Fatal Roads

States › Virginia › 2023

2023

Virginia · year

Virginia in 2023

Deaths 914Fatal crashes 856Per 100,000 10.5US 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, 914 people died in 856 fatal crashes in Virginia, 10.5 deaths per 100,000 residents against 12.2 nationally.

The death toll fell 9% from 1,006 in 2022 to 914 in 2023.

Virginia accounted for 2.2% of the 41,025 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

27.5% 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%).

32% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Friday was the most common day.

← 202220232024 →All years

Compared with 2022 and the nation

MeasureVirginia 2023Virginia 2022United States 2023
Deaths9141,00641,025
Fatal crashes85694437,769
Deaths per 100,000 residents10.511.612.2
Crashes with a drinking driver27%27%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. 118 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Fairfax County40423.6447
Virginia Beach city37378.1271
Richmond city292912.4205
Henrico County28298.6294
Chesterfield County26276.9292
Prince William County26275.4238
Hanover County212420.8164
Spotsylvania County222315.1170
Hampton city212216.0129
Campbell County192239.8109
Halifax County162059.894
Chesapeake city17176.7177
Loudoun County13163.6133
Dinwiddie County151552.594
Norfolk city15156.5203
Augusta County121417.8160
Louisa County131330.995
Pittsylvania County121321.9162
Rockingham County121314.8124
Washington County121222.286
Newport News city12126.6167
Accomack County111235.965
Portsmouth city111212.488
Suffolk city101211.6110
Fauquier County111114.5142
York County111115.473
Albemarle County10119.4134
Franklin County101119.8125
Stafford County9116.5108
Wythe County91139.181
Botetourt County101029.371
Culpeper County101017.871
Roanoke city101010.289
Henry County91020.2125
Mecklenburg County91032.499
Montgomery County71010.188
Buchanan County9948.347
Isle of Wight County9922.066
Roanoke County899.284
Smyth County8930.952
Sussex County8983.774
Madison County6963.130
James City County889.773
Nelson County8854.260
Prince George County6818.483
Frederick County777.1128
Orange County7718.067
Arlington County672.945
Charlotte County6762.244
Brunswick County6638.167
Caroline County6617.988
Carroll County6620.564
Gloucester County6614.956
King George County6620.852
Patrick County6634.736
Scott County5628.143
Bedford County556.1127
Tazewell County5512.959
Wise County5514.345
Manassas city5511.516
Clarke County3532.148
Greene County4418.419
Highland County44170.411
King William County4420.832
Lee County4418.435
Rockbridge County4417.968
Shenandoah County448.866
Warren County449.442
Petersburg city4411.743
Grayson County3426.227
New Kent County3414.758
Russell County3415.765
Amelia County3321.935
Amherst County339.545
Appomattox County3317.731
Charles City County3345.729
Giles County3318.133
Goochland County3310.655
Middlesex County3327.428
Northampton County3325.044
Page County3312.745
Powhatan County339.343
Southampton County3316.752
Danville city337.148
Harrisonburg city335.926
Bath County1–2373.713
Northumberland County1–2324.221
Nottoway County1–2319.249
Bland County1–21–2—13
Cumberland County1–21–2—23
Essex County1–21–2—29
Fluvanna County1–21–2—28
King and Queen County1–21–2—31
Lancaster County1–21–2—21
Lunenburg County1–21–2—24
Prince Edward County1–21–2—50
Rappahannock County1–21–2—13
Surry County1–21–2—17
Westmoreland County1–21–2—30
Alexandria city1–21–2—49
Fredericksburg city1–21–2—21
Hopewell city1–21–2—9
Staunton city1–21–2—5
Buckingham County1–21–2—49
Craig County1–21–2—7
Dickenson County1–21–2—17
Greensville County1–21–2—37
Mathews County1–21–2—15
Pulaski County1–21–2—46
Richmond County1–21–2—19
Charlottesville city1–21–2—17
Colonial Heights city1–21–2—17
Emporia city1–21–2—7
Franklin city1–21–2—6
Lynchburg city1–21–2—46
Martinsville city1–21–2—5
Waynesboro city1–21–2—13
Winchester city1–21–2—6

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

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

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday12%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday13%
Thursday14%
Friday18%
Saturday16%

Road type

Other principal arterial28%
Minor arterial23%
Major collector20%
Interstate14%
Local8%
Minor collector4%
Other freeways and expressways2%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Virginia in 2023?

914 people in 856 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2023 file, or 10.5 per 100,000 residents.

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

Fairfax County with 42 deaths in 40 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2023 compare with 2022 in Virginia?

914 deaths against 1,006 in 2022 (+-9%). 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.