Fatal crashes in North Carolina
In 2024, 1,619 people died in 1,509 fatal crashes on North Carolina roads, 2.7% more than in 2023. That is about 4 deaths a day, and 4.1% of all road deaths in the United States.
North Carolina ranks 4th of 51 by road deaths in 2024.
Road deaths in North Carolina since 1975
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads in North Carolina
I-40 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024: 338, with 377 deaths. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (73 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-40 | 338 | 377 | 110 | Guilford, Wake, Buncombe |
| 2 | I-85 | 309 | 337 | 106 | Mecklenburg, Davidson, Gaston |
| 3 | US 70 | 296 | 311 | 113 | Johnston, Wake, Carteret |
| 4 | US 64 | 269 | 291 | 75 | Nash, Wake, Randolph |
| 5 | US 74 | 225 | 244 | 74 | Union, Columbus, Mecklenburg |
| 6 | US 421 | 194 | 218 | 65 | New Hanover, Harnett, Wilkes |
| 7 | I-95 | 189 | 221 | 73 | Johnston, Robeson, Halifax |
| 8 | US 401 | 169 | 186 | 51 | Wake, Cumberland, Hoke |
| 9 | US 17 | 167 | 183 | 58 | Brunswick, Onslow, Craven |
| 10 | State Highway 24 | 157 | 165 | 53 | Mecklenburg, Carteret, Cumberland |
| 11 | US 29 | 143 | 154 | 55 | Mecklenburg, Guilford, Rowan |
| 12 | US 158 | 138 | 158 | 39 | Currituck, Forsyth, Dare |
| 13 | I-77 | 128 | 138 | 40 | Mecklenburg, Iredell, Yadkin |
| 14 | State Highway 87 | 120 | 128 | 43 | Alamance, Cumberland, Bladen |
| 15 | US 1 | 118 | 131 | 47 | Wake, Moore, Lee |
| 16 | I-485 | 97 | 109 | 39 | Mecklenburg |
| 17 | State Highway 150 | 90 | 93 | 26 | Davidson, Forsyth, Iredell |
| 18 | US 321 | 88 | 92 | 33 | Caldwell, Gaston, Lincoln |
| 19 | US 19 | 87 | 97 | 32 | Buncombe, Haywood, Cherokee |
| 20 | State Highway 55 | 86 | 98 | 26 | Wayne, Sampson, Craven |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest counties in North Carolina
Mecklenburg County had the most fatal crashes in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024: 992, with 1,059 deaths. 100 counties in North Carolina recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 20 with the most are listed.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mecklenburg | 115 | 992 | 1,059 |
| 2 | Wake | 76 | 718 | 772 |
| 3 | Guilford | 70 | 607 | 649 |
| 4 | Robeson | 37 | 474 | 531 |
| 5 | Cumberland | 58 | 457 | 501 |
| 6 | Forsyth | 39 | 394 | 419 |
| 7 | Buncombe | 40 | 326 | 347 |
| 8 | Johnston | 34 | 311 | 341 |
| 9 | Durham | 30 | 285 | 296 |
| 10 | Davidson | 30 | 282 | 306 |
| 11 | Harnett | 33 | 267 | 293 |
| 12 | Gaston | 37 | 267 | 277 |
| 13 | Randolph | 28 | 250 | 261 |
| 14 | Pitt | 22 | 241 | 261 |
| 15 | Iredell | 26 | 227 | 238 |
| 16 | Catawba | 22 | 224 | 237 |
| 17 | Rowan | 32 | 224 | 233 |
| 18 | Onslow | 19 | 219 | 231 |
| 19 | Cabarrus | 22 | 218 | 235 |
| 20 | Union | 24 | 215 | 232 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in North Carolina
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 573 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is October.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.4 percent, 482 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 236 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 218 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 342 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 454 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 406 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.1 percent, 160 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 254 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 276 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 335 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 426 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 330 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.1 percent, 161 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 232 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 260 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 361 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 430 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 356 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.1 percent, 152 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 239 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 275 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 372 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 454 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 369 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.2 percent, 167 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 275 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 251 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 361 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 435 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 383 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.5 percent, 209 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 272 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 262 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 437 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 490 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 534 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.1 percent, 431 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 220 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 249 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 396 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 525 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 573 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.4%
- Feb6.8%
- Mar7.6%
- Apr8.3%
- May9.1%
- Jun8.9%
- Jul8.8%
- Aug8.2%
- Sep8.9%
- Oct9.2%
- Nov8.5%
- Dec8.2%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in North Carolina: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| North Carolina | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 57% | 43% | above the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 19% | 25% | below the US share |
| In daylight | 50% | 46% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 12% | 21% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 34% | 28% | above the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on North Carolina roads in 2024
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 1,094 | 68% |
| Pedestrians | 264 | 16% |
| Motorcyclists | 212 | 13% |
| Cyclists | 44 | 2.7% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 5 | 0.3% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes happen in North Carolina: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (9,631 in North Carolina).
| North Carolina | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 25% | 26% | about the same as the US share |
| Speeding | 32% | 27% | above the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 47% | 49% | below the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.1% | 6.5% | below the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 14% | 16% | below the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 5,685 | 40% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 4,842 | 34% |
| Pedestrian | 2,116 | 15% |
| Rollover | 700 | 5.0% |
| Other | 368 | 2.6% |
| Cyclist | 261 | 1.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 89 | 0.6% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Vehicles in fatal crashes in North Carolina
Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type (21,072 vehicles).
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 8,937 | 42% |
| SUVs | 3,904 | 19% |
| Pickups | 3,471 | 16% |
| Motorcycles | 2,085 | 9.9% |
| Vans | 933 | 4.4% |
| Truck-tractors | 893 | 4.2% |
| Other trucks | 781 | 3.7% |
| Buses | 68 | 0.3% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road pages for North Carolina
Every numbered road in North Carolina with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
- I-40
- I-485
- I-73
- I-77
- I-85
- I-95
- State Highway 11
- State Highway 130
- State Highway 150
- State Highway 16
- State Highway 210
- State Highway 211
- State Highway 24
- State Highway 27
- State Highway 41
- State Highway 49
- State Highway 55
- State Highway 87
- State Highway 903
- US 1
- US 117
- US 13
- US 15
- US 158
- US 17
- US 19
- US 220
- US 221
- US 23
- US 25
- US 258
- US 264
- US 29
- US 301
- US 321
- US 401
- US 421
- US 501
- US 52
- US 601
- US 64
- US 70
- US 74
Where the North Carolina numbers come from
Every figure on this page is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I35 FRONTAGE" and "I-35" are the same road; frontage roads and ramps are left out of road counts). Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". The full method.