Fatal Roads

States › North Carolina › 2018

2018

North Carolina · year

North Carolina in 2018

Deaths 1,436Fatal crashes 1,321Per 100,000 13.8US deaths 36,835

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 2018.

In 2018, 1,436 people died in 1,321 fatal crashes in North Carolina, 13.8 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.3 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2017 (1,412) and 2018 (1,436).

North Carolina accounted for 3.9% of the 36,835 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

27% 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 minor arterial roads (21%).

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

← 201720182019 →All years

Compared with 2017 and the nation

MeasureNorth Carolina 2018North Carolina 2017United States 2018
Deaths1,4361,41236,835
Fatal crashes1,3211,30633,919
Deaths per 100,000 residents13.813.711.3
Crashes with a drinking driver27%28%26%

Counties in 2018

Every county with a fatal crash in 2018, 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 County1061159.51,059
Wake County60665.4772
Guilford County556010.7649
Robeson County424941.3531
Cumberland County424613.6501
Forsyth County394411.1419
Harnett County323725.3293
Davidson County333419.1306
Buncombe County323412.2347
Johnston County313413.6341
Gaston County313213.2277
Cleveland County303231.3208
Durham County31319.0296
Nash County263030.6232
Pender County262941.4159
Union County23249.1232
Brunswick County222414.4214
Iredell County222411.6238
Rowan County222315.0233
Onslow County20209.4231
Pitt County182011.1261
Burke County162022.6142
Lenoir County181934.3129
Cabarrus County17187.3235
Wayne County171815.0209
Duplin County151835.6181
Sampson County161728.1199
Columbus County141734.0204
Granville County141727.6138
Randolph County161610.8261
Halifax County151531.9152
Alamance County14158.2214
Moore County141513.8183
Catawba County14148.4237
Caldwell County121417.3123
Lee County131319.0135
Haywood County121219.0108
New Hanover County12124.9210
Rockingham County121212.8155
Wilson County121215.0164
Henderson County11129.9123
Richmond County111228.6106
Edgecombe County111122.4118
Lincoln County101111.3127
Surry County91115.4141
Carteret County101014.293
Chatham County101011.9141
Rutherford County101015.2118
Franklin County91012.5154
Craven County8109.6131
Northampton County81060.373
Bladen County61033.6108
Alexander County8821.857
Orange County885.2147
Wilkes County8812.1129
McDowell County7817.770
Jackson County6817.776
Pasquotank County6819.363
Vance County6818.995
Warren County5841.971
Beaufort County7715.771
Bertie County7741.360
Madison County7731.345
Cherokee County6619.858
Davie County6613.269
Stanly County668.995
Macon County5615.554
Stokes County5613.170
Anson County5522.361
Caswell County5522.455
Dare County5513.143
Graham County5561.136
Hoke County559.0138
Montgomery County5519.091
Scotland County5514.8120
Person County4410.060
Transylvania County4411.735
Yadkin County4410.591
Jones County3442.326
Polk County3419.735
Clay County3324.921
Hertford County3315.761
Martin County3313.946
Perquimans County3322.321
Washington County3328.216
Watauga County335.558
Yancey County3315.828
Alleghany County1–21–2—17
Avery County1–21–2—24
Gates County1–21–2—34
Greene County1–21–2—36
Swain County1–21–2—24
Camden County1–21–2—9
Ashe County1–21–2—43
Chowan County1–21–2—19
Hyde County1–21–2—6
Mitchell County1–21–2—18

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

12am2.3%
1am2.4%
2am2.8%
3am2%
4am2.7%
5am3.3%
6am3.9%
7am4.1%
8am3.4%
9am2.6%
10am3.2%
11am4%
12pm3.7%
1pm4.8%
2pm5.2%
3pm5.8%
4pm4.5%
5pm6.4%
6pm5.8%
7pm5.1%
8pm5.5%
9pm7.3%
10pm5.1%
11pm4.1%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday13%
Tuesday14%
Wednesday14%
Thursday12%
Friday15%
Saturday19%

Road type

Minor arterial21%
Local21%
Other principal arterial20%
Major collector18%
Interstate9%
Minor collector6%
Other freeways and expressways5%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in North Carolina in 2018?

1,436 people in 1,321 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2018 file, or 13.8 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in North Carolina had the most crash deaths in 2018?

Mecklenburg County with 115 deaths in 106 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2018 compare with 2017 in North Carolina?

1,436 deaths against 1,412 in 2017 (+2%). Nationally the 2018 total was 36,835.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2018 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.