Fatal Roads

States › Virginia › 2020

2020

Virginia · year

Virginia in 2020

Deaths 850Fatal crashes 796Per 100,000 9.8US 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, 850 people died in 796 fatal crashes in Virginia, 9.8 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.8 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2019 (831) and 2020 (850).

Virginia accounted for 2.2% of the 39,007 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

32.5% 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%).

35% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 201920202021 →All years

Compared with 2019 and the nation

MeasureVirginia 2020Virginia 2019United States 2020
Deaths85083139,007
Fatal crashes79677435,935
Deaths per 100,000 residents9.89.711.8
Crashes with a drinking driver33%30%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. 117 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Fairfax County38393.4447
Chesterfield County31348.7292
Henrico County26298.6294
Richmond city262711.6205
Virginia Beach city25265.7271
Norfolk city232510.8203
Newport News city212212.0167
Hampton city192014.5129
Hanover County181815.6164
Prince William County18183.6238
Pittsylvania County171830.3162
Albemarle County141714.5134
Rockingham County141618.2124
Augusta County141417.8160
Henry County141428.3125
Frederick County131414.3128
Spotsylvania County13138.6170
Roanoke city131313.389
Loudoun County12122.7133
Chesapeake city12124.7177
Russell County101247.265
Roanoke County91111.384
Shenandoah County91124.266
Sussex County911102.374
Fauquier County81114.5142
Bedford County101012.2127
Culpeper County9916.071
Wythe County9932.081
Campbell County8814.5109
Montgomery County888.188
Tazewell County8820.659
Washington County8814.886
Suffolk city887.8110
Caroline County7823.988
Franklin County7814.4125
Orange County7820.567
Danville city7819.148
York County779.873
James City County678.573
Pulaski County6720.846
Stafford County674.1108
Westmoreland County6736.430
Petersburg city6720.643
Amelia County6643.735
Dinwiddie County6621.094
Gloucester County6614.956
Isle of Wight County6614.766
Louisa County6614.295
New Kent County6622.058
Lynchburg city667.546
Arlington County562.545
Carroll County5620.564
Charlottesville city5613.417
Buckingham County4635.149
Accomack County5515.065
Charles City County5576.229
Giles County5530.233
Nelson County5533.960
Northampton County5541.744
Nottoway County5532.049
Powhatan County5515.443
Smyth County5517.252
Wise County5514.345
King William County4526.032
Middlesex County4545.728
Scott County4523.443
Brunswick County4425.467
Charlotte County4435.544
Dickenson County4429.817
Fluvanna County4413.928
Lee County4418.435
Mecklenburg County4413.099
Northumberland County4432.321
Patrick County4423.136
Prince Edward County4418.050
Alexandria city442.549
Botetourt County3411.771
Madison County3428.130
Surry County3460.817
Greensville County1–2435.937
Amherst County339.545
Clarke County3319.248
Cumberland County3329.823
Halifax County339.094
King and Queen County3344.531
King George County3310.452
Page County3312.745
Prince George County336.983
Rappahannock County3340.113
Martinsville city3321.75
Harrisonburg city1–235.926
Bland County1–21–2—13
Floyd County1–21–2—17
Greene County1–21–2—19
Lunenburg County1–21–2—24
Mathews County1–21–2—15
Richmond County1–21–2—19
Rockbridge County1–21–2—68
Southampton County1–21–2—52
Fredericksburg city1–21–2—21
Portsmouth city1–21–2—88
Alleghany County1–21–2—27
Appomattox County1–21–2—31
Bath County1–21–2—13
Buchanan County1–21–2—47
Essex County1–21–2—29
Goochland County1–21–2—55
Grayson County1–21–2—27
Lancaster County1–21–2—21
Warren County1–21–2—42
Bristol city1–21–2—7
Covington city1–21–2—1
Fairfax city1–21–2—12
Manassas city1–21–2—16
Poquoson city1–21–2—4
Staunton city1–21–2—5
Williamsburg city1–21–2—7

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

12am5%
1am4.6%
2am4.1%
3am2.8%
4am2%
5am1.8%
6am2.9%
7am2.6%
8am1.8%
9am3.1%
10am2.5%
11am3.4%
12pm3.8%
1pm4.1%
2pm5.5%
3pm5.4%
4pm4.8%
5pm4.4%
6pm7.8%
7pm5.5%
8pm6.2%
9pm6.2%
10pm5%
11pm4.6%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday14%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday13%
Thursday14%
Friday16%
Saturday17%

Road type

Other principal arterial29%
Minor arterial23%
Major collector17%
Interstate16%
Local10%
Minor collector4%
Other freeways and expressways2%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Virginia in 2020?

850 people in 796 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2020 file, or 9.8 per 100,000 residents.

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

Fairfax County with 39 deaths in 38 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2020 compare with 2019 in Virginia?

850 deaths against 831 in 2019 (+2%). 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.