Fatal crashes in Rhode Island
In 2024, 52 people died in 48 fatal crashes on Rhode Island roads, 26.8% fewer than in 2023. That is 0.1% of all road deaths in the United States.
Rhode Island ranks 50th of 51 by road deaths in 2024.
Road deaths in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island
I-95 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Rhode Island from 2015 to 2024: 65, with 71 deaths. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (4 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-95 | 65 | 71 | 16 | Providence, Kent, Washington |
| 2 | US 1 | 27 | 29 | 8 | Washington, Providence, Kent |
| 3 | State Highway 117 | 21 | 22 | 5 | Kent, Providence |
| 4 | I-295 | 21 | 21 | 3 | Providence, Kent |
| 5 | US 6 | 15 | 19 | 4 | Providence |
| 6 | State Highway 146 | 15 | 16 | 4 | Providence |
| 7 | US 44 | 14 | 14 | 3 | Providence |
| 8 | State Highway 114 | 13 | 16 | 5 | Providence, Newport, Bristol |
| 9 | State Highway 122 | 13 | 14 | 4 | Providence |
| 10 | State Highway 2 | 12 | 12 | 4 | Kent, Washington, Providence |
| 11 | State Highway 5 | 12 | 12 | 7 | Providence, Kent |
| 12 | State Highway 1A | 11 | 12 | 1 | Providence, Washington, Kent |
| 13 | State Highway 102 | 11 | 11 | 3 | Washington, Providence, Kent |
| 14 | State Highway 138 | 11 | 11 | 3 | Washington, Newport |
| 15 | State Highway 14 | 10 | 10 | 2 | Providence, Kent |
| 16 | State Highway 101 | 8 | 9 | 2 | Providence |
| 17 | State Highway 12 | 7 | 7 | 2 | Providence |
| 18 | State Highway 10 | 6 | 6 | 1 | Providence |
| 19 | State Highway 44 | 6 | 6 | 0 | Providence |
| 20 | I-195 | 5 | 7 | 1 | Providence |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest counties in Rhode Island
Providence County had the most fatal crashes in Rhode Island from 2015 to 2024: 336, with 357 deaths. 5 counties in Rhode Island recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 5 with the most are listed.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence | 28 | 336 | 357 |
| 2 | Washington | 9 | 101 | 105 |
| 3 | Kent | 4 | 92 | 98 |
| 4 | Newport | 4 | 29 | 30 |
| 5 | Bristol | 3 | 9 | 10 |
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 Rhode Island
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am, with 30 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is July.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 5.3 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 16 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.5 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 21 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 15 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 20 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.1 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 18 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 19 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.6 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 18 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.6%
- Feb6.5%
- Mar6.3%
- Apr7.2%
- May8.3%
- Jun8.6%
- Jul10.6%
- Aug10.4%
- Sep9.5%
- Oct9.3%
- Nov8.5%
- Dec7.2%
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 Rhode Island: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| Rhode Island | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 19% | 43% | below the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 21% | 25% | below the US share |
| In daylight | 44% | 46% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 34% | 21% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 16% | 28% | below 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 Rhode Island roads in 2024
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 25 | 48% |
| Pedestrians | 13 | 25% |
| Motorcyclists | 8 | 15% |
| Cyclists | 5 | 9.6% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 1 | 1.9% |
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 Rhode Island: 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 (317 in Rhode Island).
| Rhode Island | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 39% | 26% | above the US share |
| Speeding | 44% | 27% | above the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 54% | 49% | above the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 6.2% | 6.5% | about the same as the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 20% | 16% | above 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 231 | 41% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 169 | 30% |
| Pedestrian | 108 | 19% |
| Other | 23 | 4.0% |
| Cyclist | 16 | 2.8% |
| Rollover | 12 | 2.1% |
| Parked vehicle | 8 | 1.4% |
| Not reported | 1 | 0.2% |
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 Rhode Island
Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type (783 vehicles).
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 369 | 47% |
| SUVs | 158 | 20% |
| Motorcycles | 116 | 15% |
| Pickups | 69 | 8.8% |
| Other trucks | 28 | 3.6% |
| Vans | 26 | 3.3% |
| Truck-tractors | 14 | 1.8% |
| Buses | 3 | 0.4% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road pages for Rhode Island
Every numbered road in Rhode Island with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the Rhode Island 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.