Fatal Roads

States › Virginia › 2021

2021

Virginia · year

Virginia in 2021

Deaths 973Fatal crashes 906Per 100,000 11.2US 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, 973 people died in 906 fatal crashes in Virginia, 11.2 deaths per 100,000 residents against 13.0 nationally.

The death toll rose 14% from 850 in 2020 to 973 in 2021.

Virginia accounted for 2.3% of the 43,230 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

29.5% 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 (28%).

33% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Saturday was the most common day.

← 202020212022 →All years

Compared with 2020 and the nation

MeasureVirginia 2021Virginia 2020United States 2021
Deaths97385043,230
Fatal crashes90679639,785
Deaths per 100,000 residents11.29.813.0
Crashes with a drinking driver29%33%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. 113 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Fairfax County49524.5447
Henrico County363911.5294
Virginia Beach city34357.7271
Prince William County29326.4238
Norfolk city272812.1203
Chesterfield County27276.9292
Chesapeake city22239.0177
Hanover County212219.1164
Bedford County181923.1127
Augusta County151822.9160
Richmond city17177.3205
Mecklenburg County141755.299
Albemarle County161613.6134
Newport News city16168.7167
Pittsylvania County151525.2162
Spotsylvania County13159.9170
New Kent County111555.158
Fauquier County131317.1142
Suffolk city131312.6110
Brunswick County111382.567
Franklin County121221.6125
Portsmouth city111212.488
Greensville County812107.637
James City County111113.373
Rockingham County111112.5124
Stafford County11116.5108
Hampton city11118.0129
Isle of Wight County101126.966
Dinwiddie County101035.094
Nelson County101067.760
Roanoke city101010.289
Botetourt County91029.371
Caroline County91029.988
Louisa County91023.795
Prince George County91022.983
Henry County81020.2125
Frederick County999.2128
Smyth County8930.952
Wythe County8932.081
Campbell County8814.5109
Loudoun County881.8133
Tazewell County8820.659
Washington County8814.886
Lynchburg city8810.046
Powhatan County7824.743
Danville city7819.148
Russell County6831.565
Arlington County772.945
Shenandoah County7715.466
Alexandria city774.449
Accomack County6721.065
Culpeper County6712.571
King and Queen County67103.731
Prince Edward County6731.450
Roanoke County677.284
Southampton County6739.052
York County679.873
Petersburg city6720.643
Carroll County5723.964
Amherst County6619.045
King George County6620.852
Sussex County6655.874
Orange County5615.467
Rockbridge County5626.868
Buckingham County4635.149
Alleghany County5534.227
Charlotte County5544.444
Essex County5546.829
Giles County5530.233
Gloucester County5512.556
Halifax County5514.994
Montgomery County555.188
Appomattox County4529.531
Cumberland County4549.723
Lancaster County4545.221
Westmoreland County4526.030
Hopewell city4521.89
Buchanan County4421.547
Fluvanna County4413.928
Middlesex County4436.528
Northampton County4433.344
Pulaski County4411.946
Scott County4418.743
Warren County449.442
Waynesboro city4417.013
Amelia County3321.935
Goochland County3310.655
Lunenburg County3324.924
Page County3312.745
Richmond County3332.619
Colonial Heights city3316.117
Fredericksburg city3310.021
Harrisonburg city335.926
Grayson County1–2319.727
Nottoway County1–2319.249
Charles City County1–21–2—29
Clarke County1–21–2—48
King William County1–21–2—32
Mathews County1–21–2—15
Northumberland County1–21–2—21
Charlottesville city1–21–2—17
Floyd County1–21–2—17
Greene County1–21–2—19
Highland County1–21–2—11
Lee County1–21–2—35
Madison County1–21–2—30
Patrick County1–21–2—36
Wise County1–21–2—45
Bristol city1–21–2—7
Fairfax city1–21–2—12
Manassas city1–21–2—16
Manassas Park city1–21–2—1
Norton city1–21–2—1

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

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

Weekday

Sunday14%
Monday14%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday13%
Thursday14%
Friday16%
Saturday17%

Road type

Other principal arterial28%
Minor arterial23%
Interstate17%
Major collector16%
Local9%
Other freeways and expressways4%
Minor collector3%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Virginia in 2021?

973 people in 906 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2021 file, or 11.2 per 100,000 residents.

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

Fairfax County with 52 deaths in 49 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2021 compare with 2020 in Virginia?

973 deaths against 850 in 2020 (+14%). 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.