Fatal Roads

States › North Carolina › 2022

2022

North Carolina · year

North Carolina in 2022

Deaths 1,631Fatal crashes 1,501Per 100,000 15.2US deaths 42,721

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 2022.

In 2022, 1,631 people died in 1,501 fatal crashes in North Carolina, 15.2 deaths per 100,000 residents against 12.8 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2021 (1,693) and 2022 (1,631).

North Carolina accounted for 3.8% of the 42,721 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 minor arterial roads (20%).

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

← 202120222023 →All years

Compared with 2021 and the nation

MeasureNorth Carolina 2022North Carolina 2021United States 2022
Deaths1,6311,69342,721
Fatal crashes1,5011,56339,422
Deaths per 100,000 residents15.216.012.8
Crashes with a drinking driver24%27%26%

Counties in 2022

Every county with a fatal crash in 2022, 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 County1021129.31,059
Wake County91977.9772
Guilford County626611.8649
Robeson County596554.8531
Cumberland County404413.0501
Forsyth County404110.3419
Johnston County353815.2341
Onslow County323817.8231
Buncombe County343612.9347
Cabarrus County293213.1235
Catawba County313118.6237
Durham County28298.4296
Alamance County252915.8214
Davidson County252815.7306
Union County252810.6232
Franklin County222733.8154
Wayne County212621.6209
Randolph County232516.8261
Brunswick County222515.0214
Pitt County242413.3261
Nash County212323.5232
Iredell County202311.1238
Columbus County172346.0204
Gaston County22229.1277
Cleveland County212221.5208
Rowan County212214.3233
Sampson County202236.4199
Duplin County202141.6181
Craven County192120.2131
Orange County181912.4147
Wilkes County171725.7129
Harnett County161711.6293
Vance County161740.295
Halifax County141736.2152
Wilson County141721.3164
Scotland County131750.2120
Caldwell County161619.8123
Surry County141622.4141
Lee County151521.9135
Stokes County151532.770
Granville County141524.4138
Richmond County141535.7106
Rockingham County141516.0155
Bladen County141447.0108
New Hanover County14145.8210
Carteret County121419.993
Moore County131312.0183
Pasquotank County131331.463
Pender County121318.6159
Burke County121213.6142
Lincoln County111212.3127
Haywood County101219.0108
Beaufort County101124.771
Rutherford County101116.8118
Hoke County91119.9138
Yadkin County91129.091
Chatham County101011.9141
Henderson County10108.3123
Northampton County101060.373
Davie County91022.069
McDowell County71022.170
Jackson County9919.976
Anson County8940.161
Montgomery County8830.391
Edgecombe County6816.3118
Lenoir County7712.7129
Currituck County6721.745
Yancey County6736.928
Alexander County6616.457
Cherokee County6619.858
Dare County6615.743
Gates County6658.334
Caswell County5626.855
Hertford County5526.161
Martin County5523.246
Stanly County457.495
Bertie County4423.660
Jones County4442.326
Madison County4417.945
Person County4410.060
Warren County4421.071
Watauga County447.358
Chowan County3321.619
Graham County3336.736
Macon County337.754
Perquimans County3322.321
Swain County3321.524
Ashe County1–21–2—43
Pamlico County1–21–2—23
Tyrrell County1–21–2—11
Alleghany County1–21–2—17
Avery County1–21–2—24
Camden County1–21–2—9
Greene County1–21–2—36
Hyde County1–21–2—6
Polk County1–21–2—35
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

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

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday13%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday13%
Thursday14%
Friday16%
Saturday17%

Road type

Minor arterial20%
Local20%
Other principal arterial20%
Major collector19%
Interstate9%
Minor collector7%
Other freeways and expressways5%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in North Carolina in 2022?

1,631 people in 1,501 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2022 file, or 15.2 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in North Carolina had the most crash deaths in 2022?

Mecklenburg County with 112 deaths in 102 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2022 compare with 2021 in North Carolina?

1,631 deaths against 1,693 in 2021 (+-4%). Nationally the 2022 total was 42,721.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2022 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.