Fatal Roads

States › North Carolina › 2023

2023

North Carolina · year

North Carolina in 2023

Deaths 1,577Fatal crashes 1,465Per 100,000 14.5US deaths 41,025

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 2023.

In 2023, 1,577 people died in 1,465 fatal crashes in North Carolina, 14.5 deaths per 100,000 residents against 12.2 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2022 (1,631) and 2023 (1,577).

North Carolina accounted for 3.8% of the 41,025 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

22% 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 (22%).

34% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 202220232024 →All years

Compared with 2022 and the nation

MeasureNorth Carolina 2023North Carolina 2022United States 2023
Deaths1,5771,63141,025
Fatal crashes1,4651,50137,769
Deaths per 100,000 residents14.515.212.2
Crashes with a drinking driver22%24%26%

Counties in 2023

Every county with a fatal crash in 2023, 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
Wake County921018.2772
Mecklenburg County92978.01,059
Robeson County626554.8531
Guilford County54549.7649
Cumberland County435215.4501
Forsyth County455112.8419
Buncombe County434716.8347
Durham County363811.1296
Pitt County333318.3261
Randolph County333322.2261
Davidson County303318.6306
Johnston County303212.8341
Harnett County253020.5293
Moore County202724.9183
Gaston County262610.7277
Cabarrus County242610.6235
Onslow County252511.7231
Catawba County232515.0237
Rowan County232516.3233
Sampson County222541.4199
Cleveland County242423.5208
Wayne County192319.1209
Iredell County222210.7238
Nash County212222.5232
Union County20218.0232
Halifax County192144.7152
Duplin County181937.6181
New Hanover County18197.8210
Brunswick County171810.8214
Scotland County171853.1120
Wilson County171822.5164
Alamance County14189.8214
Chatham County161720.3141
Orange County161711.1147
Columbus County151632.0204
Rockingham County141617.1155
Franklin County131620.1154
Lenoir County151527.1129
Edgecombe County141530.5118
Pender County141521.4159
Lincoln County141414.3127
Haywood County131320.6108
Lee County131319.0135
Hoke County121323.5138
Montgomery County121349.391
Henderson County12129.9123
Alexander County101232.757
Rutherford County101116.8118
Burke County91112.4142
Carteret County101014.293
Stanly County101014.995
Surry County101014.0141
Yadkin County101026.391
Caldwell County91012.4123
Person County91024.960
Bladen County9930.2108
Anson County8835.761
Granville County8813.0138
Craven County787.7131
McDowell County7817.770
Richmond County7819.1106
Wilkes County7812.1129
Bertie County6847.260
Warren County7736.771
Ashe County5725.743
Dare County4615.743
Beaufort County5511.271
Cherokee County5516.558
Davie County5511.069
Graham County5561.136
Pasquotank County5512.163
Polk County5524.635
Stokes County5510.970
Swain County5535.924
Vance County5511.895
Watauga County559.158
Jackson County4511.076
Avery County4422.524
Macon County4410.354
Martin County4418.646
Northampton County4424.173
Alleghany County3435.217
Gates County3329.134
Greene County3314.536
Hertford County3315.761
Transylvania County338.835
Caswell County1–21–2—55
Jones County1–21–2—26
Madison County1–21–2—45
Mitchell County1–21–2—18
Pamlico County1–21–2—23
Yancey County1–21–2—28
Camden County1–21–2—9
Chowan County1–21–2—19
Clay County1–21–2—21
Currituck County1–21–2—45
Perquimans County1–21–2—21
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

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

Weekday

Sunday14%
Monday13%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday13%
Thursday13%
Friday16%
Saturday17%

Road type

Other principal arterial22%
Local20%
Major collector19%
Minor arterial18%
Interstate10%
Minor collector7%
Other freeways and expressways5%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in North Carolina in 2023?

1,577 people in 1,465 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2023 file, or 14.5 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in North Carolina had the most crash deaths in 2023?

Wake County with 101 deaths in 92 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2023 compare with 2022 in North Carolina?

1,577 deaths against 1,631 in 2022 (+-3%). Nationally the 2023 total was 41,025.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2023 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.