
Catawba County191911.4237
Moore County191917.5183
Lee County171927.7135
Onslow County18188.5231
New Hanover County17187.4210
Hoke County161832.5138
Sampson County151829.8199
Burke County161719.2142
Cabarrus County15176.9235
Pender County151724.3159
Nash County141717.3232
Franklin County141417.6154
Rowan County14149.1233
Lincoln County131414.3127
Edgecombe County121428.5118
Wayne County131310.8209
Montgomery County111349.391
Chatham County101315.5141
Henderson County12129.9123
Wilkes County121218.1129
Granville County111219.5138
Halifax County111225.5152
Stanly County101217.895
Beaufort County111124.771
Rutherford County111116.8118
Cherokee County81136.258
Cleveland County10109.8208
Scotland County101029.5120
Bladen County91033.6108
Haywood County91015.9108
Orange County9106.5147
Duplin County9917.8181
Craven County898.6131
Northampton County8954.373
Person County8922.460
Richmond County8921.4106
Vance County8921.395
Davie County7919.869
Bertie County8847.260
Hertford County8841.761
Rockingham County888.6155
Surry County8811.2141
Macon County7718.154
Stokes County7715.370
Transylvania County6720.535
Madison County6626.845
Warren County6631.471
Yadkin County6615.891
Anson County5626.761
Caldwell County567.4123
Caswell County5626.855
Currituck County5515.545
Greene County5524.236
McDowell County4511.070
Jackson County448.876
Martin County4418.646
Watauga County447.358
Carteret County334.393
Chowan County3321.619
Jones County3331.726
Lenoir County335.4129
Polk County3314.835
Washington County3328.216
Clay County1–2324.921
Alleghany County1–21–2—17
Ashe County1–21–2—43
Avery County1–21–2—24
Camden County1–21–2—9
Dare County1–21–2—43
Gates County1–21–2—34
Graham County1–21–2—36
Pasquotank County1–21–2—63
Alexander County1–21–2—57
Hyde County1–21–2—6
Swain County1–21–2—24
Yancey County1–21–2—28

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

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

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday13%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday12%
Thursday13%
Friday16%
Saturday17%

Road type

Local40%
Other principal arterial27%
Interstate10%
Major collector10%
Minor arterial6%
Minor collector4%
Other freeways and expressways2%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in North Carolina in 2017?

1,412 people in 1,306 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2017 file, or 13.7 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in North Carolina had the most crash deaths in 2017?

Mecklenburg County with 114 deaths in 109 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2017 compare with 2016 in North Carolina?

1,412 deaths against 1,450 in 2016 (+-3%). Nationally the 2017 total was 37,473.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2017 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.