COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Benzie County: higher-rate fatality band
Benzie County (MI) is in the higher per-capita third: 32.5/100k (#320 of 2,328). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 21
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 6
- Latest Year Deaths
- Low count
- 32.5
- Per 100k Residents
- Well above average
- Stable
- Trend
Higher per-capita fatality band
Benzie County ranks #320 of 2,328 by deaths per 100,000 residents (32.5/100k) - top-third rate among rated U.S. counties.
Benzie County in the higher-rate third
According to NHTSA FARS, Benzie County sits in the higher-rate third at 32.5 per 100k (#320 of 2,328), #4 of 74 in MI.
- #320 of 2,328
- higher-rate third
- #2,316 of 3,137
- smaller-book third
- #4 of 74
- in MI by rate
- Stable
- fatality trend
NHTSA FARS milepost
Milepost BENZIE-19 · Benzie 32.5/100k · #320 of 2,328
Benzie County · 32.5/100k · stable
- BAND 32.5/100k
- VOL #320 of 2,328
- AVG 21 book
- YOY Stable
- RATE 18 crash
- RANK +115.7% vs MI
Stamps derive from this county's NHTSA FARS row (per-100k or book, corpus rank, trend, nationwide peer NAME, vs-state gap), not a trip-risk forecast. PlainRoadSafety is informational only. See our disclaimer. Verify with NHTSA FARS → · Read with methodology → · Understanding road fatality data → · Michigan state profile →
How does Benzie County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Benzie County is 2.2× deadlier than the comparison
2023 road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents and a 2023 FARS record.
Among the 15 rated counties in Michigan, Benzie County ranks 4 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 15.1 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Benzie County's rate and the state average is 17.4 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Wexford County, at 29.3 per 100,000 (a difference of 3.2). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Mackinac County (55.3), Roscommon County (50.3), Arenac County (39.6), Wexford County (29.3), Clare County (28.7), Sanilac County (27.2), Lake County (23.6), Manistee County (23.5), Kalkaska County (21.6), Missaukee County (19.6), Newaygo County (19.6), Calhoun County (19.5), Lenawee County (19.5), Delta County (19.0).
Benzie County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
33 Higher than most a lower per-capita rate than 14% of 2,328 rated counties
rated U.S. counties, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-09-03
More road safety data related to Benzie County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Benzie County vs other counties by ratePer-100k fatality comparison
- Michigan statewide fatality dataAll counties in this state
- Deadliest states for drivingContext for MI
- State fatality changesYear-over-year state trends
- Browse all U.S. countiesAlphabetical county index
- All state profiles51 state dashboards
- State vs U.S. safety comparisonRoute-level lookup tool
- National statistics downloadFARS CSV + findings
- How to read FARS fatality dataMethodology primer
- Per-mile vs per-capita road riskRate denominator explained
- Counties starting with BLetter index including MI counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Benzie County, Michigan?
Benzie County recorded 21 total traffic fatalities across 18 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 6 fatalities. The county averages approximately 2.3 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Benzie County?
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Benzie County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Michigan may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Benzie County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Benzie County is stable. Fatality counts have remained relatively consistent over the data period.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Benzie County?
Benzie County has a fatality rate of 32.5 per 100,000 residents, which leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does Benzie County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Benzie County ranks #320 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #4 of 74 rated counties in MI, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Benzie County compare to the rest of Michigan?
Benzie County's per-capita rate of 32.5 per 100,000 residents is above the Michigan county average of 15.1. Visit the Michigan state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Benzie County come from?
All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2023 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.