Fatal Roads

States › Tennessee › 2020

2020

Tennessee · year

Tennessee in 2020

Deaths 1,217Fatal crashes 1,119Per 100,000 17.6US 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, 1,217 people died in 1,119 fatal crashes in Tennessee, 17.6 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.8 nationally.

The death toll rose 7% from 1,136 in 2019 to 1,217 in 2020.

Tennessee accounted for 3.1% of the 39,007 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

24% 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 (29%).

36% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 201920202021 →All years

Compared with 2019 and the nation

MeasureTennessee 2020Tennessee 2019United States 2020
Deaths1,2171,13639,007
Fatal crashes1,1191,04135,935
Deaths per 100,000 residents17.616.611.8
Crashes with a drinking driver24%24%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. 92 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Shelby County22924627.01,909
Davidson County10711415.61,039
Knox County535310.5659
Rutherford County444612.2366
Hamilton County384511.7440
Montgomery County242510.2289
Sullivan County202213.5202
Monroe County202142.7122
Cumberland County202030.5143
Sevier County202020.0170
Robertson County161924.2154
Madison County141918.9190
Greene County161824.5177
Williamson County16186.7162
Wilson County161710.0210
Sumner County15157.1160
McMinn County141526.4145
Blount County13149.8203
Dickson County131424.3128
Hickman County131454.182
Gibson County121325.382
Dyer County111335.776
Grainger County111351.852
Maury County121210.6156
Anderson County111214.7118
Marion County111240.297
Cocke County91231.998
Bradley County11119.7136
Putnam County101113.0135
Fayette County91124.786
Giles County91032.384
Weakley County91030.255
Carroll County9930.948
Jefferson County9915.281
Loudon County9914.599
Union County9942.741
Hardeman County8935.458
Roane County8915.9108
Haywood County7952.680
Chester County5950.337
Cheatham County8818.885
Hawkins County7813.5102
Warren County6818.379
Hardin County7725.378
Lawrence County7715.182
Washington County775.0134
Franklin County6715.562
Hamblen County6710.388
Henderson County6724.896
Henry County6721.369
Humphreys County6735.867
McNairy County6726.867
Macon County5725.747
Carter County6610.485
DeKalb County6627.642
Marshall County6615.954
Obion County5619.850
Bedford County559.282
Coffee County558.2134
Decatur County5542.434
Lauderdale County5520.357
Polk County5527.349
Bledsoe County4532.141
Lincoln County4513.668
Tipton County458.072
Sequatchie County3528.450
Overton County4417.039
Perry County4444.527
Scott County4417.859
White County4413.741
Meigs County3428.742
Trousdale County3432.924
Claiborne County339.152
Crockett County3321.540
Jackson County3324.231
Morgan County3313.750
Rhea County338.652
Smith County3314.454
Unicoi County3316.824
Lewis County1–2322.424
Cannon County1–21–2—43
Grundy County1–21–2—21
Johnson County1–21–2—42
Moore County1–21–2—23
Stewart County1–21–2—38
Wayne County1–21–2—39
Houston County1–21–2—22
Benton County1–21–2—35
Campbell County1–21–2—90
Fentress County1–21–2—41
Hancock County1–21–2—22
Lake County1–21–2—12

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

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

Weekday

Sunday13%
Monday13%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday13%
Thursday16%
Friday16%
Saturday17%

Road type

Other principal arterial29%
Minor arterial24%
Interstate16%
Major collector12%
Local11%
Minor collector7%
Other freeways and expressways1%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Tennessee in 2020?

1,217 people in 1,119 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2020 file, or 17.6 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Tennessee had the most crash deaths in 2020?

Shelby County with 246 deaths in 229 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2020 compare with 2019 in Tennessee?

1,217 deaths against 1,136 in 2019 (+7%). 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.