Fatal Roads

States › North Carolina › 2024

2024

North Carolina · year

North Carolina in 2024

Deaths 1,619Fatal crashes 1,509Per 100,000 14.7US deaths 39,254

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. 2024 is the latest data year; NHTSA may revise it in a later release.

In 2024, 1,619 people died in 1,509 fatal crashes in North Carolina, 14.7 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.5 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2023 (1,577) and 2024 (1,619).

North Carolina accounted for 4.1% of the 39,254 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

20.8% 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 other principal arterial roads (23%).

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

← 20232024All years

Compared with 2023 and the nation

MeasureNorth Carolina 2024North Carolina 2023United States 2024
Deaths1,6191,57739,254
Fatal crashes1,5091,46536,297
Deaths per 100,000 residents14.714.511.5
Crashes with a drinking driver21%22%25%

Counties in 2024

Every county with a fatal crash in 2024, 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 County11512110.01,059
Wake County76836.7772
Guilford County707413.2649
Cumberland County585917.4501
Robeson County374638.8531
Buncombe County404415.8347
Johnston County344016.0341
Forsyth County39399.8419
Gaston County373715.3277
Harnett County333524.0293
Davidson County303318.6306
Rowan County323220.9233
Durham County30319.0296
Randolph County282919.5261
New Hanover County272911.9210
Iredell County262713.1238
Pitt County222614.4261
Alamance County252513.7214
Caldwell County242429.7123
Union County24249.1232
Brunswick County232414.4214
Cabarrus County22239.4235
Catawba County222213.2237
Orange County162214.4147
Wayne County202117.5209
Sampson County172134.8199
Wilson County142126.3164
Onslow County19198.9231
Duplin County181937.6181
Burke County181820.3142
Columbus County171836.0204
Chatham County171720.3141
Moore County171715.7183
Wilkes County161725.7129
Franklin County141721.3154
Henderson County161613.2123
Cleveland County151615.7208
Rutherford County111624.4118
Hoke County151527.1138
Lenoir County131527.1129
Edgecombe County111530.5118
Richmond County131433.3106
Anson County131358.061
Halifax County131327.7152
Carteret County121318.593
Rockingham County121313.9155
Lee County121217.5135
Surry County121216.8141
Craven County111211.5131
Nash County101212.2232
Stanly County111116.395
Yadkin County111129.091
Beaufort County101124.771
Davie County91022.069
Haywood County81015.9108
Granville County9914.6138
Madison County8940.345
Montgomery County8830.391
Scotland County8823.6120
Macon County7820.754
Warren County7841.971
Lincoln County777.2127
Northampton County7742.273
Pender County7710.0159
Caswell County6731.355
Dare County6718.343
Hertford County6736.561
Alexander County6616.457
Bladen County6620.1108
McDowell County6613.370
Person County6614.960
Stokes County6613.170
Gates County5548.534
Jackson County5511.076
Mitchell County5533.318
Polk County5524.635
Clay County4541.521
Martin County4523.246
Cherokee County4413.258
Greene County4419.436
Pasquotank County449.763
Vance County449.495
Watauga County447.358
Transylvania County3411.735
Tyrrell County1–24113.711
Ashe County3311.043
Pamlico County3323.923
Perquimans County3322.321
Washington County3328.216
Avery County1–21–2—24
Currituck County1–21–2—45
Graham County1–21–2—36
Swain County1–21–2—24
Yancey County1–21–2—28
Bertie County1–21–2—60
Hyde County1–21–2—6
Jones County1–21–2—26

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

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

Weekday

Sunday14%
Monday14%
Tuesday14%
Wednesday13%
Thursday13%
Friday15%
Saturday17%

Road type

Other principal arterial23%
Minor arterial20%
Local18%
Major collector17%
Interstate11%
Minor collector7%
Other freeways and expressways3%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in North Carolina in 2024?

1,619 people in 1,509 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2024 file, or 14.7 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in North Carolina had the most crash deaths in 2024?

Mecklenburg County with 121 deaths in 115 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2024 compare with 2023 in North Carolina?

1,619 deaths against 1,577 in 2023 (+3%). Nationally the 2024 total was 39,254.

Provenance

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