COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Berrien County: larger FARS fatality book
Berrien County (MI) holds a larger FARS book (156, #430 of 3,137) with 18 latest-year deaths.
- 156
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 18
- Latest Year Deaths
- High count
- 11.8
- Per 100k Residents
- Below average
- Increasing
- Trend
Larger fatality book
Berrien County ranks #430 of 3,137 by total FARS fatalities (156 across 2016-2023) - top-third book size.
Berrien County in the larger-book third
According to NHTSA FARS, Berrien County carries a top-third fatality book (156 across 2016-2023, #430 of 3,137) at 11.8/100k.
- #1,560 of 2,328
- lower-rate third
- #430 of 3,137
- larger-book third
- #47 of 74
- in MI by rate
- Increasing
- fatality trend
FARS milepost strip
Milepost BERRIEN-21 · Berrien 11.8/100k · #1,560 of 2,328
Berrien County · 11.8/100k · increasing
- CRASH 11.8/100k
- FARS #1,560 of 2,328
- NHTSA 156 book
- MILE Increasing
- POST 141 crash
- BAND -21.7% 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 Berrien County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Berrien County is 22% safer 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, Berrien County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, below the state's own per-capita average of 15.1 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure. The gap between Berrien County's rate and the state average is 3.3 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Calhoun County, at 19.5 per 100,000 (a difference of 7.7). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Mackinac County (55.3), Roscommon County (50.3), Arenac County (39.6), Benzie County (32.5), 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).
Berrien County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
12 Lower than most a lower per-capita rate than 67% 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 Berrien County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Berrien 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 Berrien County, Michigan?
Berrien County recorded 156 total traffic fatalities across 141 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 18 fatalities. The county averages approximately 17.3 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Berrien County?
Despite a comparatively active crash history (141 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Berrien County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Michigan may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Berrien County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Berrien County is increasing. This indicates that traffic fatalities have risen over the data period, warranting attention to road safety initiatives.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Berrien County?
Berrien County has a fatality rate of 11.8 per 100,000 residents, which places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does Berrien County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Berrien County ranks #1,560 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #47 of 74 rated counties in MI, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Berrien County compare to the rest of Michigan?
Berrien County's per-capita rate of 11.8 per 100,000 residents is below 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 Berrien 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.