Car accident statistics for Forsyth County, North Carolina (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Forsyth County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 38 in 2020 to 42 in 2021, then fell to 32 in 2022. The count rose to 49 in 2023 before falling to 35 in 2024. The highest count was in 2023, and the lowest was in 2022. The 2024 count was 3 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 42 in 2020, 47 in 2021, 41 in 2022, 51 in 2023 and 39 in 2024. The share attributed to car accidents was 90.5%, 89.4%, 78.0%, 96.1% and 89.7%, respectively. That share reached its highest value in 2023 and its lowest value in 2022. Each annual share uses that year's all-traffic death count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Deaths within 30 days in crashes on public roads. 2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised.

Who died in Forsyth County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 141 deaths, or 71.9% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 21 deaths, or 10.7%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 34 deaths, or 17.3%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These labels classify the people who died in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. They do not restrict the count to people occupying passenger vehicles. The Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) label follows the FARS classification rather than a literal test of location outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) accounted for 39 car accident deaths, or 19.9%; Head-on accounted for 32, or 16.3%; Rear-end accounted for 18, or 9.2%; and Sideswipe accounted for 5, or 2.6%. Among collisions with another motor vehicle in transport, Angle (side impact) had the largest death count.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 102 deaths, or 52.0%. This describes the first harmful event, which could involve a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle, fixed object or rollover instead of a collision between motor vehicles in transport. A vehicle stopped in traffic can be in transport; physical movement is not the test.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 98 car accident deaths, or 50.0%. Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., also accounted for 98 deaths, or 50.0%. The daytime and nighttime death counts were equal for 2020 through 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The urban classification recorded 169 deaths, or 86.2%, while the rural classification recorded 27 deaths, or 13.8%. These classifications concern crash location. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 15 car accident deaths, or 7.7%. That figure counts deaths in the selected crashes involving a large truck, rather than the number of trucks or crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with North Carolina and the United States

Forsyth County's car accident death rate was 10.1 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. North Carolina's rate was 13.4, and the United States rate was 10.5. Forsyth County's rate was lower than both. The corresponding death counts were 196 for the county, 7,178 for the state and 176,219 nationally.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, Guilford County recorded a rate of 11.4 and Davidson County recorded 16.3. Forsyth County's rate was lower than each listed neighbor's rate. These rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates and multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors, and they are average annual rates rather than cumulative death counts.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates, so they show deaths per 100,000 residents per year. They do not adjust for miles driven or for visitors.

Recorded characteristics of all fatal crashes

Recorded characteristics cover all fatal crashes in Forsyth County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident crashes. As shares of all traffic deaths, Roadway departure accounted for 46.4%, Speeding-related for 29.5%, At an intersection for 23.2%, Pedestrian involved for 16.8%, and Motorcycle involved for 15.5%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Hit-and-run accounted for 5.0%, Driver distraction reported for 6.8%, and In a work zone for 2.3%. Roadway departure had the largest share among the listed characteristics. A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so these rows overlap. The entries describe recorded characteristics and are not findings of fault or cause.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can carry several characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These are recorded characteristics, not findings of fault.

About these figures

FARS is a census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes involving a motor vehicle on a trafficway customarily open to the public and a death within 30 days. It excludes nonfatal crashes and injuries. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, the grouping rule remains crash county, not residence.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates divide deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates for 2020 through 2024, using Vintage 2025, and multiply by 100,000. This gives average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustments for miles driven or visitors. The separately shown July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the rate denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Guilford County, North Carolina (2020-2024)
• North Carolina car accident statistics (2020-2024)