According to a new study, 3 seperate Carolina counties rank among the top 10 most dangerous counties in the US for drivers.
The new report investigated which US counties are the most and least dangerous for drivers. They looked at 50 counties with 50,000 or more residents and analyzed the total number of deaths caused by car crashes between 2018 and 2021, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The data was scaled to each county’s population size to find the number of fatalities per 10,000 people. Counties were then ranked from the highest rate of deaths caused by car crashes to the lowest.
1. Apache, Arizona – 23.48 car crash fatalities per 10,000 people
Apache is the most dangerous county in the US for drivers, with 23.48 car crash fatalities between 2018 and 2021 per 10,000 people.
With an estimated population of 66,024, there were a total of 155 car crash fatalities throughout the four-year period in this county. When looking at the top 50 most dangerous counties for drivers, Apache ranked as the joint eighth-highest regarding the total number of car crash deaths over the four years.
- Orangeburg, South Carolina – 23.03 car crash fatalities per 10,000 people
Orangeburg is the second most dangerous county in the US for drivers, with 23.03 deaths caused by car crashes between 2018 and 2021 per 10,000 people.
With an estimated population of 84,225, there were a total of 194 car crash fatalities over four years in the county. Orangeburg ranked as the fifth-highest county for the total number of car crash fatalities, with 194 deaths over the four years.
- Robeson, North Carolina – 22.57 car crash fatalities per 10,000 people
Robeson is the third most dangerous county in the US for drivers, with 22.57 deaths caused by car crashes between 2018 and 2021 per 10,000 people.
With an estimated population of 116,516, there were a total of 263 car crash fatalities over four years in Robeson. Robeson is the highest-ranked county regarding the total number of car crash deaths over the four-year period.
- Gila, Arizona – 21.96 car crash fatalities per 10,000 people
Gila is the fourth most dangerous county in the US for drivers, with 21.96 deaths caused by car crashes between 2018 and 2021 per 10,000 people.
With an estimated population of 53,273, there were a total of 117 car crash fatalities over four years in the state. This is the 18th highest number of car crash deaths over four years compared to the other counties in the top 50.
- Putnam, Florida – 21.14 car crash fatalities per 10,000 people
The fifth most dangerous county for drivers is Putnam, with 21.14 deaths caused by car crashes between 2018 and 2021 per 10,000 people.
With an estimated population of 73,327, there were a total of 155 car crash fatalities over four years in the state. Putnam is ranked as the joint eighth-highest county regarding deaths caused by car crashes.
- Columbus, North Carolina – 21.14 car crash fatalities per 10,000 people
Columbus is the sixth most dangerous county for drivers in the US, with 21.14 deaths caused by car crashes between 2018 and 2021 per 10,000 people.
With an estimated population of 50,625, there were a total of 107 car crash fatalities over four years in the state. Columbus is ranked as the 20th highest county regarding the total number of car crash fatalities over the four-year period.
- McKinley, New Mexico – 20.85 car crash fatalities per 10,000 people
McKinley is the seventh most dangerous county for drivers in the US, with 20.85 deaths caused by car crashes between 2018 and 2021 per 10,000 people.
With an estimated population of 72,898, there were a total of 152 car crash fatalities over four years in McKinley. McKinley is ranked as the ninth-highest county regarding the total number of car crash fatalities over the four-year period.
- Navajo, Arizona – 19.96 car crash fatalities per 10,000 people
Navajo is the eighth most dangerous county for drivers in the US, with 19.96 deaths caused by car crashes between 2018 and 2021 per 10,000 people.
With an estimated population of 106,716, there were 213 car crash deaths over four years in the county. Navajo is ranked as the fourth highest county regarding the total number of car crash deaths over the four-year period.
- Laurens, South Carolina – 18.95 car crash fatalities per 10,000 people
Laurens is the ninth most dangerous county for drivers in the US, with 18.95 deaths caused by car crashes over four years per 10,000 people.
With an estimated population of 67,573, there were a total of 128 car crash deaths over four years in the county. Laurens is ranked as the 14th highest county regarding car crash fatalities over the four years.
- Walton, Florida – 17.53 car crash fatalities per 10,000 people
Walton is last on this list, with 17.53 deaths caused by car crashes over four years per 10,000 people.
With an estimated population of 75,306, there were a total of 132 deaths caused by car crashes in the county. Walton is ranked as the 13th highest county regarding deaths caused by car crashes over the four years.
Most dangerous US counties for drivers – Top 10
|
Rank |
County |
Total number of people killed in car crashes |
County population |
Number of car crash fatalities per 10,000 people |
|
1. |
Apache, Arizona |
155 |
66,024 |
23.48 |
|
2. |
Orangeburg, South Carolina |
194 |
84,225 |
23.03 |
|
3. |
Robeson, North Carolina |
263 |
116,516 |
22.57 |
|
4. |
Gila, Arizona |
117 |
53,273 |
21.96 |
|
5. |
Putnam, Florida |
155 |
73,327 |
21.14 |
|
6. |
Columbus, North Carolina |
107 |
50,625 |
21.14 |
|
7. |
Mckinley, New Mexico |
152 |
72,898 |
20.85 |
|
8. |
Navajo, Arizona |
213 |
106,716 |
19.96 |
|
9. |
Laurens, South Carolina |
128 |
67,533 |
18.95 |
|
10. |
Walton, Florida |
132 |
75,306 |
17.53 |
