Fatal Roads

States › Tennessee › 2023

2023

Tennessee · year

Tennessee in 2023

Deaths 1,323Fatal crashes 1,219Per 100,000 18.5US 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, 1,323 people died in 1,219 fatal crashes in Tennessee, 18.5 deaths per 100,000 residents against 12.2 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2022 (1,313) and 2023 (1,323).

Tennessee accounted for 3.2% of the 41,025 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

24.1% 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 (33%).

34% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 202220232024 →All years

Compared with 2022 and the nation

MeasureTennessee 2023Tennessee 2022United States 2023
Deaths1,3231,31341,025
Fatal crashes1,2191,21437,769
Deaths per 100,000 residents18.518.612.2
Crashes with a drinking driver24%25%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. 93 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Shelby County23425928.41,909
Davidson County12613818.91,039
Knox County838617.0659
Hamilton County485113.2440
Rutherford County35379.8366
Montgomery County353614.6289
Wilson County222514.7210
Sevier County222323.0170
Madison County202322.9190
Sumner County212210.4160
Robertson County142025.5154
McMinn County171831.7145
Blount County161712.0203
Greene County161723.2177
Maury County141715.0156
Bedford County151629.582
Cumberland County151624.4143
Williamson County15165.9162
Putnam County141618.8135
Cocke County131539.998
Coffee County141422.8134
Washington County141410.0134
Campbell County131434.890
Anderson County101316.0118
Sullivan County10138.0202
Monroe County121224.4122
Dickson County111220.8128
Bradley County11119.7136
Carter County101119.285
Cheatham County101125.885
Haywood County91164.380
Roane County91119.4108
Henderson County81035.596
Fayette County9920.286
Macon County8933.147
Claiborne County8824.252
Franklin County8817.762
Hardeman County8831.558
Loudon County8812.999
McNairy County8830.667
Marion County8826.897
Tipton County8812.972
Henry County7824.369
Lawrence County7817.282
Crockett County6857.340
Hardin County6829.078
Bledsoe County7744.941
Cannon County7746.243
Morgan County7731.950
Giles County6722.684
Gibson County6611.782
Lauderdale County6624.457
Marshall County6615.954
Overton County6625.539
Moore County5688.623
Warren County5613.879
Meigs County3643.142
Grainger County5519.952
Hamblen County557.488
Hawkins County558.4102
Jackson County5540.431
Lake County5577.912
Lincoln County5513.668
Scott County5522.259
Sequatchie County5528.450
Weakley County5515.155
Van Buren County4574.817
Benton County4424.735
Fentress County4419.941
Jefferson County446.881
Johnson County4421.642
Rhea County4411.552
Smith County4419.254
Stewart County4427.838
Union County4419.041
Wayne County4425.039
Carroll County3310.348
Decatur County3325.434
Dyer County338.276
Hancock County3342.622
White County3310.341
Chester County1–21–2—37
DeKalb County1–21–2—42
Hickman County1–21–2—82
Humphreys County1–21–2—67
Lewis County1–21–2—24
Obion County1–21–2—50
Polk County1–21–2—49
Trousdale County1–21–2—24
Unicoi County1–21–2—24
Clay County1–21–2—15
Grundy County1–21–2—21
Perry County1–21–2—27

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

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

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday13%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday14%
Thursday13%
Friday15%
Saturday18%

Road type

Other principal arterial33%
Minor arterial22%
Interstate13%
Local13%
Major collector12%
Minor collector6%
Other freeways and expressways1%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Tennessee in 2023?

1,323 people in 1,219 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2023 file, or 18.5 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Tennessee had the most crash deaths in 2023?

Shelby County with 259 deaths in 234 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2023 compare with 2022 in Tennessee?

1,323 deaths against 1,313 in 2022 (+1%). 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.