States › Rhode Island › 2020

2020

Rhode Island in 2020

Deaths 67Fatal crashes 66Per 100,000 6.1US 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, 67 people died in 66 fatal crashes in Rhode Island, 6.1 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.8 nationally.

The death toll rose 18% from 57 in 2019 to 67 in 2020.

Rhode Island accounted for 0.2% of the 39,007 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

37.9% 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 (32%).

30% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Sunday was the most common day.

← 201920202021 →All years

Compared with 2019 and the nation

Measure	Rhode Island 2020	Rhode Island 2019	United States 2020
Deaths	67	57	39,007
Fatal crashes	66	53	35,935
Deaths per 100,000 residents	6.1	5.4	11.8
Crashes with a drinking driver	38%	57%	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. 4 counties listed.

County	Fatal crashes	Deaths	Per 100,000	Deaths 2015–2024
Providence County	37	38	5.6	357
Washington County	15	15	11.5	105
Kent County	10	10	5.8	98
Newport County	4	4	4.8	30

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

12am6.1%

1am6.1%

2am4.5%

3am3%

4am3%

5am3%

6am1.5%

7am1.5%

8am3%

9am4.5%

10am4.5%

11am3%

12pm6.1%

1pm4.5%

2pm4.5%

3pm3%

4pm7.6%

5pm4.5%

6pm0%

7pm6.1%

8pm4.5%

9pm9.1%

10pm1.5%

11pm4.5%

Weekday

Sunday29%

Monday11%

Tuesday9%

Wednesday12%

Thursday12%

Friday15%

Saturday12%

Road type

Other principal arterial32%

Interstate21%

Minor arterial21%

Major collector11%

Other freeways and expressways8%

Local8%

Minor collector0%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Rhode Island in 2020?

67 people in 66 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2020 file, or 6.1 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Rhode Island had the most crash deaths in 2020?

Providence County with 38 deaths in 37 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2020 compare with 2019 in Rhode Island?

67 deaths against 57 in 2019 (+18%). 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.