Fatal Roads

States › South Carolina › 2023

2023

South Carolina · year

South Carolina in 2023

Deaths 1,047Fatal crashes 976Per 100,000 19.4US 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, 1,047 people died in 976 fatal crashes in South Carolina, 19.4 deaths per 100,000 residents against 12.2 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2022 (1,094) and 2023 (1,047).

South Carolina accounted for 2.6% of the 41,025 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

30.7% 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%).

39% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 202220232024 →All years

Compared with 2022 and the nation

MeasureSouth Carolina 2023South Carolina 2022United States 2023
Deaths1,0471,09441,025
Fatal crashes9761,01937,769
Deaths per 100,000 residents19.420.712.2
Crashes with a drinking driver31%35%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. 46 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Spartanburg County718422.7672
Greenville County717513.1831
Charleston County707517.4682
Horry County646616.0714
Berkeley County586123.1410
Richland County586013.9585
Lexington County464715.0501
Aiken County373821.2321
Orangeburg County343744.5387
Sumter County303028.6234
York County29309.9338
Florence County283021.7349
Anderson County252712.4435
Darlington County252743.3213
Laurens County232636.9238
Georgetown County202131.8150
Beaufort County182110.4225
Jasper County171953.3178
Pickens County171813.0203
Colleton County161640.8215
Clarendon County151651.6146
Greenwood County151622.8124
Dorchester County15158.6245
Fairfield County131573.6113
Lancaster County131513.4167
Cherokee County131424.2160
Oconee County131315.8142
Marion County91345.8101
Dillon County91243.5112
Chester County101134.0135
Kershaw County101115.3167
Marlboro County101039.2103
Newberry County9923.095
Chesterfield County8818.0118
Williamsburg County7826.8114
Calhoun County7749.167
Union County7726.271
Bamberg County6646.635
Saluda County6630.842
Lee County5531.364
Abbeville County4520.348
Barnwell County4524.447
Hampton County4527.564
Edgefield County4413.652
Allendale County1–21–2—28
McCormick County1–21–2—32

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

12am3.7%
1am4.6%
2am3.9%
3am1.9%
4am2%
5am2.7%
6am3.1%
7am3.1%
8am1.4%
9am1.5%
10am2.4%
11am3.1%
12pm4.5%
1pm3.8%
2pm3.9%
3pm4.5%
4pm5.3%
5pm5.5%
6pm6.4%
7pm6.8%
8pm7.6%
9pm8.8%
10pm5%
11pm4.5%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday13%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday14%
Thursday12%
Friday15%
Saturday20%

Road type

Other principal arterial35%
Major collector22%
Minor arterial20%
Local11%
Interstate11%
Minor collector1%
Other freeways and expressways0%

Questions and answers

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

1,047 people in 976 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2023 file, or 19.4 per 100,000 residents.

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

Spartanburg County with 84 deaths in 71 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2023 compare with 2022 in South Carolina?

1,047 deaths against 1,094 in 2022 (+-4%). 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.