States › Rhode Island › 2018

2018

Rhode Island in 2018

Deaths 59Fatal crashes 56Per 100,000 5.6US 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, 59 people died in 56 fatal crashes in Rhode Island, 5.6 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.3 nationally.

The death toll fell 30% from 84 in 2017 to 59 in 2018.

Rhode Island accounted for 0.2% of the 36,835 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

35.7% 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 other principal arterial roads (35%).

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

← 201720182019 →All years

Compared with 2017 and the nation

Measure	Rhode Island 2018	Rhode Island 2017	United States 2018
Deaths	59	84	36,835
Fatal crashes	56	77	33,919
Deaths per 100,000 residents	5.6	8.0	11.3
Crashes with a drinking driver	36%	35%	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. 5 counties listed.

County	Fatal crashes	Deaths	Per 100,000	Deaths 2015–2024
Providence County	33	34	5.0	357
Kent County	10	12	7.0	98
Washington County	6	6	4.6	105
Newport County	4	4	4.8	30
Bristol County	1–2	1–2	—	10

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

12am5.5%

1am0%

2am1.8%

3am5.5%

4am1.8%

5am1.8%

6am1.8%

7am3.6%

8am3.6%

9am1.8%

10am5.5%

11am1.8%

12pm9.1%

1pm1.8%

2pm7.3%

3pm5.5%

4pm3.6%

5pm3.6%

6pm5.5%

7pm10.9%

8pm5.5%

9pm3.6%

10pm3.6%

11pm5.5%

Weekday

Sunday11%

Monday18%

Tuesday13%

Wednesday13%

Thursday11%

Friday20%

Saturday16%

Road type

Other principal arterial35%

Local25%

Interstate22%

Other freeways and expressways9%

Minor arterial9%

Major collector0%

Minor collector0%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Rhode Island in 2018?

59 people in 56 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2018 file, or 5.6 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Rhode Island had the most crash deaths in 2018?

Providence County with 34 deaths in 33 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2018 compare with 2017 in Rhode Island?

59 deaths against 84 in 2017 (+-30%). 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.