Fatal Roads

States › North Carolina › 2020

2020

North Carolina · year

North Carolina in 2020

Deaths 1,538Fatal crashes 1,415Per 100,000 14.7US deaths 39,007

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 2020.

In 2020, 1,538 people died in 1,415 fatal crashes in North Carolina, 14.7 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.8 nationally.

The death toll rose 6% from 1,457 in 2019 to 1,538 in 2020.

North Carolina accounted for 3.9% of the 39,007 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

23.7% 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 (22%).

35% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 201920202021 →All years

Compared with 2019 and the nation

MeasureNorth Carolina 2020North Carolina 2019United States 2020
Deaths1,5381,45739,007
Fatal crashes1,4151,35835,935
Deaths per 100,000 residents14.713.911.8
Crashes with a drinking driver24%22%27%

Counties in 2020

Every county with a fatal crash in 2020, 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 County1031089.01,059
Wake County62655.3772
Guilford County576411.5649
Cumberland County485616.5501
Robeson County505546.4531
Forsyth County414210.5419
Pitt County354022.1261
Johnston County363915.6341
Harnett County303524.0293
Durham County32339.6296
Buncombe County313211.5347
Wayne County273226.6209
Davidson County293117.4306
Alamance County303016.4214
Rowan County272818.3233
Gaston County262811.6277
Nash County252727.6232
Catawba County222615.6237
Randolph County252516.8261
Iredell County212411.6238
Rutherford County212436.6118
Rockingham County212324.6155
Brunswick County222213.2214
Cabarrus County20218.6235
Moore County192119.4183
Halifax County172144.7152
Columbus County172040.0204
Cleveland County181918.6208
Hoke County171934.3138
Wilson County171923.8164
Onslow County18188.5231
Duplin County171733.6181
Union County17176.5232
Granville County141727.6138
Franklin County141620.1154
Pender County141420.0159
Burke County131415.8142
Surry County131419.6141
Montgomery County121453.191
Wilkes County131319.6129
Bladen County121343.7108
Orange County12138.5147
Sampson County121219.9199
Chatham County111214.3141
Henderson County11129.9123
New Hanover County11124.9210
Lee County101116.0135
Yadkin County101129.091
Craven County10109.6131
Scotland County101029.5120
Carteret County91014.293
Vance County91023.695
Edgecombe County81020.4118
Hertford County81052.261
Lenoir County61018.1129
Northampton County61060.373
Lincoln County999.2127
Caldwell County889.9123
Haywood County8812.7108
Warren County8841.971
Person County7819.960
Anson County6835.761
Richmond County5819.1106
Jackson County7715.576
Stanly County6710.495
Madison County6626.845
Martin County6627.946
Pasquotank County6614.563
Alexander County5513.657
Beaufort County5511.271
Polk County5524.635
Caswell County4522.455
Cherokee County4516.558
McDowell County4511.070
Avery County4422.524
Currituck County4412.445
Gates County4438.834
Greene County4419.436
Mitchell County4426.618
Pamlico County4431.923
Perquimans County4429.721
Bertie County3317.760
Davie County336.669
Jones County3331.726
Watauga County335.558
Alleghany County1–21–2—17
Ashe County1–21–2—43
Camden County1–21–2—9
Chowan County1–21–2—19
Graham County1–21–2—36
Stokes County1–21–2—70
Yancey County1–21–2—28
Clay County1–21–2—21
Hyde County1–21–2—6
Macon County1–21–2—54
Swain County1–21–2—24
Transylvania County1–21–2—35
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

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

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday11%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday14%
Thursday15%
Friday15%
Saturday18%

Road type

Local22%
Minor arterial19%
Major collector19%
Other principal arterial19%
Interstate10%
Minor collector8%
Other freeways and expressways4%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in North Carolina in 2020?

1,538 people in 1,415 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2020 file, or 14.7 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in North Carolina had the most crash deaths in 2020?

Mecklenburg County with 108 deaths in 103 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2020 compare with 2019 in North Carolina?

1,538 deaths against 1,457 in 2019 (+6%). Nationally the 2020 total was 39,007.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2020 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.