Fatal Roads

States › Tennessee › 2021

2021

Tennessee · year

Tennessee in 2021

Deaths 1,327Fatal crashes 1,229Per 100,000 19.1US deaths 43,230

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 2021.

In 2021, 1,327 people died in 1,229 fatal crashes in Tennessee, 19.1 deaths per 100,000 residents against 13.0 nationally.

The death toll rose 9% from 1,217 in 2020 to 1,327 in 2021.

Tennessee accounted for 3.1% of the 43,230 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

25.5% 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%).

31% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 202020212022 →All years

Compared with 2020 and the nation

MeasureTennessee 2021Tennessee 2020United States 2021
Deaths1,3271,21743,230
Fatal crashes1,2291,11939,785
Deaths per 100,000 residents19.117.613.0
Crashes with a drinking driver26%24%26%

Counties in 2021

Every county with a fatal crash in 2021, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 94 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Shelby County23025528.01,909
Davidson County12213118.01,039
Knox County717715.2659
Hamilton County495113.2440
Montgomery County323313.4289
Rutherford County28308.0366
Sullivan County272817.2202
Blount County242618.3203
Wilson County232615.3210
Sumner County18219.9160
Greene County191925.9177
Madison County191918.9190
Bradley County181916.7136
Putnam County171922.4135
Sevier County171919.0170
Washington County161913.6134
Maury County161715.0156
Campbell County151639.890
Anderson County141619.6118
Coffee County131524.5134
Cheatham County121535.285
McMinn County141424.7145
Monroe County131326.4122
Hamblen County121319.288
Williamson County12134.8162
Lincoln County111335.468
Robertson County121215.3154
Marion County101240.297
Hardin County111139.878
Jefferson County111118.681
Lawrence County111123.782
Dickson County101119.1128
Gibson County101121.482
Humphreys County101156.367
Cocke County91026.698
Hawkins County91016.8102
Hickman County91038.782
Loudon County91016.199
Obion County91033.050
Roane County9915.9108
Smith County8943.354
Scott County7940.059
Carter County8813.985
Giles County8825.884
Haywood County8846.880
Dyer County7822.076
Polk County7843.649
Tipton County7812.972
Sequatchie County6845.450
Cumberland County7710.7143
Lewis County7752.224
Fayette County6613.586
Hardeman County6623.658
Henry County6618.269
Houston County6670.322
Johnson County5632.442
Bledsoe County5532.141
Carroll County5517.248
Crockett County5535.840
Rhea County5514.452
Unicoi County5528.024
Wayne County5531.339
Weakley County5515.155
Franklin County4511.162
Bedford County447.482
Chester County4422.437
Claiborne County4412.152
Henderson County4414.296
Jackson County4432.331
Perry County4444.527
Fentress County3419.941
Grundy County3428.321
Overton County3417.039
Benton County3318.535
Cannon County3319.843
DeKalb County3313.842
Grainger County3312.052
Macon County3311.047
Marshall County337.954
Meigs County3321.542
Warren County336.979
Clay County1–21–2—15
Decatur County1–21–2—34
Hancock County1–21–2—22
Lauderdale County1–21–2—57
McNairy County1–21–2—67
Moore County1–21–2—23
Morgan County1–21–2—50
Trousdale County1–21–2—24
Union County1–21–2—41
Van Buren County1–21–2—17
Lake County1–21–2—12
Stewart County1–21–2—38
White County1–21–2—41

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

Weekday

Sunday14%
Monday14%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday13%
Thursday15%
Friday16%
Saturday16%

Road type

Other principal arterial29%
Minor arterial26%
Interstate16%
Local10%
Major collector10%
Minor collector7%
Other freeways and expressways2%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Tennessee in 2021?

1,327 people in 1,229 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2021 file, or 19.1 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Tennessee had the most crash deaths in 2021?

Shelby County with 255 deaths in 230 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2021 compare with 2020 in Tennessee?

1,327 deaths against 1,217 in 2020 (+9%). Nationally the 2021 total was 43,230.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2021 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.