North Carolina’s Deadliest Roads and Fatal Accident Statistics

To find the deadliest roads in North Carolina, MoneyGeek analyzed the 2,795 fatal crashes that occurred in the state from 2018 to 2020, the most recent years of available data. The analysis looked at 961 roads within North Carolina's 146,465 miles of road and examined how factors like drunk driving, speeding, distracted driving and time of year contributed to the number of deadly accidents. 

From 2019 to 2020, fatal crashes in North Carolina increased by 6.3%. Between 2018 and 2020, 4,017 motor vehicle accidents in North Carolina resulted in deaths. MoneyGeek analyzed these crashes and 2,395 roads out of the state’s 229,011 miles of road, and covered the factors behind fatal crashes in North Carolina. Driver behaviors, including speeding, drunk driving and distracted driving, were the most common contributors. Weather and time of year played a role as well.

• Cliffdale Rd. from Beverly Dr. to Lansdowne Rd. in Fayetteville is the deadliest stretch of road in North Carolina, with 10 fatal accidents from 2018 to 2020.
• Speeding and drunk driving were the most common factors in fatal crashes. Speeding contributed to 25.4%; drunk driving, to 23.4%.
• Distracted driving was a factor in 7.1% of fatal accidents. North Carolina also ranked among states with the largest increases in distracted driving from 2019 to 2020, per MoneyGeek's distracted driving study.
• June had the most fatal accidents of any month, with 409. May followed with 383 and September with 365.
• Mecklenburg had more fatal accidents than any other county; most were on I-485.

Out of the 4,017 fatal accidents recorded in North Carolina between 2018 and 2020, 941 involved drunk driving. Drunk driving was the second-largest contributor to deadly crashes. It trailed speeding by 2 percentage points.

North Carolina considers driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher illegal. Alcohol affects driving ability before a driver's BAC reaches the legal limit. About two drinks raises a driver's BAC to 0.02% and impairs driving ability. At that level, drivers feel more relaxed and show reduced judgment. Drivers also struggle to visually track moving objects.

A DUI carries consequences beyond the crash itself, even when no fatality occurs. A DUI conviction also categorizes drivers as high-risk. As a result, finding affordable car insurance in North Carolina becomes harder. Drivers also risk restricted driving privileges, license suspension or jail time.

In North Carolina, speeding was a factor in 1,019 fatal accidents from 2018 to 2020, or 25.4% of all deadly crashes.

At higher speeds, stopping distances grow, and there's less time to react when traffic slows suddenly. Faster vehicles also carry more impact force, and collisions at high speeds are more likely to be fatal. Safety equipment and roadside barriers have limits that high-speed collisions can exceed.

Distracted driving contributed to 286 deadly accidents in North Carolina from 2018 to 2020, or 7.1% of all fatal crashes. North Carolina also ranked among states with the largest increases in distracted driving rates from 2019 to 2020, per MoneyGeek's distracted driving study.

North Carolina bans cellphone use for drivers under 18. Texting while driving is illegal for all drivers in the state, regardless of age. Under primary enforcement, officers can stop and cite drivers for this violation without needing another reason.

June had more fatal accidents than any other month, with 409, or 10.18% of all recorded fatal crashes. May and September followed with 383 and 365, respectively. All three months fall within the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer, the period from Memorial Day to Labor Day when U.S. traffic fatalities are historically higher.

Safe driving lowers crash risk for everyone on the road. Accidents still happen, though. Full coverage car insurance covers repair and medical costs after a crash.

The average cost of car insurance in North Carolina is $841 per year. Rates vary by location. 

Car insurance in Fayetteville costs $940 per year on average for full coverage. Winston-Salem averages $718 a year for full coverage, a $222 difference. Auto insurance in Charlotte, North Carolina’s most populous city, averages $939 annually.

Beyond location, insurers also consider other factors when determining car insurance premiums. These include a driver's age, driving history, and vehicle make and model. Rates also vary among insurers; comparing quotes is the most reliable way to find the lowest rate for a given driver profile.

The top five counties with the most deadly crashes made up 23% of all recorded fatal crashes in North Carolina from 2018 to 2020. Mecklenburg had the highest count at 289, most of which occurred along I-485. Speeding and drunk driving were the most common factors in these crashes.

MoneyGeek analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) for 2018, 2019 and 2020.